Adanacs trounce Salmonbellies 17-4

The Coquitlam Adanacs already have 1st place locked down in the standings, so their game against the New Westminster Salmonbellies, essentially, does not effect them. The same cannot be said for the Salmonbellies, however. The Salmonbellies needed a win tonight in order to stay tied with the Delta Islanders for 2nd place in the standings, unfortunately, the ‘Bellies did not come prepared.

The Adanacs certainly decided to throw a wrench into the ‘Bellies plan of taking that 2nd place spot in the standings and boy was it a big wrench. Under 30 seconds into the first period, TylerPace gave the Adanacs a 1-0 lead. The ‘Bellies struggled to get shots on goal and the Adanacs, as they have been doing all season, were as tight as ever on defence.

The Adanacs made it a 3-0 game before the half way mark with goals by Jean-LucChetner and ColeShafer. As the period progressed, it was all Adanacs, as ChrisCloutier and TaylorStuart gave the Adanacs a commanding 5-0 lead to wrap up the first period. 

The second period was a different story and it looks like the ‘Bellies decided to change their game plan. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out all that well. The ‘Bellies started to claw their way back into the game as NathanStewart and JoshByrne each scored before the midway point of the period, both being coming off special teams to make it a 5-2 game.

The Adanacs certainly weren’t going to let the ‘Bellies back into the game, so it’s fair to say they put the game into high gear. Goals from Pace, Stuart, ChallenRogers and ReidBowering, all within 5 minutes, gave the Adanacs a resounding 9-2 lead over the ‘Bellies and then came the rough stuff.

BradleyBreadon and OwenBarker dropped the gloves with roughly 5 minutes left in the period as they both got ejected from the game. The fight only got the Adanacs adrenaline going, as Stuart netted his third of the game followed by Shafer’s second of the game to make it 11-2.  Before Adanacs’ MichaelMessenger got ejected from the game, he potted a goal of his own to make it 12-2. Due to a high sticking major call, which was his second of the game, Messenger ended up being ejected from the game for too many penalties. To think this even slowed down the Adanacs for any reason would be a mistake. Before the period ended, it was a 12-3 game and the third period didn’t fair any better for the ‘Bellies.

To no surprise, there were a lot of stick infractions being called in the third period, mainly against the Salmonbellies and the Adanacs made sure the ‘Bellies got the message as 3 of their 5 goals in the third period came on the powerplay, as the Adanacs trounce the ‘Bellies 17-4.

THREE STARS OF THE GAME

1. Coquitlam - Cole Shafer - 3 goals, 5 assists

2. Coquitlam - Chris Cloutier - 2 goals, 5 assists

3. Coquitlam - Jean-Luc Chetner - 2 goals, 4 assists

I don’t remember the last time I witnessed such a defeated ‘Bellies team, but they certainly need to move on from this game and end their regular season on a high note when they take on the Burnaby Lakers on Sunday night.  As for the Adanacs, they will end their regular season journey at the Ladner Leisure Centre when they take on the Delta Islanders on Sunday night. This game could be an early preview to this year’s finals and it’s fair to assume the Islanders will treat this game as the finals as the Victoria Shamrocks could still take that 2nd place spot in the standings, so the Islanders will certainly need to have their ‘A’ game ready for the Adanacs to lock onto that 2nd place spot and get a bye into the semi-finals.