Home-floor advantage is restored.
The Victoria Shamrocks defeated the Maple Ridge Burrards 11-9 in a thriller on Friday night to even the Western Lacrosse Association championship best-of-seven series 1-1 at Planet Ice.
Veteran Jeff Shattler found the magic touch with four goals and three assists to pace the visitors, who had lost the opener 11-6 on Wednesday, thus losing home-floor advantage. The Shamrocks earned it back and now play host to Game 3 on Sunday at 6 p.m. at The Q Centre before Game 4 returns to the mainland on Tuesday.
It was virtually a must-win situation as falling behind 2-0 would have meant a tall order for the Shamrocks, who are banged up. Junior call-up Marshal King was called back into play for Victoria and Josh Fagan returned from injury.
It was Shattler鈥檚 night, though, as he recorded six of his seven points over the last 34 minutes of play.
鈥淗e plays with Frankie [Burrards goalie Frankie Scigliano] in Calgary [of the NLL] so they know each other really well and they鈥檙e competitors,鈥� said Shamrocks head coach Bob Heyes. 鈥淐ome winter they want bragging rights. Frankie had it in Game 1 and Shats got it back for Game 2.鈥�
Rhys Duch had six assists for the Shamrocks and captain Corey Small had three goals and two helpers while Cory Conway added two goals and two assists as the big guns responded.
Once again backup netminder Cody Hagedorn replaced starter Adam Shute, this time to begin the third period as the Shamrocks trailed 8-7 after 40 minutes. Hagedorn allowed just one goal on eight shots as Victoria battled back.
Braylon Lumb tied the game at 8-8 just 1:24 into the third and Shattler popped a quick pair within 59 seconds by the 3:38 mark of the final frame. Conway added the insurance with 3:36 to go. Jon Harnett had the other Victoria goal.
Shute stopped 20 shots over two periods before he was replaced. Scigliano made 38 saves for Maple Ridge.
鈥淚t was a great playoff win,鈥� added Heyes. 鈥淲e were down and fought back and really put the pressure on them. The offence had a great second period. [The media] were really critical of our second period [in Game 1]. We had a great second, but were still down a goal. We made the switch in goal, which is always difficult, but I just played a hunch and it paid off.鈥�
Dan Taylor had three goals and three assists for the Burrards, who lost for just the second time in these playoffs after defeating New Westminster 4-1 in the semifinals. Ben McIntosh had three goals and two assists and Mike Mallory had two goals and two helpers. Zack Porter also scored for the hosts.
