Late-game heartbreak in OT for Thunder

Langley Thunder's Bailey Vanichuk slips past the check of a New Westminster defender during BC Junior A Lacrosse League action earlier this season at Langley Events Centre. Vanichuk scored twice in his team's most recent game a 9-9 tie in Port Coquitlam against the Saints. Ryan Molag LEC file photo

Seconds away from a much-needed victory to keep their slim playoff hopes alive, the Langley Thunder surrendered the game-tying goal in a 9-9 contest Friday night in Port Coquitlam.

Josh Mills scored with two seconds left on the clock in the 10-minute overtime period in a 9-9 tie between the Port Coquitlam Saints and visiting Thunder at the Port Coquitlam Community Centre in BC Junior A Lacrosse League action.

Langley had rallied from an 8-6 deficit with a pair of goals to force overtime as Cody Malawsky and Stuart Phillips each found the back of the net in the final 5:19. Phillips goal came with 73 seconds to play and with the goaltender pulled for the extra attacker.

Bailey Vanichuk gave the Thunder a 9-8 lead 3:03 into the overtime period and it looked like that would stand as the winner until Mills -- with the Saints goalie on the bench for a 6-on-5 advantage -- was able to beat both the buzzer and goaltender Brayden Wandler.

Wandler finished with 34 saves. Phillips (4+2) and Malawsky (1+5) each had six-point games while Vanichuk (with a pair), Jayme Brain and Braiden Struss had the other Langley goals.

Mills and Caelan Mander each had a pair of goals and one assist for Port Coquitlam.

The Thunder's record now sits at 3-8-1and seven points, which puts them in sixth place in the eight-team BCJALL. The top four make the post-season but with only nine games remaining, Langley finds themselves seven points back of the playoff bar entering this weekend's games. The Saints improved to 7-4-1 and 15 points.

Langley -- which has just one loss in their past four games -- faces a pivotal stretch with three contests in five days in the coming week. The team plays in New Westminster against the Salmonbellies on June 13, home at Langley Events Centre versus the Burnaby Lakers on June 15, and in Nanaimo against the Timbermen on June 17.

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