Islanders hang on to 2nd place with win over Thunder

The Delta Islanders looked to hold down 2nd place in the standings with a win tonight against the 5th place Langley Thunder at the Langley Events Centre.

The Islanders were out in full force in the first period, but the Thunder got some good goaltending from ZachWickett who made 17 of 19 saves. The Islanders opened the scoring just after the half way mark of the first period with a goal by ChaseFraser. Both teams had 2 powerplays in the first period, but it was only the Islanders who were able to capitalize as CodyNass scored with 3:12 remaining to make it 2-0 Islanders.

The second period proved to be another in which the Islanders dominated, but this time around, Thunder goaltender Wickett couldn’t stop them all. DylanLacroix broke the shutout shortly into the second period to make it a 2-1 game. After Nass’ goal to put the Islanders up 3-1, the Islanders got into a tough spot when PatrickThornhill received a roughing minor and an unsportsmanlike misconduct, which would give the Thunder a lengthy powerplay. Unfortunately, the Thunder were not able to capitalize and it was the Islanders who were re-energized from killing the penalty. The Islanders scored 4 goals within 5 minutes to make it 7-1 and they were on their way to holding down 2nd place in the standings.

The Thunder were able to capitalize on the powerplay before the second period ended with a goal by JesseWorley, but it was a big uphill battle from here for the Thunder.

The third period was a lot more of the same, although it looked like 2 players wanted to blow off some steam as Islanders’ ChaseFraser and Thunder’s HammondJones dropped the gloves and got ejected at the halfway point of the game. Before the fight, both teams exchanged a goal a piece and it was a lot of the same for the rest of the game as the Islanders netted 3 more with the Thunder netting 2, making it an 11-5 final.

THREE STARS OF THE GAME

1. Delta - TreLeclaire - 2 goals, 3 assists

2. Delta - DannySpagnuolo - 2 goals, 3 assists

3. Langley – JesseWorley – 2 goals, 2 assists

Delta will secretly be cheering for the Coquitlam Adanacs to put a dent into the Salmonbellies push for 2nd place, but they can’t cheer too much because their last game of the season could be the difference from 2nd, 3rd or even 4th and they face those same Adanacs on Sunday night. The Thunder will close out their season at home when they take on the Nanaimo Timbermen on Sunday evening. It’s going to be a wild weekend in the BCJALL.