Penalty trouble was no trouble for the Victoria Shamrocks on Wednesday night.
The Shamrocks crew scored four shorthanded goals, including two from Jeff Shattler, to help steal a 12-10 win from the Burnaby Lakers in Game 2 of the Western Lacrosse Association, and a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven playoff series.
The Shamrocks and Lakers move to Bear Mountain Arena tomorrow (Aug. 9) night for Game 3.
Face off is 7:45 p.m.
The Rocks opened Wednesday’s game by surrendering a shorthanded goal to Jackson Decker and the Lakers took a 6-4 lead into the second period and 8-7 lead into the third.
But the Shamrocks’ rallied off five straight goals in the third to go up 12-8 before the Lakers scored two with the extra attacker to make it close.
Junior Rocks call-ups Jesse King scored two goals, one shorthanded in the third period, and Brody Eastwood scored once.
Transition man Shattler led the Rocks with a six-point performance, two shorthanded goals and four assists. Scott Ranger had two goals, with singles from Matt Yager, Cory Conway (a key momentum changer at the final buzzer of the first period), Corey Small, as well as singles from defencemen Reid MacPhail and Dan McRae (shorthanded).
The match was a test of the Rocks’ offensive depth as the offensive trio of Rhys Duch, Small and Conway, who typically lead the Rocks attack, were held to a combined two goals. Duch went 0 for 5 on shots.
Burnaby out-shot Victoria 50-38 and scored three powerplay goals on 11 opportunities.
Game 4 goes Sunday night in Burnaby. If Burnaby manages a win in either Game 3 or 4, the series will continue Monday (Aug. 12) in Victoria with Game 6, if necessary, in Burnaby on Wednesday and Game 7 in Victoria next Friday.
