Timbermen Fall

The first round of playoffs between the fifth seed Nanaimo Timbermen, and the third seed New Westminster Salmonbellies got underway Saturday afternoon at Queens Park in what would be a match-up of the Salmonbellies defense and Nanaimo's quick pace. 

Nanaimo would surprise the crowd at Queen's Park by scoring first, when Colton Clark scored just a minute into the opening frame; but six unanswered goals from the 'Bellies- including a hat trick from Alex Turner, would ensure the first would end with a comfortable lead and set the tone for the rest of the game.

The Timbermen would start the second on the power play after Jason Jones got a questionable penalty at the end of the first for holding, but nothing would become of it for Nanaimo. Just twenty seconds of playing at even strength it was the Timbermen who would get penalized on a check from behind call, but instead of the 'Bellies taking advantage of the four minute power play, it was Nanaimo with two quick short handed goals from Colton Clark and Ryan Forslund to cut the 'Bellies lead in half.

Even with two goals from Joel Pelletier, and one each from Cody Bremner and Jon Diplock, the 'Bellies would also score six more goals just like they did in the first, to end the second period 12-7.

Passing and possession looked to be a problem from the very start for the Timbermen, continued throughout the game, and looked most apparent in the third period. 

Again the 'Bellies would score more unanswered goals; Jason Jones and Kyle Belton would finish off their hat tricks in the third, and Alex Turner scored a deuce to bring his total to five on the night.

Final score in game one of the best of five quarter-finals between the Salmonbellies and Timbermen would be 16-7 for the home crowd. The 'Bellies hop the ferry on Sunday and head to Nanaimo for game two. Nanaimo is a hard rink to play in but if New West plays like they did today they should have no problem taking another game off the T-Men. As usual, New Wests defense was just too much; they cut off Nanaimo's quick game and had the offense to counter attack at the other end of the floor.

Goaltending was an issue for the Timbermen this evening; Sam Corcoran started the game but was pulled with just four minutes left in the first, after letting in six goals on eleven shots. His relief didn't fair much better against New Wests offense, Rob Pierson allowed ten goals on twenty-three shots. Lots of lessons from game one for Nanaimo, lets hope they learn quick enough for tomorrow's game at home.