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BUF at SD - Sat. 10pm ET on ESPNews Schedule

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WK
1
Fri, Dec 2
FINAL
Philadelphia
8
Halifax
18
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Vancouver
8
Toronto
19
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
San Diego
15
New York
14
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Albany
11
Buffalo
10
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Rochester
16
Georgia
11
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Colorado
6
Saskatchewan
18
WK
2
Fri, Dec 9
FINAL
Las Vegas
11
Panther City
13
Fri, Dec 9
FINAL/OT
Saskatchewan
12
San Diego
13
Sat, Dec 10
FINAL
Toronto
7
Rochester
11
Sat, Dec 10
FINAL
Vancouver
9
Calgary
11
WK
3
Fri, Dec 16
FINAL
Calgary
14
Vancouver
5
Fri, Dec 16
FINAL
Panther City
9
Las Vegas
3
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Buffalo
11
Toronto
8
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Rochester
14
Albany
13
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Philadelphia
13
Georgia
12
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Halifax
20
New York
11
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Colorado
12
Panther City
9
WK
5
Fri, Dec 30
FINAL
Halifax
13
Buffalo
18
Fri, Dec 30
FINAL
San Diego
17
Calgary
14
Sat, Dec 31
FINAL
Panther City
9
Saskatchewan
11
WK
6
Fri, Jan 6
FINAL
Philadelphia
14
Las Vegas
9
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Panther City
9
Rochester
17
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Halifax
14
Albany
11
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Buffalo
18
Georgia
9
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Toronto
15
New York
7
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Calgary
8
Colorado
9
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Vancouver
11
San Diego
16
WK
7
Fri, Jan 13
FINAL/OT
Albany
11
Halifax
10
Fri, Jan 13
FINAL/OT
Saskatchewan
10
Colorado
11
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Halifax
8
Toronto
17
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Panther City
12
Philadelphia
10
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Georgia
9
Buffalo
11
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
San Diego
10
Calgary
14
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Las Vegas
16
Vancouver
19
Sun, Jan 15
FINAL
Rochester
11
New York
8
WK
8
Fri, Jan 20
FINAL
Buffalo
12
Rochester
15
Fri, Jan 20
FINAL
Vancouver
14
Las Vegas
15
Sat, Jan 21
FINAL
Toronto
14
Philadelphia
5
Sat, Jan 21
FINAL
New York
16
Albany
10
WK
9
Fri, Jan 27
FINAL
Rochester
7
Halifax
17
Fri, Jan 27
FINAL
Buffalo
13
Philadelphia
9
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
Buffalo
16
New York
10
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
Las Vegas
10
Saskatchewan
15
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL/OT
Toronto
11
Calgary
10
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
San Diego
13
Colorado
9
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
Panther City
20
Vancouver
7
WK
10
Fri, Feb 3
FINAL
Georgia
10
Colorado
13
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL/OT
Calgary
12
Halifax
11
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
New York
14
Toronto
22
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Albany
5
Philadelphia
13
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Rochester
10
Buffalo
13
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Panther City
10
San Diego
12
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Saskatchewan
14
Vancouver
8
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Colorado
8
Las Vegas
13
WK
11
Fri, Feb 10
FINAL
Toronto
11
Georgia
10
Fri, Feb 10
FINAL
Saskatchewan
6
Calgary
13
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Halifax
14
Rochester
16
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Albany
12
New York
14
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Vancouver
13
Panther City
14
