RECAP: Salmonbellies Force Game 7 as Goalies Shine

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The New Westminster Salmonbellies have lived to fight another day.

In a low-scoring affair that had all the makings of a pressure-filled playoff matchup, the 'Bellies were able to fend off the Victoria Shamrock's lethal offensive attack and force a series-deciding game that will also decide who fills BC's second spot in next month's Minto Cup. 

New West came out of the gates strong, with three goals, two of them coming from unlikely sources in Kieran McKay and Mack Burns in transition. Those are the types of contributions you look for when you need to pull of a big playoff win. Victoria was able to cut that lead to two before the opening 20 minutes ran out with a Zach Manns goal.

The 'Rocks would eventually tie the game a little more than five minutes into the middle frame with goals from Teioshontathe McComber and Brayden Brown coming 1:26 apart. Victoria would then be hard done by in the penalty department, with two majors for high sticking being doled out in a matter of minutes. New West spent the majority of that second period on the Power Play, but Victoria got some unbelievable goaltending from Cam Dunkerley, who stopped all 26 shots he faced. 

The score would stay that way until 8:34 into the third period with Will Malcom adding his first point of the day to the scoresheet. An insurance marker would come from Erik Maas with a little more than four minutes to play. 

Game 7 will go Wednesday at The Q Centre with a 5:00 PM faceoff. 

Photo by Gary Woodburn