Forget the first two games, where energy and jubilation carried the day.
Put the past two games in the rearview mirror -- including Tuesday's 9-7 grinder, where the Peterborough Lakers protected its lead well to pull into a 2-2 series tie with the New Westminster Salmonbellies.
The coming days will tell the tale of the tape, and will require a special performance before the Mann Cup is patrolled onto the rustic Queen's Park Arena floor.
New West's Mitch Jones feels the shift in momentum is a temporary thing, one his team can reclaim by getting back to what earned them victories in Games 1 (13-11 in overtime) and 2 (12-10).
"If you told me that at the beginning of the year we'd be at home, with a best-of-three shot for a Mann Cup, I'd say we're in a pretty good spot," remarked Jones, who tallied twice and set up three others Tuesday. "We've got some adjustments to make as a group but we've done that all year. I'm confident we'll make those adjustments, and they'll continue to be close games."
It was a night where emotions were exposed on every player's sleeve, beginning at the ceremonial face-off when Hall of Fame greats Al Lewthwaite and Eric Cowieson, along with Mayor Jonathan Cote, found themselves amidst a caustic scrum. Once the game began, there was plenty of drama, including two waved-off Peterborough goals (due to feet in the crease), and an illegal equipment charge that saw the Lakers lose the services of Holden Catoni -- due to a silver necklace. There were runs, standout netminding, physical intimidation and some psychological games as well.
Peterborough set the stage for a best-of-three showdown -- which continues tonight (Wednesday), 7:30 p.m. in New West -- after pushing the host 'Bellies on their heels behind a terrific bounce-back start from all-star netminder Evan Kirk.
Kirk, who New West chased from the crease in Game 2 after a shaky performance that saw him surrender seven goals on 13 shots, demonstrated why he won the 2016 National Lacrosse League's top goalie award, and why he was a pillar in Peterborough's run to the Mann Cup championships.
After the Ontario squad broke open a 2-2 game with four goals, including a pair by Lakers' support player Thomas Hoggarth, Kirk faced a wave of shots from the 'Bellies as they battled to close a four-goal gap. On markers from Logan Schuss and Jones, the B.C. team did cut the deficit to 7-5 and nearly within a goal when Connor Robinson tried to bury a buzzer-beater at the end of the second. However, Kirk made a huge save off the New West junior to temporary cool the Queen's Park players.
But the 'Bellies didn't let up, and off a mid-floor turnover, defensive mainstay Brett Mydske converted a breakaway against his newly acquired Saskatchewan Rush teammate to make it 7-6 with 17 minutes to play. It wouldn't stay that way for long, as Peterborough's Curtis Dickson, with his second of the game, and Joel Matthews, put some distance between the Lakers and the home team with five minutes left. While Kevin Crowley cranked one more past Kirk with 3:32 left on the clock, New West couldn't bridge the final distance, and now settle down for a best-of-three battle.
Hoggarth, who cashed in his first two goals of the tournament, both from the edge of the crease, said it took a gritty, well-rounded effort to erase a 2-0 series deficit.
"We play as a team, we score as a team," noted Hoggarth. "We're one big unit, with good goalies, a strong defence all the way out. (Kirk) is an elite goalie and we expected him to play like this. He's one of the best."
Kirk stared down Crowley, his former New England Wolves teammate, on a couple of occasions, while the New West native also scored twice and bounced another pair off the metal as part of a 12-shot game. As has been Peterborough's routine throughout the playoffs, Kirk will take a seat in Game 5 after a 49-save performance and cede the crease to partner Matt Vinc in their netminding rotation.
Wednesday's mash-up will give one team the hammer and set up a possible Game 6 closer on Friday (7:30 p.m. at Queen's Park Arena). If a seventh game is needed, it would be played on Saturday.
Jones, who was a member of the 2015 Mann Cup champion Victoria Shamrocks -- who beat Peterborough in six games -- said there are similarities between the two series so far; but it is also quite different.
"We have to make those bounces go our way," said Jones. "The first two games we were playing with speed, (and) when you play with speed and aggression you get those bounces. The last two games we were a little on our heels so those bounces have been going their way.
"It's a different kind of series, seven games in nine nights so you don't have time to dwell on things. You have to make quick, smart adjustments... It happens so quickly, you don't have a week to watch film and do it. You have to do it the next day."
