After a day off Sunday the Mann Cup resumes Monday with Game 3 between the Peterborough Lakers and Langley Thunder.
Langley took the first two games over the weekend, including a double overtime victory on Saturday. The game wasn’t without controversy though as Langley’s tying goal at the end of regulation appeared to go in after the buzzer. Although the scoreboard showed 0.00 when the ball went in, and there is no video replay, the referees deemed the ball crossed the line with 0.01 remaining on the clock.
Then, in double overtime, the game winning goal appeared to be a crease violation, which was clearly shown on the replay, but without video review the call on the floor stood and the Thunder took a 2-0 series lead.
Although both of those goals proved costly for the Lakers, they weren’t the sole reasons the Lakers lost the game; full credit has to go to Langley there. They battled hard and played a well-rounded game with former Laker Curtis Dickson leading the offence with 5 goals and 5 assists, giving him 19 points already in this series.
Shawn Evans has been leading the offence for Peterborough. His 16 points so far puts him just 9 points back from John Tavares on the all-time Mann Cup points list. Evans is well on pace to take over that top spot this series.
Being down by two games isn’t new to the Lakers though. In 2017, they trailed New Westminster 2-0 before coming back to win that series 4-2. Then, in 2012, they were down two games to Langley before winning four straight in that series – coincidentally, game 2 in 2012 was also a 15-14 overtime win by the Thunder.
Although the Thunder can’t actually clinch the series, Game 3 is essentially a must win for the Lakers.
Game time is 8 p.m. at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.
(Written by: Scott Arnold)
