Two down, one more to go. That's how many games the Burnaby Lakers have left in order to gain a potential berth into the B.C. Junior Lacrosse League playoffs.
On Tuesday, Burnaby dropped a 10-4 decision to New Westminster at Queen's Park Arena.
A day later, the junior A Lakers fell to the 20-0-0 Coquitlam Adanacs 15-5.
"It's taken us a long time to find our rhythm," said Burnaby goalie Patrick Bayliss, who stopped 31 shots in the matchup. "We just got to squeak one out. If we play 60 minutes we could pretty much beat anybody."
But that's the rub against Burnaby. In four of the team's last five losses, the Lakers have given up at least one big high-scoring to the opposition.
"It's been a problem all year," added the 19-year-old keeper. "We win the battles and compete for everything, but then the momentum changes really fast if we lose those key little battles."
And that was happening routinely against the Salmonbellies.
Burnaby outshot the hometown Salmonbellies 47-41, but failed to score even up on New West goalie Frankie Scigliano until Brad Confrey potted his sixth of the year on a breakaway passing play from David Beaumont and Bayliss in the third period.
New Westminster capitalized on three breakaway chances of its own, including a shorthanded counter by Kyle Robinson.
Scigliano also got into the action, scoring his first-ever goal into an empty net in the final minute of play while Bayliss was on the bench for an extra attacker.
On Wednesday, former Laker Jackson Decker, traded to Coquitlam at the deadline, led the league-leading junior Adanacs with five points, including a game-high four goals.
Burnaby's final chance to pull even with Langley rests on the result of the Thunder's final game against Delta played Thursday (after NOW deadlines).
A win on Sunday, coupled with a loss by Langley, would give Burnaby the sixth and final playoff spot.
The Lakers host the Victoria Shamrocks at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre on Sunday. Game time is 5 p.m.
