Game Preview: Thunder set for first battle with Timbermen

For the first time this season, the Langley Thunder will renew hostilities with the Nanaimo Timbermen.

The two teams – both of whom are coming off victories – will meet for the first of three head-to-head contests tonight (Wednesday, June 26) at Langley Events Centre, with a 7:00pm start time.

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Entering the contest, Langley sports a 3-5 record while the Timbermen come in at 2-5 with both teams’ previous victories coming against the New Westminster Salmonbellies.

The Thunder have been off since June 19 when they posted an 8-5 home victory over New Westminster with Charles Scanlan registering a four-goal game as part of a six-point effort while goaltender Aden Walsh stopped 43 of 48 shots. Langley had trailed 2-1 after a period before striking for five goals in the middle frame and the victory was their second straight.

Nanaimo was last in action at home on June 23 when they posted their season high in goals, defeating the Salmonbellies 15-6 with Zach Manns (3-3), Jason Knox (3-1) and Taggart Clark (3-0) each scoring hat tricks and Colby Bowman finishing with 34 saves on 40 shots.

On the season, Langley has been led by the trio of Chase Scanlan (14-13), Charles Scanlan (10-14) and Clay Scanlan (8-14) as they sit one-two-three in team scoring with 27, 24 and 22 points, respectively. In goal, Walsh has won three of his last four starts, posting an .829 save percentage over that span.

For Nanaimo, Manns leads the team in goals (16), assists (19) and points (35), averaging 5.0 points per game.

On special teams, the Timbermen power play is tops in the league, connecting on half their chances (17-for-34) while their penalty kill ranks second with a .700 success rate. Langley also finds itself in the top half in both categories, with their man advantage converting at .389 (14-for-36), good for second, while their penalty kill is third at .635.

In terms of individual player special teams’ statistics, Clark is third in the league with seven power-play goals while Chase Scanlan is one behind at fourth with six.

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