Marcelo A. Sagüez, Correspondent Calgary Roughnecks
Lacrosse is Awesome©
Featured Image Photo Credit: Steve Hiscock
On Saturday March 26, 2022, the Roughnecks put in a solid effort to defeat the home team Saskatchewan Rush (4-10). Moving Calgary to 5-7 on the season and sweeping the season series of the NLL’s Battle of the Prairies for the first time since 2012. In contrast to their last home game against the Panther City Lacrosse Club, the Riggers were ready to play and determined to win. However, their energy may have been too much as they ran into penalty trouble very early in the first quarter and it continued to plague them throughout the contest. Overall accumulating 20 minutes in total and still needing to work on their power play efforts only going 5-11 in the contest. In the end they’d put together a solid, but low scoring effort to defeat their Western Division Rivals. Final Score: Roughnecks 8—Rush 6.
The home squad would score early on notching a power play tally at 1:38 from Robert Church (1g, 4a) and a second from Mark Matthews (4g, 2a) at 2:01. The Riggers would notch two of their own, with Dan Taylor (1g) putting up his lone goal at 5:34 and Tyler Pace (2g, 2a) with a power-play tally at 6:18. Saskatchewan would score the last goal they’d muster until the fourth with Matthews closing out the frame with 1:29 on the clock. After the first quarter, Calgary took a one-goal deficit to the bench. Score at the end of one: Rush 3—Roughnecks 2.
The second quarter saw some stellar goal tending on both sides of the floor with a combined total shots of 27 between the two teams. Calgary would score the lone goal in the second off another power-play marker this time from Jesse King (2g, 3a) tying things at the 10:11 mark. Score at the end of two: Roughnecks 3—Rush 3.
It was all Roughnecks in third scoring four, two of which were on the power play. Curtis Dickson (2g, 4a) put up the first two, Haiden Dickson (1g, 1a) notched a power-play tally at 11:27, and King would notch his second power-play marker with 1:27 on the clock in the frame. It was a stellar defensive effort from the Riggers only allowing the Rush eight shots on goal in the frame. From there on Calgary put the Rush in a position to play catch-up lacrosse for the last 15. Score at the end of three: Roughnecks 7—Rush 3.
The fourth would consist of three power-play tallies; one short-handed marker; and all goals coming in the first five minutes. Calgary would get it started with Pace notching his second power-play goal in the game early on at 1:15 giving them some insurance. The Rush then put up the final three with Matthews notching a short-handed goal at 2:13, then a power-play tally at 3:11. The final goal of the game would come from Dan Lintner (1g, 1a) at 4:59 and the remaining 10 would be scoreless lacrosse with both net-minders standing tall between the pipes. Final Score: Roughnecks 8—Rush 6.
Christian Del Bianco played the full 60 and had a solid goaltending night stopping 48 Rush attacks. There were some instances where he was left without an outlet and confusion with the defense on coverage gave the opposition scoring opportunities.
High praise was given by bench boss Curt Malawsky, “I say time and time again that I don’t worry about Christian Del Bianco. I don’t worry about him. He’s the ultimate professional. He’s the ultimate competitor. The bigger the moment, the better he is. He understood what was on the line today and he stepped up and played one whale of a game. I’ve seen some good goaltending performances. That might have been one of the best – right up top with some of the best I’ve ever seen.”
Calgary’s Zach Currier went 8-16 on the face-off. Curtis Dickson 2g, 4a (9 SOG) – Jesse King 2g, 3a (6 SOG)– Tyler Pace 2g, 2a (9 SOG)– Haiden Dickson 1g, 1a (5 SOG)– Dan Taylor 1g (3 SOG) – Tanner Cook 2a (1 SOG)– Zach Herreweyers 1a (3 SOG)
STATS:
Calgary Roughnecks—SOG 43; Saves 48; Face-offs 9-18; Assists 13; LB 67; PP 5-11
Saskatchewan Rush—SOG 54; Saves 35; Face-offs 9-18; Assists 12; LB 79; PP 3-7
NEXT UP:
The Calgary Roughnecks (5-7) will play host to the Vancouver Warriors (6-7) on Friday April 1, game time 9:00 p.m. EST. Fans in the USA can see the game on ESPN+. This is the first of two “Games of the Week” for fans in Canada and they can see the action on TSN.ca or the TSN app. This is also an Alterna Cup series game. At this point in the season, Calgary holds a record of 2-1 and Vancouver holds a record of 2-3 in the Alterna Cup Standings. At this point in the series, Vancouver has been eliminated from the series.
The Saskatchewan Rush (4-10) have a bye week and will return to action on Saturday April 9, when they play host to the Vancouver Warriors (6-7) at the Sasktel Centre in Saskatoon, game time 10:00 p.m. EST. Fans in the USA can see the game on ESPN+. This is the second of two “Games of the Week” for fans in Canada and they can see the action on TSN.ca or the TSN app. This is also an Alterna Cup series game. At this point in the season, Saskatchewan holds a record of 1-4 and Vancouver holds a record of 2-3 in the Alterna Cup Standings with both teams having been eliminated from the series.
Marcelo A. Sagüez, Correspondent Calgary Roughnecks
Lacrosse is Awesome©