Lakers have a chance to sweep the Mann Cup series tonight after win
Shawn Evans breaks John Tavares’ all-time record for assists in Mann Cup
The 3,242 fans at the Memorial Centre witnessed Mann Cup history Monday night.
Shawn Evans’ eight assists made history while helping the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers to a commanding 3-0 series lead beating the Maple Ridge Burrards 11-6.
Evans finished the night with 116 assists in Mann Cup play breaking the John Tavares’ record 111.
Kyle Buchanan fired three goals and three assists and Cory Vitarelli four goals.
The Lakers will try to finish the Burrards and claim back-to-back titles 8 p.m. Tuesday.
“It’s truly an honour,” Evans said, to beat his former teammate’s record. “He’s a guy I looked up to. I loved his play and loved his style. I’m honoured to play with him and be coached by him. To have this moment in front of my fans, family and teammates is pretty special.”
“Shawnee is one of the special ones,” said Lakers head coach Mike Hasen. “He makes us go. Get the ball in his stick and he can find those guys who are getting through and getting open.”
After being shutout for the final 51:23 of Game 2 the Burrards opened the scoring on a highlight tally by former Laker Curtis Dickson. With one hand on his stick Dickson rolled off a check and dropped the ball through Evan Kirk’s feet at 4:44.
The Lakers replied 54 seconds later when Bryce Sweeting found Zach Currier with a breakaway pass and despite bobbling the ball he faked out goalie Frank Scigliano.
Vitarelli squeezed through two defenders to bury Evans’ one-handed flip pass for the Lakers’ first lead 2:01 later. Riley Loewen quick-sticked Dickson’s laser pass at 12:50 but Vitarelli finished a three-way passing play from Evans and Buchanan at 15:06 for a 3-2 lead.
Evans tied Tavares’ record eight minutes into the second period. Scigliano made a brilliant save off Thomas Hoggarth but Evans helped get the rebound to Corey Small who fired an outside shot home.
Evans broke the record 2:16 later finding Vitarelli with a pass on the power play for his 112th Mann Cup assist.
It took six power plays before Maple Ridge scored with the man-advantage. Ben McIntosh found a lane to the net snapping a 23:52 Burrards’ goalless stretch. The Lakers replied 15 seconds later when Buchanan‘s shot hit the crossbar and went in off Scigliano’s back. Mitch Wilde set up Owen Barker on a two-on-one making it 6-4 after two periods.
Three goals 38 seconds apart bumped the Lakers’ lead to five goals 5:17 into the third.
Evans drew two defenders and threw
a one-handed pass Buchanan buried at 4:39. Jake Withers won a draw and 13 seconds later Currier finished Hoggarth’s pass. Adam Jones ripped a shot home – later making it 9-4. Jean-Luc Chetner’s second of the series stopped the run at 6:03. Buchanan scored on a no-look spin-o-rama at 2:02 later. Dickson set up Loewen again at 13:15.
“We’re not going to give up,” Loewen said. “Our defence played great and Frankie has played great the whole time. Our offence didn’t play well tonight. We didn’t get enough shots. You’re not going to beat these guys with only 25 shots.”
Vitarelli’s fourth goal capped the scoring at 17:27.