While popular trends like spiked hair and tie-dye T-shirts had a definite shelf life, the one trend that will never fade is a hot winning streak.
The New Westminster Salmonbellies continued to trend in the right direction, boosting their Western Lacrosse Association league record to 10-6-1 with a pair of big wins last week to extend their winning steak to four games.
As they wrap up the regular season tonight (Thursday, 7:30 p.m. at Queen’s Park Arena) against the Victoria Shamrocks, the club’s main aim will be to see this trend carry over to the playoffs, due to start next week.
By knocking off the first-place Maple Ridge Burrards 11-7 on Sunday in a repeat performance of a win a week earlier, the ’Bellies maintained their shot at first place in the logjam that is the WLA’s top four teams. New West sits just one-point back of the Burrards, with both teams having just one game to play.
Victoria, meanwhile, is tied with New West with 21 points, and close the regular season Friday at home against the Burnaby Lakers, who are stand three points out of first with three games left. The final standings could remain in flux until Aug. 1, when Burnaby plays Langley in the last game.
Although they don’t control their own destiny when it comes to placing, the ’Bellies showed they can control a game by once again taking an early lead and holding the opposition in check.
A 2-1 lead after 20 minutes quickly
evolved into 5-1 on tallies by Anthony Malcom, Mitch Jones and Quinn Mackay. Joel McCready and Jones finished with hat tricks, while Kevin Crowley posted a goal and five assists.
The Burrards applied pressure during the game, but New West’s Alexis Buque turned back 40 shots.
A few days earlier, the’Bellies blasted
Coquitlam 14-5, with Logan Schuss and Jones posting six-point games.
