The New Westminster junior A Salmonbellies are two games away from clinching a berth to this year’s Minto Cup.
Unfortunately, the Victoria Shamrocks can boast the same thing.
The two teams are locked into a 2-2 series draw entering this weekend’s games, which will go a long way to decide who advances to the B.C. Junior A Lacrosse League final.
Game 5 goes Saturday in Victoria (at Save-On Foods Place), while Game 6 is slated for Sunday, 4 p.m. at Queen’s Park Arena.
A seventh game, if necessary, would be played July 30 in Victoria.
New West deadlocked the series last Sunday with a compelling 13-11 win, where they only trailed for parts of the first period but had to repeatedly fend off the Shamrocks’ rally.
The ’Bellies built a sturdy 12-5 lead with a four-goal run to start the second period, on goals by Nick Hannay, Gabe Procyk, Will Malcom and Tre Leclaire.
Ahead by six entering the third frame, New West was under siege when Victoria poured on the offence, counting five straight goals to make it a one-goal game.
But netminder Kyle Hebert and the defence held the fort and Procyk added some late insurance with 2:44 remaining to lock it down.
Both teams fired off 50 shots on net, with Victoria pelting Hebert with 21 over the final 20 minutes.
Procyk finished the evening with four goals and two assists, while Will Malcom picked up his second straight hat trick and set up two others. Leclaire chipped in a pair of goals, while Jacob Patterson, Jake Stott and Ty Yanko rounded out the offence.
A day earlier on the Island, Victoria jumped ahead 2-1 in the series with a dramatic 15-14 victory.
The Shamrocks were in control most of the night, but New West shook off a six-goal deficit and rallied five consecutive goals in the third period to tie the game 14-14 with 5:19 left on the clock.
But Victoria’s Brian Robb stole the momentum with just 27 seconds remaining in regulation to give the home team the Game 3 win.
Leclaire racked up four goals and two assists in the game, while Malcom tallied three goals and five helpers. Also notching a hat trick was Erik Maas, while Ben Stewart finished with a goal and three assists.
