Alexis Buque and Mitch Jones delivered a one-two punch that knocked the Maple Ridge Burrards for a loop on Wednesday.
The two New Westminster Salmonbellies led the way in a marathon match that catapulted their team past the host Burrards 8-7 in double-overtime, and into the Western Lacrosse Association's championship final.
Buque was the epitomy of stellar, while Jones' fourth goal of the night, coming 9:36 into the first sudden-death period, ended the best-of-seven showdown in a 4-3 decision for the 'Bellies, who now host Victoria on Friday in Game 1 of the final (6 p.m. start time).
"It was a marathon, the whole series," said Jones. "It was one of the best series I've been involved in -- it got really loud and we had great (fan) support."
With a loud contingent of Salmonbellie faithful stocking the Cam Neely Arena, chants of "Buque" echoed around the rink as the stocky netminder kicked out shot after shot, ending up with 66 saves on the night. New West fired 58 shots at the Burrards' net.
Up 3-2 midway through the game, New West found itself staring at a three-goal deficit after Maple Ridge found the back of the net three times over six minutes during the second period. After Tyrell Hammer-Jackson won the opening faceoff of the third and hit the bottom corner on a fast break, the boisterous Burrard supporters had reason to pound the glass with a 6-3 lead.
But Buque didn't flinch, and the 'Bellies' resolve slowly took over, counting four goals to give them a brief 7-6 advantage. Maple Ridge proved equal to the challenge and kept on driving down the floor, forcing overtime on Mike Mallory's marker with three minutes left in regulation.
In the first 10-minute extra session, the Burrards struck first when Mallory got off a shot from the slot despite being well covered at 5:30 of the period. With barely two minutes to play, Joel McCready deadlocked the game on a second-chance shot from a stick's length away from Maple Ridge netminder Frank Scigliano.
Jones had an opportunity a minute later to put New West in front, but Scigliano turned it aside.
Both teams took the 10-minute intermission to rejuvenate the batteries, knowing one shot would end it. And both teams had their chances.
Getting it wouldn't be easy, however. Buque robbed Dayne Michaud on a two-on-one break, and then stoned Ben McIntosh off a rebound four minutes into the frame. At the other end, McCready was turned aside, while Connor Robinson hit Scigliano's crest.
Each possession had an impending sense of resolution, and as the game stretched on into the 78th minute the tension felt by the fans created an electric, nervous buzz. Maple Ridge, by dominating on the loose ball, appeared to have the edge in possession, but when Jones finally converted the set play midway through sudden death, the fans from New West let go with an explosion of relief and exaltation.
"We were taking it shift by shift. Every shift we went out there trying to use everyone," Jones said of the sudden death strategy. "Everyone wants to be the guy to shoot but everyone has to work together. We held it for quite a long time and finally put one past (Scigliano). .. I just saw a way and let it rip. I saw an open lane.
"I know we've thrown a lot of shots on net and I thought maybe (Scigliano) would be a little tired so you've got to take your shots -- one shot wins it."
It was Jones' 18th goal of the series, tying him with Burnaby's Robert Church for the league lead. He also sits tied with Church for first in the playoff scoring race with 32 points in seven games.
Buque, whose name rang through the building during the various times he refused to bend while under seige by Burrards, was all smiles after the game.
"(Maple Ridge has) great shooters. There's nothing more you can say about that. They know how to set up a solid offence and poured it on the net. I just had to step up for the team," said the netminder from Whitby. "You've always got to worry about the next shot, the next shot. You can't worry about that last goal."
"Honestly, both teams played their hearts out tonight," added New West captain Curtis Hodgson. "We had to grind back and get three in a row, and both teams had their chances. Luckily, Jonesy got one up and by him for the win."
There is just 24 hours of rest before the squad has to pull on the Fish crest again, as the best-of-seven final starts Friday, 6 p.m. at Queen's Park. The winner willl host the Mann Cup championship against Ontario's best.
Head coach Steve Goodwin said there are many things to like about the matchup from a fan's perspective, but he said it will be as tough if not tougher than the one just completed.
"It's not going to be easy. We're playing the Victoria Shamrocks and they've won like seven of the last eight (WLA titles). We've got to be prepared to play Victoria, and we will be on Friday night," said Goodwin. "That team has more experience than any team in this league, they've been there before and they beat a very strong Burnaby team. There's no easy game to get where we want to go to."
Tickets for Friday's Game 1 go on sale 10 a.m. on game day. The schedule for the final is (with each game starting at 6 p.m.): Game 1, Friday in New Westminster; Game 2, Sunday in Victoria; Game 3, Tuesday (Aug. 22) in New West; Game 4, Friday (Aug. 25) in Victoria. Games 5, 6 and 7 if necessary.
