Luck of the Irish

The Shamrocks had a tough game on Saturday when Coquitlam rolled into Bear Mountain Arena and managed to squeak a win even without scoring in the third period. Victoria came over to the mainland for game two of the Sunday double against Burnaby, and were on a mission for a big win.

The first period started out with both sides playing safe ball feeling out what game the other team was going to play. There were no goals or penalties in the first until just eight minutes left when Aaron McLean slid the ball on the floor past Tom Wray to put the 'Rocks up 1-0.

When Mike Gilmore got called for high sticking, Cory Conway would again slide the ball past Wray on the floor for a two-nil lead with 46 seconds left in the period.

In the second Victoria came out confident with their lead and went to work on Burnaby. 2007 Rookie of the year Michael Pires had a six point night on Saturday against Coquitlam and tonight would be no different. Pires had two goals in the second and scoring from Cayle Ratcliff, Scott Stone, and Kory Kowalyk would give the Shamrocks a comfortable 7-0 lead to head into the final period.

Victoria netminder Matt Flindell had an amazing night between the pipes only letting in one goal from Burnaby that could have been called for crease depending on where you were sitting in the stands.

In the third Kowalyk and Pires would provide even more of a cushion for Victoria, ending the game 9-1 for the visiting Shamrocks.

Goaltending was key in the game; Flindell looked very focused for Victoria, not biting on what Burnaby was throwing at him. At the other end, Wray had an alright night until the second when he got rattled after he let in three more goals. Brandon Smith came in to relieve Wray with five minutes left and let in two short handed goals and one at even strength.

Judging from the reaction of players and coaches during the game there was no one in the Arena more disappointed in their performance than the Lakers themselves. The game was slated to be one heck of a matchup, and a possible look ahead to a post season match-up. Instead Victoria cracked Burnaby, and cracked them early enough to be able run away with the game and play on the Lakers emotions. Another six point game for Michael Pires, coupled with four other Shamrocks with three points on the night, gives Victoria an extra bit of confidence that will surely be a headache for all the other teams in the BCJALL.