This week’s regular season matchups will be like games 6 and 7 of the playoffs, says New Westminster Salmonbellies head coach Steve Goodwin.
Last weekend, the Salmonbellies split their Vancouver Island road swing, losing in Victoria 13-5 on Friday before rebounding in the Hub City with a 9-6 victory over the Nanaimo Timbermen on Saturday.
That leaves the senior A Salmonbellies facing two must-win scenerios this week, beginning on Thursday at Queen’s Park Arena against the Langley Thunder. The winner takes the all-important season series, which could eventually decide who moves on in the Western Lacrosse Association playoffs.
“We’re already in the playoffs. We’re in Game 6 and Game 7 this week,” said Goodwin.
On Saturday, New West has a stop in Coquitlam against the Adanacs in a game that is equally critical to the ’Bellies post-season hopes.
New Westminster is currently in a three-way tie for the fourth and final playoff spot with both Langley and Coquitlam.
In Victoria, New West hung with the league leaders 3-3 on first-period goals by defenders Curtis Hodgson, Jeff Cornwall and first-round draft pick Brendan Ranford, but fell off the pace in the middle frame following a 6-0 turnaround.
The ‘Bellies got one back in the third period off the opening faceoff on the first of two by righthander Colton Clark, but the Shamrocks regained control with Corey Small and Rhys Duch closing out the period.
Neil Tyacke came on in relief of starter Alex Buque late in the second period. Tyacke and Buque combined for 32 stops.
Cody Hagedorn posted his third win of the season for Victoria, stopping 37 shots on goal.
All five of New West’s goals came on transition.
In Nanaimo, Ranford and Cornwall garnered the first and second game stars, respectively, with two goals apiece to again lead the Salmonbellie attack from the back end.
Ranford sparked a four-goal finish to a 6-1 first period, with back-to-back counters less than five minutes apart.
“It’s what I wanted to see, our boys getting up the floor,” said Goodwin on the swell of transition markers New West is garnering in recent games.
Clark and Martin Cummings both scored in the final minute of the period to give New West its margin of victory.
Buque got the start and recorded his fifth win of the season in the Salmonbellies’ net.
“We’re in control of our destiny. It comes down to us doing our thing. That’s really what it is,” said Goodwin. “Game 6 is against Langley and Game 7 is Coquitlam. It’s a playoff approach we’re taking and, you know, it’s fun.”
New West will host Langley at Queen’s Park Arena on Thursday at 7:45 p.m.
The ‘Bellies then face the Adanacs in Coquitlam on Saturday in another must-win game at 7 p.m.
NLL signings
In related indoor lacrosse news, the National Lacrosse League Vancouver Stealth re-signed New Westminster Salmonbellie captain Curtis Hodgson and goalie Neil Tyacke to one-year contracts.
