San Jose Falls To Sting 9-7 In Western Division Final
Published on April 29, 2007 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
San Jose Stealth News Release
(SAN JOSE, CA, April 28, 2007) --- With former Stealth goaltender Rob Blasdell manning the net for Arizona, the Sting were able to hold off a fourth quarter come-back and defeat the San Jose Stealth 9-7 in the Western Division Final of the Champions Cup Playoffs at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Arizona tonight.
With their win, Arizona advances to the Champions Cup Finals, and the Stealth are eliminated from the playoffs.
Blasdell, who played for San Jose in 2004, made 44 saves on 51 shots and held the Stealth to seven goals, their lowest scoring total this season. Alongside Curt Malawsky, Derek Malawsky, and Brian Beisel, Blasdell is one of four former Stealth players now dawning the Sting crest.
The Stealth's normally stellar penalty killing unit hit a hiccup in the first half and allowed the Sting to capitalize on four out of five power play opportunities. San Jose ended the season with the top ranking penalty kill in the NLL with 64.3%. Tonight however, they allowed Arizona to go four for eight on the power play.
Gary Rosyski led the Stealth attack with seven points on a team high four goals and three assists, while Colin Doyle notched six points, all on assists. Noticeably absent from the top of the scoring chart was Jeff Zywicki, who failed to produce a point until five minutes into the fourth quarter. After posting eight points (7-1=8) in the Stealth's overtime victory against Colorado last weekend, Zywicki finished the game with only two points (1-1=2) on two shots.
Arizona opened the scoring on the power play at 3:35 and never looked back. The Sting squad produced seven goals from six different players to take a 7-1 led at the end of the first half. Goaltender Rob Blasdell held San Jose scoreless in the second quarter, and only allowed one goal in the first.
True to form, the Stealth rallied back. Gary Rosyski notched a power play goal at 2:26, and Callum Crawford added another at 12:08. Rosyski would strike again at 14:14, making the score 8-4 at the end of three quarters of play.
The fourth quarter opened with Jeff Zywicki's first point on the game, a power play goal at 5:23 to bring the Stealth within three. Arizona's Peter Veltman responded at 10:14 to restore the Sting's four-goal cushion. After pulling Anthony Cosmo for the extra attacker, the Stealth gained momentum from back-to-back goals by Rosyski to cut the Sting lead to two, but San Jose's come-back fell short as Rob Blasdell shut down two last minute scoring chances.
San Jose finished the game with 51 shots on goals, while Arizona finished with 37.
Arizona will now face the Rochester Knighthawks in the Champions Cup Finals on May 12, at 1 p.m. PST.
National Lacrosse League Stories from April 29, 2007
- Knighthawks Will Battle the Arizona Sting In The 2007 National Lacrosse League Champion's Cup Finals - Rochester Knighthawks
- San Jose Falls To Sting 9-7 In Western Division Final - San Jose Stealth
- Sting advance to Champion's Cup final - Arizona Sting
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