The New Westminster Salmonbellies will take on the Delta Islanders in the B.C. Junior Lacrosse League best-of-five semifinal playoffs, beginning on Saturday.

The junior A Salmonbellies dispatched the Victoria Shamrocks in straight games, winning Game 2 of their best-of-three playoff 13-6 at Panorama rec centre on Sunday.

Playoff scoring leader Reagan Harding led the 'Bellies with four goals in a seven-point outing.

Intermediate callup Josh Byrne posted his first-ever junior hat trick with a fivepoint night in the win.

Another intermediate-aged runner, Chase McIntyre, potted a pair of goals for the 'Bellies.

"We were real solid in Victoria," said New Westminster head coach Dan Perreault. "It was a complete effort from the goalie on out."

Frankie Scigliano, who had a less than stellar start in New West's comeback 12-10 win in the opening playoff game a day earlier at Queen's Park Arena, faced just 34 shots in the deciding game.

New West took a 5-3 lead with three unanswered goals on the power play to end the opening period.

The 'Bellies notched two more tallies with the extra man in the middle frame.

In New West, a strong third period helped the Salmonbellies take Game 1 of the best-of-three playoffs with Victoria.

The Salmonbellies cruised to an early 5-1 lead against the visiting Shamrocks before having to claw back into the lead with less than two minutes left on the clock to eke out a two-point win over the 'Rocks on Saturday.

Luke Gillespie got the home team off to a sizzling start, scoring on a rebound off the back boards following the opening faceoff.

But in what would become a later trend in the contest, Victoria came right back 11 seconds later, tying the score on Paul Brebber's first of three goals in the game.

Brebber, picked up in a late trade with Nanaimo, scored the 8-7 go-ahead marker midway through the second period on a diving shot through the crease while shorthanded.

Victoria exploited New West's uncharacteristic lack of defence, finishing out the middle period with two more goals on starter Frankie Scigliano.

But led by their captain Brandon Goodwin with his fourth marker of the match, New West rallied for four unanswered goals, including Anthony Malcom's 10-10 gametying goal on a break.

Defender Tom Newton feathered a perfect long pass into Malcom's stick and the crafty transition runner buried his 10th of the season behind Keenan Lambright, who came in for starter Cody Hagedorn midway through the opening period.

Keegan Bal, with his second goal and sixth point in the game, tallied the game-winner in the final minute.

"Usually, we're a defence out-style of team, but tonight the offence saved us," said Newton after the game. "Honestly, it does give us a bit of confidence to see we had a bit of adversity and could battle back.

"But it would be nice to go bang, bang, and get the series done."

New West opens its best-of-five semifinal playoff in Ladner on Saturday. The two teams are back at Queen's Park Arena on Monday. Both games are 8 p.m. starts.

Coquitlam and Langley start tonight in Coquitlam at 7: 30 p.m.

tberridge@royalcityrecord.com