The Nanaimo Timbermen created a logjam in the B.C. Junior Lacrosse League following a 13-7 upset win over the New Westminster Salmonbellies on Sunday.
The visiting T-Men weathered an attempted second-period rally by the Fishman and outscored their hosts 5-0 in the final frame to win their first game while handing New West its first loss of the season.
Matt Zeller got his first start for Nanaimo and made 50 stops to post his first W of the season.
“Our defence played amazing and the offence put the ball in the net. It makes it easy on me,” said the second-year keeper from Campbell River. “(We) blocked a lot of shots and took the passing lanes away.”
Nanaimo looked like the more eager team right from the get-go, sending New West starting goalie Tyler Landry to an early shower, opening up a 6-3 first-period lead on just 10 shots on goal.
The junior ’Bellies mustered a comeback early in the restart, scoring three times in a two-minute span, including Riley Peterson’s game-tying counter.
Carter Dickson drew the home team even again at 7-7 late in the period with his game-high fourth goal on the contest.
But Nanaimo closed out the stanza with a go-ahead marker by Brody Glemnitz, who was picked up in an off-season trade with Burnaby.
Nanaimo then ran the table in the final frame, tallying five unanswered goals to boost its record to 1-2.
The victory moved the Timbermen into a six-team tie for third place.
The Delta Islanders and the Victoria Shamrocks, 8-6 overtime winners in Coquitlam on Sunday, top the eight-team loop with two wins apiece.
“(Nanaimo) played well and put in a good team effort,” said New Westminster head coach Dan Perrault after the game. “It’s all about the compete level and some of our boys found that out in the third period. The Nanaimo boys played hard and they wanted to win the game.”
New Westminster played host the first-place Islanders on Tuesday (after the Record deadlines).
The junior Salmonbellies take on the Coquitlam Adanacs next Tuesday night at Queen’s Park Arena. Game time is 8 p.m.
