Christopher Crane, NLL Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©
Featured Image Photo Credit: Brandon Hill
On Saturday December 16, 2023, the Halifax Thunderbirds (2-0) headed out on the road to take on the New York Riptide (0-2) at NYCB LIVE-NASSAU COLISEUM. The Riptide had Callum Jones who was the 3rd pick overall in 2023 for the Riptide making his NLL Debut. New York would be the first ones to get on the board early in the first period but unfortunately Halifax would take control of the game. The Riptide wouldn’t make it easy for the Thunderbirds as second period wouldn’t see either side find the back of the net until very late in the frame; and the fourth period would see Halifax net two scores early in the period while shutting out the Riptide. The teams would combine for a total of 68 penalty minutes during the contest including the ejection of Jake Withers just minutes before the end of the second. The Thunderbirds would go on to secure a 14-6 win, which was fueled by Cody Jamieson (4g, 1a) and Randy Staats (3g, 3a). Halifax would also have Dawson Theede (2g, 1a) contribute and four other players with one score apiece. The New York Riptide would be led by Kiel Matisz (3g) and Connor Kearnan (1g, 2a). The Riptides Reilly O’Connor (1g, 1a) and Jeff Teat (1g, 1a) would both contribute two points each.
Starting off the first period with a rare hidden ball trick, the Riptide would get on the board just 24 seconds in. This would be their real only highlight and only lead in the game. Reilly O’Connor would draw the attention of Halifax and Connor Kearnan (1g, 2a) would use the hidden ball trick to get the ball past Warren Hill to put New York up 1-0. The Thunderbirds would take control and go on a three-goal run to go ahead 3-1. Randy Staats (3g, 3a) came down the alley and placed it top corner to notch his 500th career point. The next would be a man down marker. Graeme Hossack (1g) would go coast to coast and shoot from the left side and go stick side for a short-handed tally. To cap off the run, Cody Jamieson in transition would hit near side down low with 6:15 left in the quarter. New York would go on the power-play which stopped the run for Halifax. Kiel Matisz (3g) from out in front got Hill moving side to side, fired and found twine 30 seconds into the man up and it was 3-2 with 4:03 left in the first. The Thunderbirds would then close out the first period by netting the final two scores. Tyson Bell (1g, 1a) would get the rebound, kept his toes out of the crease and dunked it over the shoulder 4-2 Halifax. The last was another power-play tally. With 10 seconds left in the frame, Ryan Benesch (1g, 2a) waited to see what Cameron Dunkerly did and he cranked it over his shoulder to put them up by three. Score at the end of one: Halifax 5—New York 2.
The Riptide would put up quite a fight going back and forth with both teams unable to beat either net-minder. The start of the quarter saw Halifax go on a 5 on 3, then they’d get hit with a penalty to make it a 4 on 3 and with just 21 seconds left on the first Halifax penalty, they’d get hit with another making it a 3 on 3. It was extremely exciting with the teams being 4 on 4 and 3 on 3 with guys flying out of the penalty box and no goals from either. It was 12 minutes before Halifax would finally break the stalemate by making it a 6-2 game with 3:47 to go. Bell sent a pass to Ryan Terefenko (1g) on a break, he faked left and dunked it low for a goal in transition. With 3:42 left in the half, Callum Jones would high stick Jake Withers and this started fisticuffs between the two. After it was all said and done, Jones was hit with a five-minute major (high sticking); a 10-minute major (fighting) and a 10-minute major (game misconduct). Withers would get a two-minute minor (instigator), a five-minute major (fighting) and a 10-minute major (game misconduct). Since Withers was the instigator, he was also ejected from the game. When things were finally figured out, New York on the 4 on 4 would score in transition. Jeff Teat (1g, 1a) came out of the “O” door, caught the pass and pinged it top left with 3:18 left in the half. Halifax would capitalize on a power play opportunity with 17 seconds to go. Jamieson drew the double-team allowing Staats to fire it over the shoulder 7-3 Thunderbirds; and they’d cap it off with 1.4 seconds left. Jamieson with an overhand twister shot went five-hole putting them up by five. Halifax would take an 8-3 lead heading into halftime.
Heading into the third, Halifax picked up where they left off at the end of the second period. Jamieson would find the back of the net early in the period with 30 seconds gone on a power play with an overhand shot that hit bottom corner to make it 9-3, giving him his hat-trick. Reilly O’Connor would notch the next tally for New York in the frame. On the run, from in tight, he fired it across his body and found the near pipe to make it 9-4 at the 2:08 mark. Staats would notch his hat-trick for Halifax from distance finding the back corner. The Riptide would score their only back-to-back goals in the game both from Matisz. On the give and go, he’d fire one down low and it hit far pipe for a power play tally; and on his second, he reached around Hill and popped it far pipe for his first hat trick as a Riptide. Halifax had lost their fire for a bit to start the half but would close out the frame with two more. Dawson Theede (2g, 1a) floated an overhand shot over the shoulder of Dunkerly with 3:51 to go; and Clarke Petterson with the roll dodge, put a no angle shot under the glove with 1:34 in the frame. Score at the end of three: Halifax 12—Riptide 6.
Fourth period action was slow and didn’t get going until over four and half had come off the clock. Theede came flying out of the sin bin and fired a rocket at Dunkerly at the 4:26 mark. The last goal in the game came with 8:31 left on the clock. Jamieson would notch his third man up tally in the contest. With defenders on both sides, he fired one high to low hitting the back of the net. With the game out of reach, New York bench boss would pull Dunkerly and give Will Johnston the nod for his NLL Debut, and he was perfect for the last minutes making five saves. Both teams would go back and forth for the remaining minutes of the period with the Thunderbirds securing their second win of the season. Final Score: Halifax 14—Riptide 6.
Halifax pushed the pace in transition early and this dictated the pace of play. They dominated the game throughout and capitalized on 5 of 8 power plays.
STATS:
Halifax Thunderbirds—SOG 50; FO 12-25; PP 5-8, Saves 33; PIM 34
New York Riptide—SOG 39; FO 11-25; PP 207; Saves 36; PIM 34
NEXT UP:
The Halifax Thunderbirds (2-0) will head into a bye week and will return to action on Friday December 29, 2023, when they host the Philadelphia Wings (1-2) at Scotiabank Centre. Game time 6:30 p.m. EST. Fans in the USA can see the game on ESPN+. Fans in Canada can watch the action on TSN+.
The New York Riptide (0-2) also head into a bye week and will hit the road as they travel north of the border to take on the Toronto Rock (1-0) at First Ontario Centre on Saturday December 30th, 2023. Game time 4:00 p.m. EST. This is the Game of the Week for fans in the USA and they can see the game not only on ESPN+ but also on ESPNU. Fans in Canada can see the game on TSN1 and TSN+.
Christopher Crane, NLL Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©