In unfamiliar territory, the Victoria Shamrocks opened their 2017 WLA playoff run on the road and managed to defeat the Burnaby Lakers 9-8 last night.
Casey Jackson got the scoring going early, giving the Shamrocks an early 3-0 lead heading into the first intermission. While the Lakers pushed back in the second, the Rocks held a 6-4 lead heading into the final period. Jackson would complete his hat trick early in the third with a beautiful diving goal to expand the Shamrocks lead. Victoria’s lead would swell to four, but three goals late in the final frame threatened to send the game into overtime. Luckily, the Shamrocks held on for the 9-8 victory and a 1-0 series lead.
Game two of the series goes tomorrow night at the Q Centre in Victoria. Opening face-off is set for 6 p.m.
Tyler Bennett
