CALGARY - The Calgary Roughnecks defeated the San Jose Stealth 15-11 Friday night at the Pengrowth Saddledome in front of 10,517 fans.The Roughnecks, who are now 7-3 after their win over the Stealth, are in first place in the West Division bringing them one step closer to becoming the first team to clinch a spot in the 2005 Champion's Cup Playoffs.
A win over San Jose tomorrow night and an Anaheim Storm loss at Colorado would improve Calgary 8-3, therefore clinching them a playoff spot after a pair of wins over San Jose.
Both the Stealth and Roughnecks were off to a slow start, with the NLL defending Champions tying San Jose 2-2 by the end of the first quarter. Forward Kaleb Toth had a pair of goals helping the 'necks remain in the game.
With the team having not played in the Saddledome since Feb. 18, the team took the first quarter to get their groove back, but by the second Calgary was on fire.
It didn't take long for Calgary to take the lead and they did so 13 seconds into the second quarter when Jeff Moleski snuck one past Stealth goalie Anthony Cosmo. Kaleb Toth, Kevin Dostie and Tracey Kelusky also recorded goals during the second.
But by the end of the second, the Roughnecks fire seemed to have been doused and the Stealth were once again within a goal of the Roughnecks, ending the first half 6-5.
At 3:01 into the third quarter, Calgary captain Kelusky helped the 'necks make an unbelievable come back when he scored three back-to-back goals within minutes of each other.
Roughnecks' assistant captain Kyle Goundrey also reached the 200 point milestone after he assisted two goals during the third.
By the end of the third, the game was still too close to call, and the Roughnecks had a close 11-8 lead over the Stealth.
Even when the clocked ticked down in the fourth, the Roughnecks couldn't get a good lead on their opponents, but it was enough to win.
Jason Wulder and Toth each scored two for Calgary in the fourth to keep the Roughnecks a step ahead of the Stealth. Kaleb Toth (5 goals), Tracey Kelusky (4), Kevin Dostie (2), Jason Wulder (2) Jeff Moleski (1) and Lewis Ratcliff (1) each scored for the Roughnecks during Friday night's close victory. Goundrey added five assists, Ratcliff added four Dostie and Toth each had three, and Kelusky and Brad MacDonald each added two assists to help the Roughnecks win. Both teams return to action tomorrow night at 8:30 p.m. MT, with the Roughnecks taking on the Stealth on San Jose home turf. The Roughnecks don't return to the Pengrowth Saddledome until Sunday, April 3 when they take on the Arizona Sting at 1 p.m. MT.
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