Week #5 - Recap

	12	12

The Nanaimo Timbermen hosted the Campbell River Ravens on Wednesday at the Ice Centre; hoping to avenge their previous loss just two week prior. Nanaimo jumped out to an early 3-0 lead within the first two minutes, but the visitors got on the board at 15:25 and then each team traded goals afterwards about 5 minutes apart for a Nanaimo 4-2 first intermission lead.

Campbell River came our charged up in the 2nd firing two goals in 4 minutes to tie the game. Over the next 10 minutes of the period, both teams traded goals making the contest pretty exciting. The Ravens scored at 7:46 and 5:10 of the middle frame to tie the game back up at 8's going in to the break.

Each team traded goals for the first half of the frame but with 6:06 to go, Campbell River took the lead and then padded it again at 4:03. Sensing some urgency, Nanaimo scored just 4 second after that goal and then again with 3:03 left to tie the game. A back and forth game and exciting to watch!

	7	8

The Saanich Express hosted the Westshore Bears on Friday evening marking their first game in the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre Arena in 2019. The near 200 fans in attendance were treated to a great lacrosse game put on by two long-time rival clubs. Three lucky fans in attendance were treated to personal pizzas sponsored by the Express, a first period target shooting activity sponsored by the Victoria Airport Authority and a second period frisbee toss sponsored by Mikey's Concrete.

The Bears opened up the scoring on their first shot of the game. The Express tied it up just minutes after and each team traded goals to split the period at 2 goals apiece. The Express outscored the Bears 3-1 in the second period, which turned out to be a slow period with teams going in and out of the penalty box for minor infractions.

Westshore outshot and out played the home team in the third period and plugged away at the deficit and over 18 minutes of the third period erased the lead to took it over scoring 5 unanswered goals to take an 8-5 lead with 2:15 to go. Game over, right? Nope! With 1:01 left to play, Saanich calls a time-out and then the game got more exciting. The Express pull their goalie and score with :32 seconds left. Then off the next face-off, score again just 4 seconds later to pull within one. After a missed open net opportunity by the Bears, the Express marched back up the floor and in the dying seconds, newly acquired Nolan Morrison rolls off his check and dives across the crease for a last second shot but 'tender Diego Such closed the corner to seal the win. 

	13	9

The Oceanside Sharks hosted their North Island rivals, the Campbell River Ravens on Saturday evening in front of their large and boisterous crowd and they came out attacking swiftly like the shark did in the 1975 film debut "Jaws". The Ravens were shark-bitten for 4 straight goals in the first 12 minutes and appeared to be back on their claws, but scratched their way back over the rest of the period to come within one to end the first down 4-3.

To start the middle stanza, the Sharks appeared dead in the water and the Ravens soared as they erased the Sharks lead and took it for their own 7-5 with 6:11 left in the 2nd. Cue the Megalodon wake up call; Oceanside returns the favour with just over 5 minute remaining in the period and score 3 goals to take an 8-7 lead in to the 3rd period.

Oceanside took a 2 goal lead early in the frame and then traded goals with their opponents in the middle of the period, then Campbell River closed the gap to within one with 12:53 remaining. With under 10 minutes to play, the Ravens lost their flight and the home team potted three more goals approximately 3 minutes apart to secure their first PNWJLL victory and send their fans home smiling.

	16	10

In an afternoon contest, the Saanich Express hosted the Campbell River Ravens who just played the evening before in Parksville, making it a tiring affair for the Ravens. The Express took advantage early of Campbell River's short bench and took off from the station with 3 straight goals before the Ravens answered. Within the next 5 minutes, the Railmen steamed ahead scoring 4 more tallies to take a 7-1 lead. The Ravens fought back with 2 goals of their own to end the period down 7-3.

Having spotted the home team a 4 goal lead, the Ravens played the Express even in the 2nd to tie the period at 4 goals apiece. The Ravens got in to penalty trouble midway through the third period and the Express' power-play took full advantage depositing 4 goals and pulling away. Breaking out for the Express this game was rookie Mike Johansen with 4 goals and 2 assists for the victors.

	2	14

In another mid-day contest, the Westshore Bears traveled to Parksville to face the Oceanside Sharks and proved why they are on top in the PNWJLL standings. The Bears mauled the Sharks from the opening whistle and slowly and quietly dominated the match from its onset; with period leads of 6-0 & 12-1, the home team just couldn't muster the same scoring touch as they did the evening before.

The third period was a closer affair with the visitors winning the frame 2-1 and maintaining their unblemished record.