On the schedule, a double-dip trip to Vancouver Island for a mainland Western Lacrosse Association club usually ends like those old classic country-and-western tunes -- bruised, unhappy and hung over.
The Burnaby Lakers turned that sad song on its head, dealing disappointment and heartache to league rivals in Victoria and Nanaimo, while cementing their playoff credentials.
A strong start in both games set the table for convincing victories -- 14-8 over Victoria on Friday, and 12-9 over Nanaimo on Saturday -- and reaffirmed team confidence with the playoffs slated to start this Thursday.
On the strength of both wins -- which extended the squad's win streak to four games -- the 11-5-1 Lakers can clinch its first league title Tuesday night with a win over the Langley Thunder (7:45 p.m. at Bill Copeland Sports Complex).
"We're just finally getting all our players in and starting to gel," remarked netminder Zak Boychuk, who kicked out 41 shots in Nanaimo in a game where the home team put up a valiant effort. "Our lineup has kind of been different and changing the whole year, but now guys are back and we're feeling really good about our chances."
Yes, Burnaby got both Josh Byrne and Tyler Digby into uniform for both contests, while the club was able to rotate a few players in and out over the two days to take advantage of a deep 25-player roster. And it was the debut of new head coach Peter Tellis, who took over last Monday when first-year coach and GM Jim Milligan was unexpectedly relieved of his coaching duties.
So there were many ways these two games could of played out. How they did suggests the Lakers are ready for the next big challenge: a Mann Cup chase.
Against the four-time defending regular season champion Shamrocks on Friday, Burnaby bolted out to an early lead on Robert Church's tally 19 seconds into the contest. Jason Jones and Eli McLaughlin upped it to 3-0 with goals 38 seconds apart. They pushed the lead to 8-2 on markers from Scott Jones, Jason Jones and McLaughlin before the halfway point, but Victoria riled up its fanbase with a four-goal run to get within two and 24 minutes left in the game.
But the Lakers took the air out of that comeback, and silenced the 2,456 'Rocks' fans in attendance when they held Victoria goalless in the first half of the third period, then converted on a lengthy powerplay with a pair of tallies by Dane Stevens, just 10 seconds apart, and Jason Jones.
Brendan Rouse notched his first two goals of the season, while McLaughlin netted three goals and three assists. Jason Jones exited with a hat trick, while Church picked up two goals and six assists.
Boychuk said the focus in Victoria was in getting out to a fast start.
"Victoria's a tough place to go play, but we handled it just the way we wanted by setting a tone early. While we got to them, you could see the crowd get back in it in the second period but we got some timely goals to silence them. ... Eric (Penney) has really played well against Victoria and he's been outstanding. He's given them nothing to build on," Boychuk said of his netminding partner, who turned back 45 shots in the Friday win.
It was the second week in a row that the Lakers knocked off the perennial league challengers, and a hopeful sign should the two face off in the first round of the playoffs.
Against Nanaimo, the Lakers again pushed ahead 3-0 in the first and led 6-3 after 20 minutes. The Timbermen would rally and climb back to 8-7, but Burnaby closed the middle frame with three straight goals to lead 11-7. Church finished with four goals and a helper, while Jason Jones scored twice and set up four others. Also tallying twice were Digby and Scott Jones, while McLaughlin netted a goal and three assists and Byrne finished with five assists.
Another major trend which buoys well for any playoff success is how the Lakers defence was able to shut the door for the first half of the third period on both nights, a time of the game when many a comeback is started.
"That's been a big part of our gameplan," noted Boychuk. "We try to start the third with a lead, and you always expect some push-back from the other team to start the third. We've done a good job of keeping the ball out and staying in front."
As to the new coach, Boychuk said Tellis was calm and took control despite stepping into a difficult situation.
"He's just trying to continue some of the mindset that Jim (Milligan) did, and he's keeping us on the same path," said Boychuk. "(The firing) was kind of a shock for all of us but what's done is done.
"The goal from the start of the season was to have home floor advantage in the playoffs and we're still going for that. It's a long time coming and I believe we could be the first Burnaby team to finish first (in the WLA)."
Since the franchise moved to Burnaby from Richmond in 1990, they've finished second in the league four times, but advanced to the WLA final four times -- in 1990, 1992-93, and 2004.
A win on Tuesday against the last place Thunder would clinch first place for Burnaby, who currently sit wedged in a tie with New Westminster for second spot at 23 points. Because they beat the 'Bellies in two-of-three meetings during the regular season, the Lakers are assured of second place. Maple Ridge, who currently sit first with a 12-6 record, like New West and Victoria, have completed their regular season schedule.
Finishing first would put Burnaby up against Victoria in a best-of-seven semifinal; if they lose Tuesday, the Lakers would host New Westminster. The playoffs are tentatively slated to start on Thursday.
