As the saying goes, you can forget the regular season results when it comes to the playoffs.
You can also forget Game 1 scores, too.
The Maple Ridge Burrards exacted a little revenge Friday for the shellacking they took in Game 1 last Wednesday, beating the New Westminster Salmonbellies 12-8 to even their Western Lacrosse Association semifinal at 1-1.
A six-goal streak in the third period by the Burrards turned the tables on the host 'Bellies, as what was a 7-6 lead just a handful of minutes into the frame became a 12-6 tide-turner in favour of the visitors.
Long-time New West nemesis Curtis Dickson kicked off the decisive rally for Maple Ridge, and was followed by Dane Dobbie and Ben McIntosh in a span of 2:28. Dan Taylor, Ryan Keenan -- both with their second of the night -- and McIntosh again kept the momentum going for the visitors.
First team all-star Mitch Jones, also with his second goal of the game, was the only shooter able to beat Maple Ridge netminder Frank Scigliano in the late going..
New West had led 3-2 after 20 minutes, erasing a 2-0 Maple Ridge lead with tallies by Austin Shanks, with a pair, and Jones. The Burrards, demonstrating that Game 1's flat performance was an aberration, rattled off three of their own in the span of 1:21 to start the middle period. Not to be outdone, New West's Keegan Bal and Shanks buried powerplay goals, while Jeff Henrick lifted the home team into a 6-5 lead with an unassisted marker.
But Dobbie's first of the night, with 2:21 left in the second stanza, knotted the game and set the stage for a rollicking third period.
Scigliano, who earlier in the day was named to the WLA's first all-star team, kicked out 49 shots for Maple Ridge to play the pivotal role for the visitors, while New West's Alexis Buque turned aside 27 of 38 shots, and Neil Tyacke stopped all but one of his eight shots faced in support.
Each team has won on the road to start the series, with the 'Bellies opening the matchup with a resounding 14-4 victory at Cam Neely Arena.
The best-of-seven series continues Sunday, 6 p.m. in Maple Ridge. Game 4 is slated for Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. back at Queen's Park Arena.
The league's other semifinal series has the Victoria Shamrocks leading Nanaimo two games to none.
