What a difference a week makes.
The Burnaby Lakers looked like world beaters on Friday, out-firing the high-powered Victoria Shamrocks in a polished 13-10 victory at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre.
Led by Dane Stevens’ seven-point performance and the return of captain Robert Church, Burnaby appeared to be well-recovered from the thrashing it took just seven days earlier – an 18-2 mauling at the hands of league-leading New West – and collect its second straight win.
The Shamrocks were no pushovers, either, leading 5-3 after a pair of early goals to start the second period. But the Lakers were never knocked off course, replying with goals from Church, Stevens, Eli McLaughlin and Brine Rice over a span of 3:09 to reclaim a 7-5 advantage.
Victoria would close the gap to 7-6, but Shaun Dhaliwal and McLaughlin – with his fourth of the contest – reshaped the lead to 9-6.
Although without the services of all-star Rhys Duch, the ’Rocks continued to push back and got it to 9-8 before former Peterborough Laker Joel Matthews pocketed his second in as many games, followed by Stevens’ third of the night.
Matthews is part of a key group of newcomers recruited by Burnaby general manager Kevin Hill, who are injecting some new blood with last year’s regular season champions.
Tristan Rai, an Edmonton recruit, and Whitby native Adam Perroni scored late goals, before Victoria got the final marker by Casey Jackson, his fourth of the game, to complete the offence.
Another newcomer, Toronto native Aiden Genik, chipped in four assists while Scott Jones contributed three in the game.
Turning aside 28 shots for the win was Zak Boychuk.
The victory improved the Lakers’ record to 4-4, one-point back of fourth-place Nanaimo, and two back of third place Victoria, with two games in hand on both.
Burnaby’s next test is against the second-place Maple Ridge Burrards, Friday, 7:30 p.m. at the Copeland arena.