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Colorado
9
Calgary
13
WK
12
Fri, Feb 17
FINAL
Calgary
14
Vancouver
9
Fri, Feb 17
FINAL
Saskatchewan
16
San Diego
11
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL
Georgia
7
Toronto
16
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL
Las Vegas
12
Albany
10
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL/OT
Philadelphia
12
Buffalo
13
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL
Colorado
7
Panther City
13
Sun, Feb 19
FINAL
New York
12
Halifax
13
WK
13
Fri, Feb 24
FINAL
Panther City
12
Colorado
14
Fri, Feb 24
FINAL
Calgary
9
Las Vegas
11
Sat, Feb 25
FINAL/OT
New York
10
Rochester
11
Sat, Feb 25
FINAL
Albany
4
Georgia
20
Sat, Feb 25
FINAL
Vancouver
16
Saskatchewan
12
WK
14
Fri, Mar 3
FINAL
Buffalo
10
Halifax
9
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
New York
12
Philadelphia
19
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
Las Vegas
12
San Diego
15
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
Rochester
8
Toronto
9
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL/OT
Georgia
9
Albany
8
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
Saskatchewan
10
Panther City
16
Mon, Mar 6
FINAL
Toronto
10
Philadelphia
11
WK
15
Fri, Mar 10
FINAL/OT
Halifax
9
Buffalo
10
Fri, Mar 10
FINAL
Calgary
16
Colorado
10
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
Albany
6
Toronto
12
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
Philadelphia
10
New York
13
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
San Diego
12
Saskatchewan
11
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
Vancouver
14
Las Vegas
5
Sun, Mar 12
FINAL
Rochester
19
Georgia
18
WK
16
Fri, Mar 17
FINAL
Saskatchewan
6
Calgary
11
Fri, Mar 17
FINAL
San Diego
16
Vancouver
9
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Georgia
13
Philadelphia
12
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Toronto
12
Halifax
14
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Albany
10
New York
13
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Colorado
13
Buffalo
8
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Las Vegas
8
Panther City
11
Sun, Mar 19
FINAL/OT
Philadelphia
9
Rochester
8
WK
17
Fri, Mar 24
FINAL
San Diego
17
Panther City
9
Sat, Mar 25
19:00:00
Toronto
Albany
Sat, Mar 25
19:00:00
Halifax
Philadelphia
Sat, Mar 25
19:30:00
Georgia
New York
Sat, Mar 25
21:30:00
Calgary
Saskatchewan
Sat, Mar 25
22:00:00
Buffalo
San Diego
Sat, Mar 25
22:00:00
Colorado
Vancouver
Sat, Mar 25
22:30:00
Rochester
Las Vegas
WK
18
Fri, Mar 31
19:00:00
New York
Georgia
Fri, Mar 31
21:00:00
Las Vegas
Colorado
Fri, Mar 31
22:00:00
Calgary
San Diego
Sat, Apr 1
19:00:00
Buffalo
Toronto
Sat, Apr 1
20:00:00
Albany
Panther City
Sat, Apr 1
21:30:00
Vancouver
Saskatchewan
Sun, Apr 2
13:00:00
Georgia
Halifax
Sun, Apr 2
18:00:00
Rochester
Philadelphia
WK
19
Sat, Apr 8
19:00:00
Albany
Rochester
Sat, Apr 8
19:00:00
Saskatchewan
Georgia
Sat, Apr 8
21:00:00
Panther City
Calgary
Sat, Apr 8
21:00:00
Vancouver
Colorado
Sat, Apr 8
22:30:00
San Diego
Las Vegas
WK
20
Fri, Apr 14
21:00:00
Las Vegas
Calgary
Fri, Apr 14
21:00:00
San Diego
Colorado
Sat, Apr 15
19:00:00
Philadelphia
Toronto
Sat, Apr 15
19:00:00
Georgia
Albany
Sat, Apr 15
19:30:00
New York
Buffalo
Sat, Apr 15
21:30:00
Halifax
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 15
22:00:00
Panther City
Vancouver
WK
21
Fri, Apr 21
20:30:00
Calgary
Panther City
Sat, Apr 22
18:00:00
New York
Halifax
Sat, Apr 22
19:00:00
Georgia
Rochester
Sat, Apr 22
20:00:00
Toronto
Buffalo
Sat, Apr 22
21:30:00
Colorado
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 22
22:00:00
Las Vegas
San Diego
Sun, Apr 23
15:00:00
Philadelphia
Albany
WK
22
Sat, Apr 29
19:00:00
Philadelphia
Rochester
Sat, Apr 29
19:00:00
Buffalo
Albany
Sat, Apr 29
19:00:00
Halifax
Georgia
Sat, Apr 29
22:00:00
Colorado
San Diego
Sat, Apr 29
22:00:00
New York
Vancouver
Sat, Apr 29
22:30:00
Saskatchewan
Las Vegas
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Stories/Op-Ed

