'Bellies Go Up 2-0

Down 1-0 in the best-of-5, the Delta Islanders looked to even the series against the New Westminster Salmonbellies at the Sungod Arena on Saturday evening.

The first period saw two busy goaltenders, mainly Islanders' Ryland Hood as he had made 19 saves, while his counterpart Ross Bowman made 13 saves.

The Islanders got on the board first when Mike Henry scored at 6:59, but less than two minutes later, Connor Robinson got the 'Bellies on the board to even the score.

With some back and forth between Islanders' Chase Fraser and Salmonbellies' Steve Ferdinandi, it was Ferdinandi who got the last shot in, resulting in a two-minute tripping penalty. It was only 10 seconds later when Islanders' Evan Messenger let it rip from the top of the circle to put it past goaltender Ross Bowman. Again, the Islanders lead did not last long when Brett Dobray beat Ryland Hood to make it 2-2.

Both teams picked up the pace in the second period. Messenger scored 38 seconds into the period followed by another goal at 3:27 to give the Islanders a 4-2 lead, but that surely put the 'Bellies in overdrive. Robinson netted his second of the game at 4:02 and Josh Byrne scored his first at 4:39 to even the score at 4.

The Islanders got their lead back at 6:13 when Sam Clare jumped across the crease and scored, but also taking down goaltender Bowman in the process. The Salmonbellies players threw their hands up looking for a disallowed goal and a penalty, but the referees stuck to their decision.

Byrne wasn't going to take that decision lightly, though. Less than a minute after the goal, Byrne wired it past goaltender Hood to tie the game again.

At 12:10, Johnny Pearson scored to give the Salmonbellies their first lead of the game, but to no surprise, it was a tie game five minutes later, but there was certainly controversy again. One of the Islanders players let a shot go and the referee stated the shot went off goaltender Bowman. Bowman was furious with the call, so when the referee blew the whistle for play on, Bowman cheated trying to read Tyler Nett's pass, but Bowman missed the ball and Connor Davidson made no mistake and scored on the empty net.

Unfortunately for the Islanders, they just couldn't keep up the pressure in the third period. Anthony Malcom scored his first of the game for the 'Bellies at 1:43 and then the Islanders got a bench minor for unsportsmanlike and a minor for high sticking at 3:19. It only took ten seconds for the 'Bellies to score on the power play as Nathan Stewart gave the 'Bellies an 8-6 lead.

The Islanders had an opportunity to cut the 'Bellies lead to 1 when Byrne had to sit in the penalty box for crease play, but ten seconds after his penalty expired, he did what he does best and that is scoring.

At 7:21, Pearson started a four-goal run for the 'Bellies. Jeremy Bosher, Luke Gillespie and Robinson followed suit as the 'Bellies took a 13-6 lead before the eleven-minute mark. That was the end for goaltender Hood as Matt Keith finished the rest of the game.

At 12:39 Islanders' Chase Fraser ran right up the middle, but collided with a New Westminster player and that ended his night and quite possibly his series as he was down for a few minutes and couldn't apply pressure on his left knee when getting carried to the bench. While Fraser was down, Salmonbellies' Byrne and Justin Goodwin got into a shoving match with Mike Avery, Cory Takahara and Mike Henry. The referees decided it was the end for all five of them as they each got game misconducts.

The Salmonbellies continued to add goals to the scoreboard as Malcom and Pearson scored 25 seconds apart to take a 15-6 lead.

Cody Nass and Spencer Bromley added two goals for the Islanders, but it certainly was not enough as the Salmonbellies defeated the Islanders 15-8.

It is worth mentioning that the game did not end with both teams minding their own business. Islanders' Sam Clare and Salmonbellies' Jakob Doucet dropped the gloves and there was more pushing and shoving between both teams, which has definitely set the mood for game 3 on Tuesday, July 15th at Queen's Park.

Three stars of the game
1. New Westminster - Connor Robinson - 3 goals, 6 assists
2. New Westminster - Johnny Pearson - 3 goals, 4 assists
3. New Westminster - Josh Byrne - 2 goals, 3 assists