NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Saskatchewan Rush

Rush Secure Home Playoff Game with 11-9 Win over Calgary

April 2, 2016 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Saskatchewan Rush News Release


The Saskatchewan Rush have locked down a home playoff game, extending their winning streak to six games in the process, thanks to an 11-9 victory over the Calgary Roughnecks on Saturday night.

The win completed a regular-season sweep for the Rush (10-3) over the arch-rival Roughnecks (6-9) for the first time in team history as they claimed wins in all four meetings. With the victory, which came in front of a franchise-record sell-out crowd of 14,941 at the SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, the Rush also remained in a tie with the Colorado Mammoth for first place in the National Lacrosse League's West Division.

Special teams were the difference-maker for the Rush as they clicked for five power-play goals plus a league-leading 14th shorthanded goal.

Saskatchewan got off to a hot start on a goal by Mark Matthews and power-play tallies from Robert Church and Riley Loewen. With the teams playing 4-on-4, the Rush took a 4-2 lead when Ben McIntosh converted a pass in front of the net from Chris Corbeil on a 2-on-1 break.

Leading 4-3 after the first quarter, the Rush scored three straight starting with the shorthanded goal coming from Zack Greer, who brushed away from two Calgary defenders and fired a shot past Roughnecks goalie Frankie Scigliano. Defenceman Brett Mydske got the next for the Rush - his first goal of the season - and Matthews made it 7-3 when he wheeled off the half-wall, moved into the slot and powered a shot to the back of the net. The Saskatchewan power play went back to work late in the second quarter as Robert Church hit a hot bouncer off the turf and through Scigliano's legs, and McIntosh followed with a quick-stick strike at the side of the net just before half to make it 9-5 at the break.

Calgary took advantage of penalty troubles for the Rush in the third quarter. With Adrian Sorichetti already in the penalty box, Saskatchewan defenceman Ryan Dilks was called for a high-sticking major putting the Rush two men down which ultimately led to a goal from Curtis Dickson. Dane Dobbie followed with another Roughnecks' power-play goal, and Dickson was back for more as he buried his 50th goal of the season with a long-range low shot to make it 9-8.

The Rush were held off the scoreboard in the third quarter but finally ended the goal-less drought to regain a two-goal lead as Sorichetti made a brilliant pass to Matthews at the edge of the crease, and his deftly timed one-touch swipe notched his hat-trick goal. Dickson's hat-trick goal made it 10-9 but the Rush held tight the rest of the way, and a late penalty call on the Roughnecks led to an empty-netter from Jeff Cornwall to wrap up the result.

Matthews finished with a six-point effort (3 goals, 3 assists) while Church racked up five points (2 goals, 3 assists). Goalie Aaron Bold totaled 36 saves for Saskatchewan with many of his best coming during Rush penalty kills.

Next up for the Rush is a trip out to New England for a clash with the Black Wolves on Friday, April 8th.

Check out the Saskatchewan Rush Statistics

• Discuss this story on the National Lacrosse League message board...

National Lacrosse League Stories from April 2, 2016


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central