The Burnaby Lakers have the right stuff
The Burnaby Lakers are a win away from a playoff final thanks in part to a super scoring right side.
The senior A Lakers forced a seventh and final game in their first round, best-of-seven playoff with the Victoria Shamrocks following an 8-5 victory at the Q Center in Langdale on Sunday.
Burnaby went into the third period tied 4-4 and outscored the home 'Rocks 4-1 in the final 20 minutes to level the series at three games apiece.
For a second consecutive game, right-hander Scott Jones counted a hat trick, sparking a decisive third-period rally that put the Burnaby club back in the playoff picture.
Trailing Victoria by three goals in Game 5, Jones again tallied three of the Lakers five goals in the final period that helped give Burnaby its second win of the series.
Jones, who was held scoreless in his only other playoff start, has scored six goals for the Lakers, five coming in the third period in the last two wins.
What is perhaps more dramatic is the frequency of scoring from Jones and the Lakers right side.
Jones is currently scoring at a 32 per cent rate, third best in the playoffs among the top 20 playoff scorers.
Another right-side stick, Robert Church, is in a league by himself, averaging more than five points per game and one tally short of three goals a game.
After six games, Church leads all playoff shooters with 17 goals and 31 points, while scoring at a sizzling 31-per cent clip.
But leading all Lakers in playoff scoring frequency is rookie Lakers right-hander Cam Milligan.
Milligan's 36 per cent scoring rate is second in the playoffs only to Maple Ridge transition runner Jeff Cornwall, who has four counters on 10 shots on goal.
Milligan's post-season numbers are eight goals on 22 shots after six playoff games.
Burnaby will need another solid outing from the right side and continued support from the back end out that leads all playoff teams with a 79 per cent penalty kill and a second best overall power play.
The Lakers have the outcome of Game 7 in their hands.
The deciding match up between the two clubs is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 14 at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre. Game time is 6 p.m.