1. New Westminster Salmonbellies (3)
Record: 11-6-0 Goal Differential: +13
Last Week: 10-7 W vs. Maple Ridge, 9-7 W vs. Victoria
This Week: vs. Burnaby
New West jumped out to a 4-2 lead in the first period Thursday night and never looked back, beating the first place Shamrocks and securing a WLA playoff spot.
Eric Penney was solid in goal behind an outstanding effort from the Bellies defence. As a unit, they held Victoria to 41 shots and Penney outplayed Aaron Bold en route to the win. Just as the D stepped up, so did Logan Schuss, who had arguably his strongest game of the season. The win came on the heels of a win in Maple Ridge, avenging the game in which Salmonbellies forfeited prior because of an ineligible player.
The pair of wins put New West in a good spot for their first round WLA playoff series. They host their possible opponent, the Burnaby Lakers, to finish the regular season on Thursday night.
- Victoria Shamrocks (1)
Record: 13-4-0 Goal Differential: +69
Last Week: 9-7 L vs. New West, 14-4 W vs. Burnaby
This Week: vs. Langley
With two losses in a row, a dominating win over the Burnaby Lakers seemed to be the remedy in getting the Shamrocks back on track before the playoffs.
Despite the loss to New West, the Shamrocks clinched first place and will get the winner of the jumbled playoff picture. At this point, they could theoretically play any of Burnaby, Langley or Maple Ridge, all of whom they have done well against this season. Dan Dawson had eight points through two goals and six assists in Victoria’s two games this week and looks in fine form for the playoff run.
- Burnaby Lakers (6)
Record: 9-7-0 Goal Differential: -17
Last Week: 10-3 W vs. Nanaimo, 10-8 W vs. Coquitlam, 14-4 L vs. Victoria, 9-6 W vs. Nanaimo
This Week: vs. Maple Ridge, @ New West
Burnaby picked the right time to put together a few wins, taking advantages of slip ups by Maple Ridge and Langley to force what is essentially a three-way race for the final two playoff positions.
Their biggest challenge might be avoiding playing the Shamrocks in the first round. The Lakers have been outscored 39-16 over three games with Victoria, the latest a 14-4 setback on the rock. While it’s likely that Burnaby would put up a tougher fight than in the regular season, the Shamrocks O can overwhelm even the best defensive units over a seven game period. There’s no doubt Burnaby matches up better with New West, a team they can chip away at by playing a more controlled tempo.
- Maple Ridge Burrards (2)
Record: 8-9-0 Goal Differential: +1
Last Week: 9-8 L vs. Nanaimo, 10-7 L vs. New West, 9-8 W vs. Coquitlam
This Week: vs. Burnaby
After dropping two important games earlier in the week, including a classic trap game loss in Nanaimo, the Burrards pulled together and eeked out another one goal win over the Adanacs, effectively ending their playoff run. Winners of six of eight, they end their season with a huge game that likely decides their playoff fate. Tuesday they take on the Lakers in the swamp and it has all the implications involved.
Hypothetically, you can expect Langley to take care of Coquitlam and potentially get by Victoria. If they don’t while the Burrards take care of business in Burnaby, the Burrards would get in but play the Shamrocks. It’ll be a tough road traveled for Ridge, but they have a great nucleus of players, good coaching and goaltending. They could give anyone a run for their money in the playoffs.
- Langley Thunder (5)
Record: 8-8-0 Goal Differential: -1
Last Week: 11-7 W vs. Nanaimo
This Week: vs. Coquitlam, @ Victoria
Looking at the remaining two games on the Thunder’s schedule, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Langley end up 9-9. As I mentioned above, Langley probably ends the season 9-9, in which going forward would hinge on Maple Ridge’s performance the night before. With that result decided by Wednesday night’s game, what will need to happen for Langley to make it in will be mapped out.
If they get in, that game in Victoria to end their season suddenly becomes all the more important as the Thunder could potentially leapfrog Burnaby and escape that dreaded first round matchup with the Shamrocks.
- Coquitlam Adanacs (4)
Record: 6-10-0 Goal Differential: -16
Last Week: 10-8 L vs. Burnaby, 9-8 L vs. Maple Ridge
This Week: @ Langley, vs. Nanaimo
Saturday night marked the end of the road for Coquitlam as they dropped their fourth straight game, another one goal defeat to Maple Ridge. That came on the heels of what was at the time a potentially season-shifting win over the Shamrocks, but it was momentum they couldn’t capitalize on, and they won’t make the playoffs because of it.
It wasn’t all but for the A’s, who certainly defied the expectations I had for them at the start of the year. It didn’t seem like Coquitlam had much going for them in terms of promise or potential, just a solid group of players, but not much in terms of star power. That was after Wes Berg went to Oakville as well, something that surely burned the A’s front office and surely played a role in the firing of former general manager Kevin Hill.
The focus will now be to built a core of players that can potentially woo Berg back to the west coast and his hometown. If they can’t, it will be a colossal waste of assets and resources and puts them back at square one.
- Nanaimo Timbermen (7)
Record: 3-14-0 Goal Differential: -49
Last Week: 10-3 L vs. Burnaby, 9-8 W vs. Maple Ridge, 11-7 L @ Langley, 9-6 L vs. Burnaby
This Week: @ Coquitlam
Like Coquitlam, the Timbermen are just playing out the rest of their season now, but the win over the Burrards prove that the team hasn’t quit on the season, as irrelevant their games may seem to be. That win could very well be the difference between Maple Ridge making or missing the postseason. It’s something that can give you some motivation to play out the rest of this year; jobs will be on the line and it’s important to leave a good impression on the front office.
Not only that, but some guys are also playing for spots in NLL training camps and rosters – it’s key to leave a good impression on that audience as well.
