The playoff-bound Shamrocks received a jolt of confidence despite a slow start, coming away with a 9-7 win over the Lakers on Friday night at the Q Centre to avenge last Friday’s loss in Burnaby.
Victoria gave up the game’s opening goal and trailed by a 4-3 count after the first period but came on strong in the game’s latter stages, especially defensively, and held on for the win.
With the teams knotted at three late in the first, the Lakers got a power play goal on either side of the intermission to give themselves a 5-3 lead early in the second.
Jesse King responded for the ‘Rocks 31 seconds later and Chris Wardle got the tying goal 26 seconds after that.
Eli McLaughlin put the Lakers back in front, but that would be their last lead of the game. The Shamrocks’ offence hit full throttle shortly after with goals from Corey Small, King and Ian McShane before the end of the frame, giving Victoria a two goal lead heading into the dressing room.
The teams traded goals in an otherwise quiet third period and the ‘Rocks brought it home for the win.
Rhys Duch was named the game’s first star with two goals and four assists while
Shamrocks netminder Adam Shute made 37 saves on 44 shots in the victory.
The ‘Rocks will travel to Coquitlam tonight for their third to last game of the regular season. They sit four points behind the New Westminster Salmonbellies but have two games in hand and would hold the tiebreaker if it comes to that.
Victoria will close out the regular season next weekend with a Friday home date against Nanaimo and a Saturday road contest in Coquitlam.
