Sunday's Game Now a Must-Win for Lakers After Falling to Chiefs in Game 5 of MSL Final

By Scott Arnold

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers dropped an 11-5 decision to the Six Nations Chiefs Thursday night at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena, putting the Chiefs one win away from claiming the MSL championship.

The Lakers will look to even the MSL final when they return home for Game 6 on Sunday night at the Peterborough Memorial Centre, with the Six Nations Chiefs holding a 3-2 series lead (photo courtesy of peterborough lakers via david pickering)

The Chiefs took control early, scoring four times in the opening period while keeping the Lakers off the scoreboard. Lyle Thompson scored twice, with Chris Cloutier and Dhane Smith also finding the net as Six Nations took a 4-0 lead into the second.

The Chiefs added four more goals in the second period before the Lakers got on the board, with Cloutier scoring his second of the night just 42 seconds in, Thompson completing his hat trick on a shorthanded goal and Andrew Kew scoring his first of the game. Dhane Smith then added his second of the night later in the period to give Six Nations an 8-0 lead.

The Lakers finally broke through with 7:43 left in the second when Ryan Lanchbury scored to get Peterborough on the board. Braedon Saris followed with a power-play goal, and Brad McCulley made it three straight for the Lakers to cut the deficit to four.

Dhane Smith stopped the Peterborough run before Rob Hellyer scored with 2:29 left in the period, sending the Chiefs into the third with an 8-4 lead.

Lanchbury scored his second of the night early in the third to pull the Lakers within three, but Chris Cloutier completed his hat trick to restore the Chiefs’ four-goal cushion. Ian MacKay then scored his first of the night before Andrew Kew added his second of the game to make it 11-5.

Lanchbury led the Lakers with two goals and an assist, while Hellyer, Saris and McCulley each scored once. Justin Sykes, Frank Coyle and Colton Armitage each recorded an assist.

Thompson finished with three goals and two assists for Six Nations, and Cloutier had three goals and an assist. Kew had two goals and three assists, Dhane Smith added two goals and an assist, and Ryan Smith had three assists. MacKay finished with a goal and an assist, while Matt Hossack, Brendan Bomberry and Cody Jamieson each had an assist.

Drew Hutchison played all 60 minutes in net for Peterborough, while Doug Jamieson earned the win for Six Nations.

The Chiefs now lead the best-of-seven series 3-2. Game 6 is 7pm Sunday night at the Peterborough Memorial Centre, with the Lakers needing a win to force a seventh and deciding game. Tickets for that game went on sale Thursday morning.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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