Richmond Rapids Edge West Vancouver Wolves 2-1 with Late Deflection Goal by Lila Nair
Lila Nair's clutch deflection seals Rapids' narrow victory over Wolves in a tightly contested battle
By Jordan Matthews
WEST VANCOUVER – The Richmond Rapids came away with a hard-fought 2-1 win over the West Vancouver Wolves, with Lila Nair scoring twice, including the game-winning deflection late in the third period. This victory was crucial for the Rapids, who survived pressure from the Wolves’ relentless offense and a stellar goaltending duel.
The game’s first breakthrough came in the middle stanza when Nair deflected a sharp shot past West Vancouver goalie Haruto Saito, setting the tone early. But the Wolves responded with a wrist shot from Rajesh Patel, assisted by Tania Morales and Maya Singh, tying the game and igniting the home crowd.
The decisive moment came late in the contest when Nair tipped a perfect feed from Owen Gallagher and Dmitri Sokolov into the net, reclaiming the lead for the Rapids. Richmond’s goalie Nikolai Petrov stood tall throughout, turning away 22 shots and maintaining a save percentage above 95%, crucial in holding off the Wolves’ 35 shots.
On the other side, Saito faced 30 shots and denied multiple key attempts, including several from Rapids’ Dmitri Sokolov who was aggressive with ten shots and an assist. Despite the loss, Patel’s wrist shot goal and Singh’s 12 shots and assist stood out for the Wolves.
Coach John Reynolds praised his team’s grit, saying, “Our guys fought hard, especially Nair who was unstoppable tonight. Petrov’s goaltending gave us the confidence we needed.”
Nair, the game’s star, modestly commented, “The puck found me at the right moments. It’s a team effort, but I’m glad to contribute when it counts.”
Key Notes:
- Lila Nair scored both Rapids goals, including the game-winner.
- Nikolai Petrov stopped 22 of 23 shots, earn 95.7% save rate.
- Rajesh Patel accounted for West Vancouver’s only goal with a precise wrist shot.
- Maya Singh led Wolves in shots with 12 and added an assist.
- Richmond had 43 turnovers but capitalized efficiently on their chances with a 9.1% shot efficiency.