Roughnecks grab 11-9 victory over Knighthawks
April 3, 2010 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Calgary Roughnecks News Release
ROCHESTER, NY - The Calgary Roughnecks ended a two game losing streak with an 11-9 win over the Rochester Knighthawks in front of 7,206 at the Blue Cross Arena. The win improves Calgary's record to 7-6 while Rochester falls to 5-7 with the loss.
The Roughnecks opened the scoring two and a half minutes in when a Dane Dobbie pass set up a Jeff Shattler one timer in the slot. The Riggers would connect on a power play opportunity when Dane Dobbie's hard shot from the point beat Knighthawk's goalie Pat O'Toole on the wide side to extend their lead to two. Knighthawks defenseman Steve Toll would then cut the lead to one. Toll created a turnover in the Riggers zone, won the race to the loose ball and finished off the breakaway with a goal. The score would stand at 2-1 for the Roughnecks at the end of the first frame.
The Knighthawks, who had given up the most power plays (80) coming into the game on the 2010 NLL season, spent the majority of the second quarter shorthanded. In seven opportunities in the quarter, one of which was a five minute major to the Knighthawks Marshall Abrams, the Roughnecks notched three power play goals. The K'Hawks would pot a shorthanded goal thanks to the quick thinking of their goaltender. From behind his own net, O'Toole would find Toll in transition, in turn Toll moved the ball up quickly to a streaking Sean Williams who buried the breakaway opportunity. With five seconds left in the half, Rochester cut the lead to two on a cross-crease one-timer from Craig Point to Peter Jacobs. The Roughnecks headed into halftime with a 5-3 lead.
The Roughnecks would extend their lead with Scott Ranger and Dane Dobbie goals sandwiching a goal for the Knighthawks John Grant. However, two straight goals by Williams, 23 seconds apart, brought the K'Hawks within one. Calgary held a 7-6 lead after the third quarter.
Rochester headed into the fourth quarter down one and on the power play, but the Roughnecks quickly quelled any excitement. Nolan Heavenor won the quarter opening draw and brought it into the Rochester zone where he found Jeff Moleski for a one timer eight seconds in. The Riggers would get their second shorthanded goal in a row, 27 seconds later, courtesy of Dobbie. The Knighthawks responded quickly, with Grant potting his second of the game on the power play. Rochester would pull back within one on an even strength goal by Point. Scott Ranger restored the two goal lead. A passing clinic between Grant and Williams would end with a gorgeous behind the back shot by Williams found the back of the net. The Riggers would add an empty net goal to ice the win.
The Knighthawks, who came into the game with the league's best penalty kill (68.8%), gave up 5 goals on 9 Roughnecks opportunities, with only one power play coming in the second half.
Matt King got his first start in goal for the Roughnecks since a 12-11 loss to the Washington Stealth on March 13. He stopped 27 of the 36 shots on goal.
The Roughnecks head home next week when they take on the Colorado Mammoth (2-9, pending tonight's result) at the Pengrowth Saddledome on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. MT.
National Lacrosse League Stories from April 3, 2010
- Edmonton stuns Swarm with epic fourth-quarter rally - Minnesota Swarm
- Rock take both weekend wins to start two-game win streak after five losses - Toronto Rock
- Mammoth win thriller over Bandits in OT - Colorado Mammoth
- Calgary "roughs-up" K-Hawks - Rochester Knighthawks
- Blazers Fall to League-Leading Titans 13-10 - NLL
- Wings lose to Rock - Philadelphia Wings
- Roughnecks grab 11-9 victory over Knighthawks - Calgary Roughnecks
- Titans hold first with win - Orlando Titans
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