Tuesday, August 12, 2014 - Submitted by Carly Rigby
After a rough and penalty-filled game two in Maple Ridge, fans were questioning whether the series between the Burnaby Lakers and Maple Ridge Burrards would get more intense or begin to cool off. The answer, as it turns out, was both. Game three in Burnaby on Monday showed two clubs that had clearly not forgiven or forgotten their Saturday night scrums, but were intent on shifting that energy to heavy-hitting, gritty play instead of fighting. Tuesday’s game four was a continuation of that. With the Burrards earning a 9-6 victory and taking a 2-1 series lead, they were hoping home floor would give them an advantage in their second of back-to-back games this week. Contrary to their plans, the Lakers were able to bring an 8-6 road victory to even the series and reduce it to a best of three.
It took over seven minutes before the teams settled in and started scoring with the Burrards’ Riley Loewen doing the honours first. More than six minutes later, the Lakers’ Shaun Dhaliwal kicked off a three goal scoring streak for Burnaby with teammate Jackson Decker following suit just eleven seconds later. Scott Jones scored to finish off first period scoring and give the visitors a 3-1 lead at the end of the first period.
Scoring was minimal in the second period with Riley Loewen getting two more goals for the Burrards to tie the game before Tyler Digby regained the Lakers’ lead with five minutes left to play.
There was more scoring to be seen in the third period than is either of the two periods that started the game. Burnaby blasted out of the locker room with a goal from Robert Church less than two minutes in. Transition specialist Pete McFetridge converted on an empty net opportunity just short of the eight minute mark before the Burrards answered back. A fourth goal from Loewen and one from Mike Mallory brought Maple Ridge within one, but that is as close as they would get for the remainder of the game. Dane Stevens netted a goal and Scott Jones followed up with his second and the Lakers’ eighth. Jarrett Davis capitalized on a play that included an extra attacker, but the Burrards were unable to launch the comeback they were hoping for.
Tyler Richards got the start in net for the Lakers and made 21 saves on 27 shots for the win. Rookie Frankie Scigliano was in net for the Burrards and he made 33 saves on 26 shots.
