A power-play goal with 35 seconds remaining helped the Langley Thunder draw first blood in the best-of-seven playoff series.
Lewis Ratcliff's third goal of the game snapped the tie, sending the Thunder to a 9-8 victory over the Burnaby Lakers in game one of the Western Lacrosse Association playoff series.
The contest was played at the Langley Events Centre on Aug. 1.
The Lakers had scored twice late in the game to force the tie before Langley struck for their third power-play goal. Burnaby also scored three times with the man advantage against the WLA's top seed and defending champions.
Burnaby had led 3-2 after 20 minutes and pulled ahead by a pair of goals early in the second.
But Langley countered with six of the next seven goals and led 8-6 after two periods.
Ratcliff finished with three goals and three assists while Garrett Billings also had a six-point performance with a goal and five helpers.
Shayne Jackson was right behind them with two goals and three assists.
Athan Iannucci and Joel McCready had the other Thunder goals.
Brodie MacDonald stopped 39 shots for the victory.
Game two of the series is at Burnaby's Bill Copeland Arena on Aug. 3.
The series returns to the LEC on Aug. 7 at 7:45 p.m.