Lakers to open series against Rock on Tuesday
Peterborough strong on offence, but Oakville have been solid on defence in the playoffs
The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers will open up their Major Series Lacrosse championship series against the Oakville Rock on Tuesday at 8 p.m. at the Memorial Centre.
Game 2 is Thursday at 8 p.m. at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre in Oakville, Game 3 is Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. at the Memorial Centre and Game 4 is Aug. 28 at 8 p.m. at the Toronto Rock Atheltic Centre in Oakville.
If necessary, Game 5 in the best-of-seven series would be Aug. 30 at the Memorial Centre at 8 p.m., Game 6 Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. in Oakville and Game 7 would be on Labour Day at 7 p.m. at the Memorial Centre.
The winner of the series will then host the Mann Cup national senior men’s lacrosse championship, which the Lakers won last season against the New Westminster Salmonbellies.
The defending Mann Cup champions squeaked into the final series with a dominant third period in Game 7 of their semifinal series with the Brooklin Redmen for a 13-7 win to take the series 4-3.
Oakville (10-5-1) finished second on the regular season, four points behind Peterborough (12-3-1). The first-place finish gave the Lakers home advantage through the playoffs.
The Rock polished off the Six Nations Chiefs in six games with a 9-7 overtime win Wednesday night in their semifinal series.
Oakville and Peterborough have only met twice this season. The Rock edged the Lakers 8-7 in the opening game of the season on May 28 in Oakville, while the Lakers prevailed at home 12-7 on July 12.
The Lakers are leading the playoffs in scoring with 70 goals, but the Redmen did manage to score 61 goals against them.
The Rock have 44 goals for and 41 goals against, with the strongest save percentage of the playoffs at .872.
Oakville were undefeated on the road, winning three times against the Chiefs at the Iroquois Lacrosse Centre in Oshweken, while Six Nations managed two wins in Oakville.
Tickets for the championship series went on sale Friday.