The Rush Are Rolling Through The NLL
The most surprising development of the 2024-2025 NLL campaign may very well be the play of the Saskatchewan Rush, who moved to a robust 9-2 on Friday, thanks to a 10-7 triumph at the Vancouver Warriors. The Rush are now the proud owners of a five-game winning streak.
Saskatchewan entered the dressing room with a 5-4 halftime lead in their back pocket. Come the second half, the Rush made the decision to kick it into high gear, scoring the first five goals and separating themselves from the hard-charging Warriors. The home team would cobble together three meaningless fourth-quarter scores, cutting the final tally to a still-solid three-goal spread.
The Saskatooners were the definition of balanced with Clark Walter, Brock Haley, Robert Church, and Austin Shanks scoring two goals apiece. Vancouver stars Keegan Bal and Adam Charalambides were also members of the two-goal club, but that was about it when it came to offensive production from Curt Malawsky’s roster.
Frank Scigliano stood tall in goal for SSK, bodying 31 of the mere 38 shots directed his way.
Just shy of 10,000 spectators packed Rogers Arena, in the heart of Canada’s Pacific Coast.
The Thunderbirds Earn A Resilient Win At Ottawa
One night after Team Canada’s dramatic overtime win over Team USA in the 4 Nation’s Face-Off Final, Week 13 of the NLL season kicked off in none other than the Canadian capital of Ottawa, where the hometown Black Bears hosted the Halifax Thunderbirds at Canadian Tire Centre. Both clubs entered the evening with matching 5-4 records.
The visitors jumped out to a 7-2 second-quarter lead, only to witness the local guys reel off six straight connectors, including two each courtesy of Jeff Teat and Larson Sundown, lifting the Black Bears to an 8-7 advantage. The Thunderbirds would then abruptly turn the tables, scoring seven of the game’s final eight scores, en route to a decisive 14-9 win.
In a losing effort, the aforementioned Teat/Sundown duo each supplied a hat trick.
On the winning side of the mix, Randy Staats posted four goals and one assist, Ryan Terefenko added three scores and one helper, alongside Dawson Theede, Clarke Petterson, and Nonkon Thompson, who all found the net on two occasions.
Warren Hill was strong between the pipes for Halifax, knocking down 40 of 49 shots launched in his direction.
The Desert Dogs Right The Ship In Denver
Last weekend was an outright disaster for the Las Vegas Desert Dogs, with the franchise losing both of their outings by a combined score of 33-16. Fast-forward to Week 14 and it was the fellas from Sin City who transformed their weekend of malaise into a Friday night display of fulfillment, courtesy of a 14-7 drubbing of the Colorado Mammoth, in front of more than 10,000 fans at Denver’s Ball Arena.
After losing Zed Williams to an early lower-body injury, Colorado still possessed a 2-1 advantage after the first 15 minutes. From the second quarter on, this one was all Las Vegas, as the now 3-8 squad blasted eight consecutive goals in the second and third stanzas.
Jonathan Donville and Jack Hannah collectively contributed 4 goals and 11 assists, while Adam Poitras donated a hat trick to the cause. Will Malcom and Connor Robinson combined for four scores and five helpers on a night when the men from the mountains were never able to successfully propel themselves off the ground.
Landon Kells was stellar in net for Vegas, redirecting 39 of the 46 Colorado attempts at paydirt.
