The Burnaby Lakers find themselves trailing the Victoria Shamrocks 2-0 in their best of seven semifinal after the Island team rallied for a 9-6 victory on Saturday.
Behind some stellar work from veteran netminder Aaron Bold, the 'Rocks caught fire and erased a 5-1 deficit, counting the game's final six goals before a boisterous crowd in Victoria.
Bold finished with 38 saves, including 24 of 25 over the last 40 minutes.
Burnaby didn't suffer from a poor start, as in Game 1. The visitors grabbed a 1-0 lead just 1:12 into the game when captain Robert Church notched his fifth goal of the series. Victoria pulled even seven minutes later, but the Lakers regained control with four straight markers over a span of 4:52.
The Island squad came onto the floor after the first intermission and pulled within a goal, thanks to a pair of tallies from regular season scoring champion Corey Small. The Lakers' Cam Milligan gave the visitors a two-goal cushion heading into the third.
But Victoria saved their best for last, reeling off six goals over the final 20 minutes, while shutting down Burnaby's offence.
Small finished with three goals and four assists.
For Burnaby, Church counted a hat trick, with singles from Jackson Decker and Peter McFetridge.
The two teams meet again for Game 3 on Monday, 6 p.m. at the Copeland Sports Centre.
