NLL roundup: Toronto Rock rebound for win over San Diego Seals

Article content

The National Lacrosse League has always been known for its parity. But with two weeks left in the regular season, it is on a whole new level.

Article content

Two distinct playoff races have developed, one with six teams who have already clinched a playoff berth vying for four home dates in the first round, and six more teams reaching to clinch the final two playoff spots. It will certainly come all the way down to the last game on the schedule on April 19.

Article content

Article content

First to sixth is separated by just one game. In sixth remains the Toronto Rock, who improved to 10-5 with its strongest defensive performance of the season in a 7-5 win over the San Diego Seals at TD Coliseum on Saturday. With the offence held in check by a strong Seals defence and goaltending from Chris Origlieri, the Rock bounced back from a poor loss at Philadelphia last week with its best defensive effort of the season and 38 saves from goaltender Nick Rose.

Article content

Article content

“We had a lot of unhappy campers after last week’s road trip,” Rose said. “I think everybody put the work in this week and we got back to who we are.” “The first-half defence was some of the best I’ve ever seen in front of me.”

In addition, both Owen Hiltz and CJ Kirst made good defensive plays while also leading the team with two goals apiece. Kirst’s second goal with 2:31 to play restored a three goal lead at the time and took a lot of the pressure off. Josh Dawick, Chris Boushy, and Challen Rogers also scored.

A steal by Latrell Harris with 30 seconds left stopped the final Seals push while San Diego was on the power play. It put the cap on an excellent night from the back end.

“We’ve been a good a lot of games, but that may have been our best yet,” Rock head coach Matt Sawyer said. “It came at a perfect time.” “You go down our 10 defensive guys and say something good about all of them. I’ll do that at some point this week.”

Article content

Wes Berg scored twice for the Seals with Zack Deaken, Ben McIntosh and Connor Robinson adding singles. The Rock travel to Ottawa to face the Black Bears this coming Friday.

FIREWOLVES HANG ON

The Oshawa FireWolves haven’t been mathematically eliminated but at 5-11, they need a whole lot to go right to get into the post-season. They helped their cause when Tye Kurtz scored with 2:28 left to give Oshawa a 10-9 win over the Calgary Roughnecks in the first of a home-and-home set at Scotiabank Saddledome on Saturday.

Kurtz ended with three goals as did Alex Simmons. Ethan Walker and Dyson Williams scored twice each but Williams was injured late in the game after a freak collision with one of the officials.
Tanner Cook scored three goals for Calgary. Tyler Pace and Hayden Dickson had two each with Bennett Smith and Brayden Mayea adding a goal each. The two teams meet again this upcoming Saturday at Tribute Communities Centre.

Article content

ELSEWHERE IN THE NLL

The top of the standings tightened after the Buffalo Bandits crushed the Vancouver Warriors 15-5 at KeyBank Center. Now winners of six straight, the Bandits put the game away with an 11-1 run starting with 12 minutes to play in the second quarter. Josh Byrne had four goals including a natural hat trick in that second period. Adam Charalambides and Marcus Klarich had two each for Vancouver.

The Halifax Thunderbirds stayed in the playoff mix with a 15-10 win over the Rochester Knighthawks propelled by a 7-1 second-quarter run. Clarke Petterson and Jason Knox led Halifax with three goals each. Ryan Lanchbury was among three Knighthawks with two goals each.

Article content

The Colorado Mammoth stayed in the first-place hunt with a 13-8 win over the Las Vegas Desert Dogs. Will Malcom led the Mammoth with five goals. Jonathan Donville was one of three Desert Dogs with two goals each.

THE NLL PLAYOFF HUNT

SCRAMBLE FOR HOME-FLOOR ADVANTAGE
Colorado Mammoth 11-5
Vancouver Warriors 11-5
Saskatchewan Rush 11-5
Georgia Swarm 10-5
Buffalo Bandits 10-6
Toronto Rock 10-6

FIGHT TO GET INTO THE PLAYOFFS
Ottawa Black Bears 8-8
Las Vegas Desert Dogs 7-8
Halifax Thunderbirds 7-9
Rochester Knighthawks 6-9
San Diego Seals 6-9
Oshawa FireWolves 5-11

ELIMINATED
Calgary Roughnecks 4-12
Philadelphia Wings 4-12

RECOMMENDED VIDEO

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Play Video

Article content