Game 2 of the MSL Finals was 3:07 away from needing overtime when the Century 21 Lakers’ Colton Armstrong scored on a breakaway, opening the floodgates for his team. The Lakers scored three goals in a minute late in the game to take the game 8-5 over the Six Nations Chiefs. The Lakers now lead the best-of-seven series 2-0.
“Matt Gilray made the big strip on Cody Jamieson and I saw a clear path to the net,” Armstrong described. “He threw the ball up to me and I had some time. Usually I go really fast but I took my time and put the ball in the net. Got some air off the end boards there, I didn’t know when I was going to come down but it was a really cool experience and this arena blew right up. I wanted to give the guys a spark and right there we had a three-goal run. I don’t think these fans sat down for any of those.”
The 2902 fans in attendance roared their approval for each Lakers' goal.
Landon Kells played his second consecutive game, and made 53 saves in another spectacular defensive effort.
“'What’s next,' that’s always the mentality in the room, and that’s the way you have to go about it because there’s going to be peaks and valleys and you just have to keep persevering," Kells said.
Like Game 1, the Chiefs took a 2-0 lead before Peterborough got on the board. Dylan Hutchison grabbed the pass from Taite Cattoni and dropped it home.
Steve Priolo put Six Nations up 3-1 before Peterborough rattled off three goals in a row for a 4-3 lead. Cattoni scored on the run, Owen Hiltz dodged two defenders and shot far side, and Turner Evans scored an outside shot. Dhane Smith tied it at 4 before the period was out.
Rob Hellyer shot through traffic to put Peterborough up 5-4 in the third, but Justin Martin found himself alone in front of Kells and converted Eli McLaughlin’s pass to tie the game again.
Armstrong jumped halfway up the boards after he scored to put the Lakers up 6-5.
"My wife is having a baby soon so that one was for her. I tried to jump into the stands to give her a hug," he smiled.
Hellyer then passed to Hoggarth 17 seconds after Armstrong's goal, and Hoggarth finally got inside - to his favourite spot in front of the net - and went high on Warren Hill. After a hotly contested faceoff, Resetarits’ shot went off the crossbar. Hiltz picked up the rebound, passed it back to Resetarits, in it went and that was the ball game.
"We all know we want another Mann Cup," Armstrong said. "The Mann Cups here are tradition. I never won one. I really frickin’ want one so I’m battling the best I can to frickin’ bring a Mann cup back to Peterborough because I know Six Nations stole it from us last year."
Eight different scorers found the back of the net for the Lakers in their win. The team floored the exact same lineup as they did in Game 1. Holden Cattoni, Doug Buchan and Mitch Ogilvie remain out with injuries.
Warren Hill made 50 saves in goal for the Chiefs. Eli McLaughlin, Steve Priolo and Randy Staats all had two points.
Game 3 is set for Tuesday, back at the ILA in Six Nations. Game 4 will return to the Memorial Centre next Thursday, August 22. Tickets are on sale at the box office.
SCORING FOR THE LAKERS:
Rob Hellyer (1-3)
Thomas Hoggarth (1-3)
Taite Cattoni (1-3)
Joe Resetarits (1-2)
Turner Evans (1-1)
Owen Hiltz (1-1)
Colton Armstrong (1-0)
Dylan Hutchison (1-0)
Adam Thistlethwaite (0-1)
Matt Gilray (0-1)
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