The Calgary Roughnecks and Toronto Rock got up close and personal during a Sunday matchup of Canadian foes at Pengrowth Saddledome. The Roughnecks escaped with a thrilling 10-8 victory.
ROUGHNECKS WIN A 10-8 THRILLER OVER ROCK
Backup goaltender comes up big as Calgary rallies
02/14/2010
By Josh Chalmers for NLL.com
The Calgary Roughnecks (3-3) handed the Toronto Rock (6-2) their first loss in the last four games in a 10-8 thriller at the Pengrowth Saddledome in front of 10,193 fans on Valentine's Day.
The Roughnecks were behind for the majority of the game. The opening goal by Dane Dobbie, who had two assist in the game to go with a hat trick, was the only lead Calgary had through the first three quarters.
The win can be largely accredited to goaltender Mike Poulin, who saw his first action in a Roughnecks uniform since being acquired in a trade from Boston. Poulin was brought in with the 'Necks down 5-1 in the second quarter. Stopping 28 of 31 shots he was quickly nicknamed 'The Poulin Wall' in a nod to Nikolai Khabibulan of the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers.
"When we were down 5-1 Toronto was winning the small battles," said Poulin of the turnaround. "I don't know what the spark was, but in the second half we started to bear down and win the small battles."
Toronto, who came into the game as the highest scoring team in the NLL, tied their lowest goal total of the season. Poulin credits his defense for the great performance.
"We have a great core on defense to shut down the crease," Poulin said. "Any time you do that it allows the goalie to come out and cut down the angles."
With the Rock holding a 7-6 lead heading into the fourth Tracey Kelusky tied the game with his third goal of the game, six minutes into the final quarter.
Two goals by Jeff Shattler, including the game winner that he put in while on his belly, gave the 'Necks their biggest lead of the game.
A Rob Marshall goal 15 seconds later got the Rock back to within one, but Dobbie's third of the game into an empty net put the game away for Calgary
The Rock answered Dobbie's opening goal with three of their own in the first quarter. They could have had a couple more if not for King who was good early, before the mistakes that led to him being pulled. King stopped at least one clear cut breakaway, and robbed Rock forward Kasey Beirnes at the side of the net closing on what looked to be a gaping hole.
Beirnes got his revenge a minute or so later when Stephan Leblanc, from behind the 'Necks goal, found him in front for a one timer that gave the Rock a 2-1 lead.
A pair of Rock goals early in the second quarter chased King from the net. Poulin then entered the game.
Poulin exhibited his transition skills early finding Dobbie on an end-to-end pass that left the forward with only one man to beat. However, Poulin and Dobie's efforts were foiled by the quick efforts of Toronto's defense.
"I like to throw the ball," Poulin said. "It really gives our team an advantage in the second and fourth quarter when you stretch the floor early."
The Riggers took 22 minutes after their first goal to get on the board again. Jeff Moleski's breakaway attempt was foiled by Rock goalie Steve Dietrich, but a trailing Nolan Heavenor picked up the rebound and scored his first goal of the 2010 season.
"I think we showed our character," said Riggers defenseman Andrew McBride of the turnaround.
"We didn't have any panic on the bench, we were calm and we knew we just had to chip away and get to our goals. Once we got on a role we were a confident bunch and you could see that confidence just build and build."
The 'Necks would score two more in the second frame, including a powerplay goal with five seconds left in the quarter by Dobbie, that cut the Rock lead to 2 at 6-4.
The third quarter was largely uneventful until Colin Doyle's powerplay goal eight and a half minutes in. Calgary was able to get within one of the Rock by the end of the third on the strength of goals by Scott Ranger and Kelusky.
Leading the Roughnecks were Kelusky (3g,3a), Dobbie (3g, 2a) and Josh Sanderson (5a). While the Rock were led by Doyle (3g,1a), Leblanc (1g, 3a) and Garrett Billings (3a)
The Roughnecks still have yet to be outshot in the 2010 season, this time they held a 49-45 advantage.
The Rock's second rated powerplay was perfect on the night going two for two, while the Riggers potted two goals on four chances.
The win for the Roughnecks pushes them back to the .500 mark for the first time since the second game of the season. They are now tied for second in the Western Division with the Edmonton Rush (3-3).
Up next for the Roughnecks is a date in Washington on Friday to face the Stealth for the second time on the season. The Stealth beat the 'Necks in Calgary on January 23. The Rock will be in Edmonton next Sunday to take on the Rush, who they beat 16-7 on Friday in Toronto.
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