In a game where losing was not an option, the Burnaby Lakers did not disappoint.
The senior A Lakers shrugged off a shaky first half of the opening period before kicking the offence into high gear en route to a 14-10 victory over the visiting Coquitlam Adanacs at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre last Friday.
With New Westminster's surprise 13-12 win over the visting Victoria Shamrocks the night before, the Lakers recognized a series-ending loss to the Adanacs could seriously jeopardize the team's playoff aspirations.
Rookie righthander Tyler Digby got the attack rolling, shaving the deficit to 2-1 with his seventh goal of the season on a clever wrist shot that snuck by the A's keeper to the near post.
Less than a minute later, Jason Jones and Scott Jones, no relation, put home team in the lead for good with goals just two minutes apart.
Pete McFetridge rounded out the first-period scoring with an unassisted goal in transition.
"I think we played pretty good after 10 minutes. But overall it was a pretty scrambly game," said Digby, who has 19 points in 11 games to date. "(The game) definitely had playoff implications in getting in or moving up. As a young team, the veterans really pulled us together."
Those veterans, including 24-year-old lefty Dane Stevens, led Burnaby with four goals in a six-point outing.
Stevens has already surpassed his best-ever season with the Lakers and is currently in fourth place in league scoring with 62 points.
First star rookie Robert Church added five assists, while Scott Jones also had a five-point offering, including his 20th and 21st goals of the year. Jason Jones and Digby garnered four points apiece.
Brett Hickey did the damage on the other side, potting four of his game-high five goals in a wild 12-goal middle period. Burnaby led 11-7 after two periods.
Joe Bell got his third start in goal for Burnaby and made 35 saves for his second win this season.
The win moved Burnaby to within two points of second-place Victoria, with a game in hand.
"I don't think we think we're that young," said Digby. "We feel we're that good and should be competing."
Transition player Justin Salt may have said it better. "We got something," said the second-year runner.
What the Lakers have is a current three-game winning streak at home, and a big week coming up, when they face the Salmonbellies at Queen's Park on Thursday and slumping fourth-place Maple Ridge at home the following Friday. Game time for both matchups is 7: 45 p.m.
