For one period, the defence and goaltenders dominated.
But a crucial run late in the second period, that stretched into the third, gave the New Westminster Salmonbellies enough of a margin to defeat the Maple Ridge Burrards 13-7 on Monday at Queen's Park, forcing a seventh and deciding game.
It means the two teams play once more, this time Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. at Maple Ridge's Cam Neely Arena, with the winner advancing to the Western Lacrosse Association championship final.
The wild vagaries of the WLA playoffs continued to gain steam during a contest where the 'Bellies, facing elimination, staked out a 2-0 advantage after 20 minutes, and upped it to 6-2 midway through the second period. But Maple Ridge, displaying some of the steely resolve that carried the franchise to a league playoff title a year ago, counted three goals in 43 seconds to make it 6-5.
Instead of wilting under the pressure, and on the heels of coach Steve Goodwin's swift in-and-out goaltending change to shake things up, New West struck four times to restore a lead that would stand nearly for the remainder of the game.
Just 50 seconds after Matt Dinsdale made it 6-5 and seconds after relief netminder Tye Belanger had traded places with starter Alexis Buque, 'Bellies sniper Kevin Crowley whipped a slick shot past Maple Ridge's Frank Scigliano. Two minutes later, Brandon Goodwin counted his first of two in a row, the first on a long breakaway and the latter off a two-on-one break, to make it 9-5 after 40 minutes.
It was apparent that more was needed to quell a potential Burrards' rally.
"We came out after the second period and knew we had to get more goals," said Crowley, who collected a hat trick and two helpers on the night. "We couldn't rest on that 9-5 lead so we stuck to our system and trusted our players to make the play, the defence to do their job and us to put the ball in the net."
Crowley got the ball rolling 2:26 into the third, and while the Burrards' Dinsdale tallied two more to singlehandedly keep his squad within striking distance, New West answered back. Crowley, Joel McCready and Quinn MacKay, past a diving Scigliano, rounded out the scoring in the 'Bellies favour.
At the other end, Buque robbed MIke Mallory with a point-blank kick save and finished with 40 stops on the night.
Now the 'Bellies, who have won two straight since getting backed into a 3-1 corner, have to do it once more in Maple Ridge. But it's a chance they are eagerly awaiting.
"We are raring to go. Game 7 -- you can't ask for anything better in terms of a competitive standpoint," noted Crowley. "We know they'll be ready to go so it should be a great battle."
Logan Schuss and McCready also counted two goals each while Mitch Jones netted a goal and five assists.
The other semifinal winds down on Tuesday, as the Burnaby Lakers and Victoria Shamrocks lock sticks in Game 7 at the Copeland Sports Centre (6 p.m. faceoff).
