Timbermen embark on regular-season finale with playoff positioning at stake
It’s time for the Peterborough Timbermen to be goldfish, as Ted Lasso would say.
It’s time to put their six-game losing streak behind them and start fresh — just in time for their final game of the 2024 Arena Lacrosse League regular season.
Every team makes the playoffs, and this is lacrosse we’re talking about. Anyone can beat anyone on any given night.
With a full lineup, the crowd behind them and everyone buying in, the Timbermen can compete with every other team in the league.
Saturday’s 2 p.m. contest at Millbrook Arena is against the Ohsweken Bears, who sit in last place at 2-11 — and they’re on a 10-game losing streak.
A home game will be beneficial to Peterborough, who, despite having last won a game on Jan. 28, have seen their crowds grow this season and become more vocal in their fandom.
The final weekend of play will determine the standings from second to seventh. The Whitby Steelhawks, at 12-1, are locked into first place. Ohsweken cannot move up from 8th place.
Battling for places two through four are Brampton, Oshawa and Paris. Toronto is locked into fifth place. Peterborough needs to win to stay in sixth place, ahead of Six Nations. There are a number of scenarios that could play out for the final standings, but the Timbermen are focused solely on their own game.
Against Six Nations this past Sunday at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena, they were trounced, 23-13, with only five natural defenders in their short-handed lineup.
The Snipers led 8-5 after the first and 10-6 at halftime.
They opened the third with a run of five straight goals, putting the game already out of reach for Peterborough.
Dylan Goddard led Peterborough with a hat trick and four assists. Jake Gasperetti also contributed a hat trick on transition, as well as one assist. Jared Downey, back in the lineup after missing a pair of games, scored twice and helped on four others.
Colton McNutt scored twice, while Cam Milligan had a goal and four assists, Riley Curtis a goal and three helpers, Jack MacAlpine a goal and two assists and Nick Bafia one assist.
Thomas Kiazyk and Ethan Woods split time in goal.
Wes Whitlow led the Snipers with five goals and seven assists. Dustin Hill got the win in goal.
Doors for Saturday’s game open at 1 p.m. and the action begins at 2 p.m. at Millbrook Arena.
Tickets are sold at the door only, and are $10 for adults, or $5 for kids between the ages of 5-14. Those under 5 always get in free.
However the final standings shake out, the Timbermen’s quarterfinal playoff game will be on the road, so this is your last chance to see the team at Millbrook Arena this season.