Rock Run Away with 12-8 Win Over Rush
Published on April 7, 2012 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Edmonton Rush News Release
Toronto - A seven goal offensive burst in the second quarter was the difference Saturday night in Toronto as the Rock rolled to a 12-8 decision over the Edmonton Rush in National Lacrosse League action at Air Canada Centre.
Edmonton's highly ranked defense gave way to Toronto's potent attack for a six minute stretch in the second frame and another five minutes into the third quarter allowing a total of nine consecutive Rock markers that took the score from a 3-2 Edmonton lead to a 11-3 Toronto advantage.
With the loss, Edmonton (4-8) remains winless in six tries at the ACC and had its road mark fall to 1-6 on the campaign, while Toronto (7-6) sports a three-game win streak with the victory.
The Rush defense held Toronto to seven-or-fewer shots in the first, third and fourth quarters and only five goals against over that span, but the massive Toronto second quarter with six goals scored in the last six minutes and seven tallies in total turned the game around in the Rock's favor.
"We just gave them a stretch run that was too long without a stop," said Rush head coach and GM Derek Keenan. "Without a defensive stop or a goal to shut it down, that was the game.
"It was just a brutal six-or-seven minute stretch in that period where, although we've talked about this before, we have to figure out ways to stop runs. It's frustrating."
Edmonton outscored Toronto 5-1 after Toronto's mid-game barrage and the claw back impressed Keenan.
"That was a real good sign of character and that we had some fight left in us and we made some adjustments of defense," said the Rush bench boss. "But our offense didn't perform tonight and it's been far too inconsistent."
Ryan Ward fired a hat trick for Edmonton, Scott Evans (1G, 2A) had three points and Corey Small had a pair of goals, while defenders Derek Suddons (1G, 1A) and Chris Corbeil (1G, 1A) added two points each from the back end.
Colin Doyle (3G, 2A) had a hat trick for Toronto, Garrett Billings (1G, 7A) had a game-high eight points and Stephen Leblanc (1G, 3A) had a four point night.
Rush netminder Aaron Bold (4-8) stopped 23-of-34 shots in the loss and Nick Rose improved to 3-0 in Toronto's net making 35 saves for the win.
The two squads meet again April 28 in Edmonton at Crystal Glass Field at Rexall Place.
On Saturday, Suddons cut into the middle in transition and found the far corner past Rose at 2:44 of the opening frame to put Edmonton up 1-0 and Ward ripped his 13th of the year to put the visitors up by two goals in just under five minutes before Billings' sidewinder for Toronto made it a 2-1 score.
The Rush held Toronto to only six shots on net and the single tally in the opening quarter.
Leblanc tied the score 2-2, with a brilliant spin move in front, on a delayed penalty call and the Rush went back ahead when Ward notched his second of the night 83-seconds later off a nifty feed from Evans.
After Toronto tied the score 3-3, the Rock went ahead for the first time of the game with less than five minutes remaining in the half and continued the run with four more markers to grab a 8-3 lead.
Toronto extended its lead to 10-3 four minutes into the third quarter and continued Edmonton's goal-less stretch when Sherwood Park's Manning notched his 800th point to put the Rock ahead by eight goals.
Evans ended the scoring drought with a backdoor tally to make the score 11-4 and then Small's bouncer from long distance found its mark through a screen as Edmonton closed to within six goals.
Corbeil continued the Edmonton run with just over four minutes left in the third frame to make the score 11-6 before Ward sniped his hat trick marker for the Rush, on the power play, at 12:12 to close within four goals.
Edmonton continued the five goal run when Small's hard shot ricocheted off goaltender Rose and bounced into the net with under five minutes left in play to trail 11-8 and then Doyle finished the scoring off with his third of the game to seal Toronto's victory.
The Rush return to Rexall Place Saturday, April 14 th for a 7 p.m faceoff against the Buffalo Bandits at Crystal Glass Field.
Rush mush: EDM is 0-1 head-to-head with TOR this season and 3-9 all-time...EDM went 1-for-2 on the power-play Saturday and 2/4 on the PK... EDM's Zack faced his brother TOR's Bill Greer...10-year vet Aaron Wilson scrapped with TOR rookie Jesse Gamble...EDM outshot TOR 43-35...F Shawn Williams played his NLL record 192 nd consecutive game...EM scratched D John Lintz, T Jesse Fehr, and D Eric Lewthwaite.brucerak@gmail.com
National Lacrosse League Stories from April 7, 2012
- Philadelphia Wings Fall to Bandits 17-7 - Philadelphia Wings
- Rock Run Away with 12-8 Win Over Rush - Edmonton Rush
- Rock Crush the Rush 12-8 - Toronto Rock
- Bandits Team up with Special Olympics - Buffalo Bandits
- Home away from home - Edmonton Rush
- Knighthawks' Rally Falls Inches Short - Rochester Knighthawks
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