Right side gets it done for Lakers

Seven goals from the right side helped give the Burnaby a 9-8 victory over the Nanaimo Timbermen in the Lakers home opener on Friday.

Burnaby rookie Cam Milligan led all scorers with five points, including his first-ever Western Lacrosse Association goal on a power play late in the opening period and later his first hat trick of the season on a delayed penalty to start the final frame.

The first-year Peterborough, Ont. native currently leads the Lakers with a sizzling .333 shooting percentage scoring three goals on just nine shots in his first two games.

Veteran right-hander Scott Jones also found the back of the net three times for the Lakers, tallying the game-winner less than two minutes after Milligan's trizzy with a confident move to the net.

Jones tops all Lakers with six goals as Burnaby improved its record to 2-1.

Burnaby made it tough on themselves however, squandering a 2-0 first-period lead following early goals by Shaun Dhaliwal and Jason Jones in the opening two minutes of play.

The Lakers managed to finally regain the lead midway through the middle stanza 7-6 on Burnaby's third goal of the game on the extra-man by Milligan.

But despite a three-goal 9-6 cushion early in the third frame, Burnaby allowed the visiting T-Men to make it close with two unanswered counters, while also outshooting the home team 18-9 in the period.

Burnaby did redeem itself although down a man in the final two minutes, killing off a checking from behind penalty to Scott Rouse while also the denying Nanaimo the ball on the shortman to eke out the one-goal win.

"We were smart when we needed to be. It wasn't as pretty as we wanted it to be but that was a gutsy win," said Burnaby defender Chris O'Dougherty.

Next up for Burnaby are the New Westminster Salmonbellies at Queen's Park on Thursday. The following day on Friday, June 9, the Lakers host the Maple Ridge Burrards at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre at 7:45 p.m.