Best Of Seven: Rock Double Up Stealth, 14-7

The Toronto Rock (12-4) inched closer to clinching the top overall playoff seed in the National Lacrosse League by doubling up the Vancouver Stealth (4-10) by a score of 14-7 before a crowd of 9,317 at Lacrosse Night in Canada at Air Canada Centre on Friday.

A big seven-goal and 11-point game from second-year surprise Brett Hickey put a halt to a home floor mini-slump as the Rock trek ever closer to a first-place regular season finish.

“I was just taking the shots I usually take,” said Hickey, who put up seven of his 11 points by halftime. “Sometimes they go in and other times they don’t.”

Hickey’s words showed a sense of modesty, but Friday night’s effort was far from. His seven-goal total is the highest ever for a Toronto Rock player in a single game. With the likes of league legends Garrett Billings, Colin Doyle, Jim Veltman, Blaine Manning and many others once wearing a Rock uniform, Hickey’s accomplishment is all that more astonishing. Just a year removed from being a casual part-time player with the Vancouver Stealth, the league’s top goal scorer said he has found his groove in Toronto.

“Scores and records aside, this is the best team I’ve ever been a part of,” said Hickey.

Vancouver’s Tyler Digby opened the game’s scoring 5:16 after first whistle, but Toronto newcomer Kevin Crowley quickly answered with his second tally in a Rock uniform. Just over a minute later, forwards Cliff Smith and Cory Small completed a 2-0 mini-run to give the Stealth a 3-1 lead with 4:24 left in the first frame.

Hickey, with just seconds left in the quarter, scored on transition and started what eventually became a 7-1 Rock run. The latter six Rock goals, all coming in the second frame, came from the sticks of Kevin Ross (2), Hickey (3) and Stephan Leblanc. Only Justin Salt scored for the Stealth, his goal as result of a Toronto breakdown. The run registers as the clear difference in the game as Vancouver scored just three goals the rest of the way.

“A big thing is accountability,” said the Stealth’s leading scorer Duch. “There aren’t a lot of people doing their jobs right now. To win in this league everyone has to be going 100 percent all the time. Personally, I didn’t even show up tonight and you feel like you let the boys down.”

Digby opened all second half scoring just seconds into the third frame. Crowley, nearly three minutes later, answered with his second goal of the night, stretching the Rock’s advantage to 9-5. On the heels of a five-minute silence, Hickey potted a pair to complete his first career sock-trick. Vancouver’s Ilija Gajic capped off the 11-6 third quarter score with his ninth goal of the year.

A 3-1 Rock run in the fourth frame solidified the 14-7 final. Toronto’s 14 goals is their highest total on home floor since February 14, a date in which the Rock defeated the Swarm 14-9.

“I thought we played better tonight, I thought our offense gelled a little bit better,” said Rock owner and general manager Jamie Dawick.

While the Rock put questions about a floundering offence to rest on Friday night (their previous five games averaged just 10.2 Rock goals per game), Dawick revealed the team’s most efficient scorer Rob Hellyer could be set to return before the end of the regular season. Before falling to injury a month ago, Hellyer put up a then league-leading 86 points (31+55).  

“We’re missing Robbie [Hellyer] a little bit,” said Dawick. “He’s been the quarterback of our team. But he’ll be back soon, we’re just being cautious with him.”

The imminent addition of Hellyer will give Toronto seven guys on offense, which only leaves nine spots left on the back end. Although unconventional, Dawick confirms his faith in the strategy.

“If that’s what we end up doing, we can do it,” said Dawick. “We’re typically a six [forwards] and 10 [defenders] team, so I imagine we’ll go seven and nine for a least a game.”

While Toronto can rest relatively easy and dream up potential lineup scenarios, the Stealth now find themselves tied for the final playoff spot in the West Division with the also 4-10 Calgary Roughnecks. With four games remaining – their last against Calgary – Vancouver still controls their own destiny. A win in each of those games guarantees playoff spot.

“It’s honestly lucky that our destiny is still in our own hands,” Duch said. “If we win, we’re in, that’s got to be our main focus right now and not hoping a praying for something to happen outside our room.”

Vancouver will get a chance to quickly forget about Friday night’s loss and shift focus to their game this Sunday night in Connecticut against the New England Black Wolves. The two teams, each carrying four wins thus far, have yet to meet this season.

“We got another game moving forward on Sunday, we don’t have to let [Friday night’s] game linger in our head,” Duch said. “The word in the room is to understand what we did wrong and make sure we respond on Sunday.”

Toronto goalie Nick Rose got the nod in goal and stopped 42 of 49 Stealth shots for a .857 save percentage. The effort gives him a league-second-best .803 save percentage overall on the year. Rochester goalie Matt Vinc (.806) holds the number one spot

Vancouver’s goaltending situation can be described as tenuous at best. With veteran Tyler Richards carrying a league-worst 14.59 goal against average, the Stealth’s last line of defence is now bestowed on youngster Eric Penny. Penny played his first two full career NLL games last weekend, both of which against the Edmonton Rush. The 21-year-old allowed 32 goals all together and amounted only a .735 save percentage. Penny got a shot for redemption on Friday night and came up short as 12 goals slipped by on just 43 shots. Stealth backup Cody Hagedorn played 13:58 in parts of the second and third frames and allowed a pair of goals on 11 shots.

Hickey (7+4) led all shooters with 11 points on the night while Josh Sanderson (0+6), Crowley (3+3) and Ross (2+4) each followed up with six points of their own.

Rhys Duch (0+3) and Small (1+2) lead all Stealth shooters with three points in the loss.

Three Stars of the Game as selected by the media:

1) Brett Hickey
2) Kevin Crowley
3) Nick Rose

By Justin Millerson (@RockBeatToronto) for NLL.com. Photo by Graig Abel.

NLL