Bellie report – @Burnaby Lakers – June 1st, 2012
Just 24 hours after grinding out a one goal win in overtime, the Bellies’ luck ran out on the road in Burnaby.
Set to square off against the 2-1 Lakers for the first time this season, the undefeated Salmonbellies were without a few key players including Kevin Crowley, Jordan McBride and Ilija Gajic, all listed in the top five scoring leaders, as well as Bubba Westwood, Tyler Crompton and Mark Negrin.
The first period was quiet for both the players and the visiting fans. After twenty minutes of play, the Bellies went to the dressing room down by five goals and without a single one of their own. The score was 5-0 for the home team and the visitors had been outshot 18-8.
The chance to regroup seemed to inject little new life into the boys in red. Sean Robinson, in his first appearance as a Bellie this season, rocketed two goals past the goal line in the first ten minutes of the second period, but didn’t find any scoring help from his teammates. By the time the game was halfway done, the score was 9-2 and Tyler Richards had vacated his position in net to make room for his back-up, Neil Tyacke.
On the back half of the second, the Bellies seemed to find a small spark. Three goals in eight minutes, all by Jeff Zywicki, left them taking the second break still down five goals, but they’d revved up the shot taking and goal scoring.
Less than thirty seconds into the third period, Sean Robinson netted his third of the night. Mike Berekoff followed suit two minutes later and Zywicki added his fourth goal. Just after the ten minute mark, Alex Gajic exploded finding the back of the net three times in four minutes. In spite of all that scoring, the Lakers continued to press and find their own ways to rack up goals and after sixty minutes, the Bellies found themselves on the losing end of the results.
The final score was 15-11.
Jeff Zywicki had a seven point night with 4 goals, 3 assists
and was named the WLA’s second start of the game
Without a sleepy first period, the Bellies might have been able to pull off the comeback in Burnaby, however the lesson tonight was that they can’t take a period off without suffering the consequences. The flurry of goals in the second half of the game might have been helpful if they hadn’t already dug themselves a hole too deep to get out.
Burnaby nearly doubled New West in shots on the night. The Lakers took 59 shots while the Bellies only took 30. Richards faced 25 and let in 8 goals in 26:37 while Tyacke had 34 shots and made 27 saves over the balance of the game.
The next Bellies game is at home this Thursday against the Langley Thunder and is Seats for Soldiers night, an annual event honouring the Canadian Forces. All Canadian Forces, Legion Members, Veterans, Cadets and their families get in free and are encouraged to wear uniforms, regimental blazers or red to support the troops. Game time is 7:45pm.
Photos here courtesy of David Zuskind at Digital Graffitti. Take a look at the full album of photos from last night.