Everyone expected some pushback.
And in a game where the offence ruled the roost, the keys would be mid-game adjustments and who could make a defensive stand stick for more than a handful of minutes.
The Ontario champion Peterborough Lakers gave their best performance of the Mann Cup series' first three games, edging the New Westminster Salmonbellies 13-12 in an exhaustive marathon on Monday at Queen's Park Arena, and giving the visitors their first win.
The 'Bellies hold a 2-1 lead entering Tuesday's Game 4 (7:30 p.m. at Queen's Park Arena), looking to regain control of the best-of-seven national showdown.
With their backs to the wall, the Lakers put forth their best start and pulled out their strongest stops to alter New West's two-game momentum.
" I think tonight was a good step in the right direction," remarked Peterborough head coach Mike Hasen. "You go back to the first two (games), I don't think we were defensively closing our gaps and they were allowed to plant and shoot. I think we did a better job of getting in their lanes and on their hands a little more."
Having a number of players who tasted Mann Cup competition over the past seven seasons, including 2010 Mike Kelly Memorial MVP Shawn Evans, the Lakers understood the importance and task at hand to avoid falling into a 3-0 deficit.
Evans counted three goals and four assists, including three tallies in a second frame that saw the pendulum swing briefly in the 'Bellies favour. Having an answer, and halting the host's wave of goals that proved so damaging in Game 2's 13-8 loss, was vital for the Ontario crew.
"It was a huge game for us, the season was on the line," said Evans, 31. "The championship was on the line. We needed to respond and I think we came out from the opening faceoff ready to compete and did it. I don't think we were at our best, we still took dumb penalities that weren't that smart, but we came out and controlled the lead."
For much of the night, however, that control was in flux.
Both teams enjoyed torrid runs that quickly gave way to quick breaks in the opposition direction. For the first time in the series, Peterborough struck first and counted three goals on their first five shots of the night, only to witness New West rattle three quick ones to tie it before the game was 10 minutes old.
All told, the Lakers took the lead three times in the first 20 minutes, with the host 'Bellies rallying each time to pull even, thanks to some potent specialty team work. New West notched three powerplay markers and a shorthanded effort -- by Justin Goodwin -- while Peterborough got two goals off the stick of PoCo native Curtis Dickson in the first frame.
The offence was nearly as productive in the second, with both teams counting four goals each. Chances and shots piled up, with the Lakers outshooting New West 24-15 in the period. For each time the Ontario champs grabbed a lead of one or two goals, the hometown fans were pulled out of their seats by a successful run the other way.
New West's only lead of the game lasted all of 1:48 and came midway through the contest when Kevin Crowley and Connor Robinson struck for back-to-back goals to erase a 6-5 deficit. Down 7-6, Evans sandwiched a pair around a Kyle Buchanan goal to give the visitors a brief 9-7 lead.
With under a minute left in the second, Mitch Jones and Crowley, the latter on a beautiful behind-the-back shot on the doorstep, knotted it at 9-9 with 20 minutes to play.
Peterborough replayed its start from the first, cashing in a pair to reclaim a two-goal margin. The 'Bellies pulled back within a goal only to see the visitors pick up two more, with the 13th goal, by Dickson, arriving with 1:07 left to play.
Displaying the same gumption which saw them win the series' first two games, New West didn't sag but scored twice in a span of 28 seconds, and got within a goal with just over five seconds on the clock. But this time, the Lakers held on and raised their sticks in celebration.
"We needed to throw everything at them," remarked Evans. "A lot of things weren't going our way offensively in the series and we needed to be better.
"Collectively I thought we were, and we competed and took it to them."
With his seven points, Evans now has 17 over three games, trailing series' scoring leaders Mitch Jones and Logan Schuss' 19 each. For his career, the Peterborough native climbed past Gary Gait and in a tie with Scott Evans, his older and retired brother, with 121 over 31 career Mann Cup games.
Adam Jones and Brad Self collected a goal and four assists each for the Lakers.
Crowley led New West scorers with four goals and four assists, while Mitch Jones had three goals and five assists and Logan Schuss contributed two goals and four helpers.
The series continues Wednesday with Game 5, while Game 6 and 7, if necessary, would be played Sept. 15 and 16.
