The Peterborough Timbermen closed out their 2017 regular season on Saturday night with an 8-6 win over the Paris RiverWolves at Children’s Arena.
Seventh-place Peterborough and second-place Paris will face-off again next week in the Arena Lacrosse League quarter finals. Peterborough’s 5-9 record equaled that of both Oshawa and Six Nations, but they finished in seventh based on a goal-differential formula.
While playoff opponents were decided before Saturday’s game even began, neither the Timbermen nor the RiverWolves were willing to mail this one in. It was a tight battle right from the opening draw.
RiverWolves captain Mike Burke sandwiched first-quarter goals by Fred Hartley and Gam Garlin. Tim Bergin gave the Timbermen a 3-2 lead with three seconds left in the quarter.
Bergin scored the only goal of the second, on a power play. The Timbermen led 4-2 at halftime.
“We just came out and played,” defenseman Colton Armstrong said. “Paris was really aggressive and we caught onto that really early so we just moved the ball, pushed the ball and found a couple of power play goals.”
The Timbermen’s transition game was also on fire, pushing the pace all game. Although held to just one goal, they forced Orleman to make a series of fast-break saves including four in a row in the second quarter.
Armstrong was thrown viciously into the boards after his fast-break attempt, but he played the rest of the game. He missed a couple of games earlier this season after taking a beating against Whitby.
“I’m pretty banged up but I like to recover in ice baths and stuff like that so I’m always ready for the next weekend,” he said. “The [week between] games is helpful.”
Two shorthanded goals from Blaze McCullough and Brett Ulbikas tied the game at four. Bergin scored, again on a power play, to restore the lead. Hartley’s second goal gave the Timbermen a 6-4 lead. It was a lead they never relinquished.
Kaleb Bingley scored the game winning goal 1:45 into the fourth after Ulbikas had closed the gap to one. Bingley scored on a transition attempt, on a jump that turned into a crease dive to beat RiverWolves’ goaltender Steve Orleman. Burke scored once more but Hartley iced the game with an empty netter.
Brett Perras, who leads the ALL in goals against, made a lot of solid saves for Peterborough and looked comfortable between the pipes.
“The guys played really hard tonight. They worked really hard for this W,” assistant coach Ray Dance said. “Our loose ball pursuit was phenomenal. Our defense was on their mitts whole night, causing turnovers. The guys wanted it for themselves.”
Dance stepped in for head coach Joe Sullivan, who was on a pre-scheduled vacation.
Armstrong said the team appreciated Dance’s preparation for the game.
“Ray stepped up and was really vocal with us telling us what to do,” Armstrong praised. “He knew what his game plan was at the start and we knew what he wanted and we put it on the floor.”
Peterborough dressed only 16 players and one goalie, while Paris pretty much had a full lineup with all their top scorers.
“Us winning today [shorthanded] is a big stepping stone because Paris had a full roster and we’re going to come in next week and beat them. The mental edge is really nice,” Armstrong said.
Paris may have finished in second place, but Peterborough won the season series 2-0. Saturday’s shorthanded victory was an important morale boost for the Peterborough boys heading into the playoffs.
“Our confidence level is high,” said Dance. “But every game is a new game. You start with 60 minutes and have to play right to the end buzzer. But we’ve got the confidence from beating them twice. We know we can do it.”
Peterborough’s 5-9 record equaled that of both Oshawa and Six Nations, but Peterborough finishes in seventh due to goal differential.
They will play the third game of a triple-header at Children’s Arena next Saturday, March 31 at 7 p.m. Six Nations plays Whitby at 1 p.m. and Oshawa faces St. Catharines at 4 p.m. The ALL semi-finals and championship game will take place on April 7th and 8th at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre in Oakville.
