Coquitlam Adanacs netminder Nick Rose, left, blocks a Nic Bilic shot during Sunday’s opening game of the Western Lacrosse Association championship final with the Langley Thunder. Langley won the first game 7-3.
Photograph by: Troy Landreville , Langley Advance
They aren't the defending Western Lacrosse Association champions for nothing.
The Langley Thunder unleashed a pinpoint offence, blasting 59 shots at Nick Rose, en route to a 7-3 victory over the Coquitlam Adanacs in Game 1 of their best-of-seven championship series.
The two teams tangled Tuesday, after NOW deadline, and will continue their rivalry Thursday in Game 3 in Langley.
A three-goal outburst to start the second period broke open a 1-1 match for the Thunder. Port Moody native Athan Iannucci got the ball rolling, a powerplay tally that was followed by markers from Brett Hickey and Garrett Billings.
Although Steve McKinlay pulled Coquitlam to within two late in the third, the visitors were unable to put much more than a cursive offensive flurry forward. Langley, meanwhile, maintained its steady attack right until the end.
Billings finished with two goals and two assists, while Joel McCready also tallied twice for the Thunder. Scoring for the Adanacs were Jason Jones and Daryl Veltman.
The Thunder were well-rested heading into the series opener on Sunday, sweeping past Burnaby. Coquitlam, meanwhile, just closed out its semifinal series a handful of days earlier.
The series continues on Saturday, 7: 45 p.m. in Coquitlam for Game 4. If necessary, the two teams will play on Aug. 27 in Langley, Aug. 29 in Coquitlam, and Aug. 31 in Langley.
