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Breaking: League Adopts Unified Standings Format & Updated Playoff Structure for 2023-24 Season

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WK
1
Fri, Dec 1
19:00:00
Saskatchewan
Halifax
Fri, Dec 1
22:00:00
Albany
Las Vegas
Fri, Dec 1
22:00:00
Panther City
Vancouver
Sat, Dec 2
19:00:00
Calgary
Rochester
Sat, Dec 2
19:30:00
Philadelphia
New York
WK
2
Sat, Dec 9
19:00:00
Philadelphia
Toronto
Sat, Dec 9
19:00:00
Buffalo
Albany
Sat, Dec 9
19:30:00
Colorado
Georgia
Sat, Dec 9
20:00:00
Rochester
Saskatchewan
Sat, Dec 9
22:00:00
Calgary
San Diego
Sun, Dec 10
16:00:00
Las Vegas
Panther City
WK
3
Fri, Dec 15
22:00:00
Saskatchewan
Las Vegas
Sat, Dec 16
13:00:00
Albany
Philadelphia
Sat, Dec 16
19:30:00
Halifax
New York
Sat, Dec 16
19:30:00
San Diego
Buffalo
Sat, Dec 16
22:00:00
Georgia
Vancouver
WK
4
Fri, Dec 22
20:00:00
Toronto
Panther City
Fri, Dec 22
21:00:00
Georgia
Colorado
Sat, Dec 23
19:00:00
Vancouver
Rochester
WK
5
Fri, Dec 29
18:30:00
Philadelphia
Halifax
Fri, Dec 29
19:30:00
Georgia
Buffalo
Fri, Dec 29
22:00:00
Rochester
San Diego
Sat, Dec 30
16:00:00
New York
Toronto
Sat, Dec 30
21:00:00
Las Vegas
Calgary
Sat, Dec 30
21:00:00
Vancouver
Colorado
Sun, Dec 31
20:00:00
Albany
Saskatchewan
WK
6
Sat, Jan 6
19:00:00
Halifax
Albany
Sat, Jan 6
19:30:00
Panther City
Georgia
Sat, Jan 6
19:30:00
Colorado
Buffalo
Sun, Jan 7
15:00:00
New York
Philadelphia
WK
7
Fri, Jan 12
18:30:00
Toronto
Halifax
Fri, Jan 12
22:00:00
San Diego
Las Vegas
Sat, Jan 13
19:00:00
Buffalo
Rochester
Sat, Jan 13
19:00:00
Saskatchewan
Philadelphia
Sat, Jan 13
19:30:00
Panther City
New York
Sat, Jan 13
19:30:00
Albany
Georgia
Sat, Jan 13
21:00:00
San Diego
Colorado
Sat, Jan 13
22:00:00
Calgary
Vancouver
WK
8
Fri, Jan 19
19:30:00
New York
Buffalo
Sat, Jan 20
19:00:00
Georgia
Toronto
Sat, Jan 20
19:00:00
San Diego
Albany
Sat, Jan 20
20:00:00
Vancouver
Saskatchewan
Sat, Jan 20
21:00:00
Calgary
Colorado
WK
9
Fri, Jan 26
22:00:00
Colorado
Vancouver
Sat, Jan 27
18:00:00
Rochester
Halifax
Sat, Jan 27
19:00:00
Buffalo
Toronto
Sat, Jan 27
19:30:00
Georgia
New York
Sat, Jan 27
19:30:00
San Diego
Philadelphia
Sat, Jan 27
22:00:00
Panther City
Las Vegas
WK
10
Fri, Feb 2
19:00:00
Halifax
Philadelphia
Fri, Feb 2
19:30:00
Vancouver
Georgia
Fri, Feb 2
21:00:00
New York
Calgary
Sat, Feb 3
19:00:00
Las Vegas
Albany
Sat, Feb 3
19:30:00
Rochester
Buffalo
Sat, Feb 3
20:00:00
Panther City
Saskatchewan
Sat, Feb 3
21:00:00
Toronto
Calgary
Sun, Feb 4
18:00:00
Colorado
San Diego
WK
11
Fri, Feb 9
18:30:00
Las Vegas
Halifax
Fri, Feb 9
20:00:00
Colorado
Panther City
Sat, Feb 10
19:00:00
Georgia
Rochester
Sat, Feb 10
19:00:00
Calgary
Toronto
Sat, Feb 10
19:30:00
San Diego
New York
Sat, Feb 10
22:00:00
Saskatchewan
Vancouver
WK
12
Fri, Feb 16
18:30:00
Buffalo
Halifax
Fri, Feb 16
22:00:00
Philadelphia
Las Vegas
Sat, Feb 17
19:00:00
Colorado
Albany
Sun, Feb 18
19:00:00
Halifax
Calgary
WK
13
Fri, Feb 23
21:00:00
New York
Colorado
Fri, Feb 23
22:00:00
Georgia
San Diego
Sat, Feb 24
19:00:00
Las Vegas
Rochester
Sat, Feb 24
19:00:00
Vancouver
Toronto
Sat, Feb 24
19:30:00
Albany
Buffalo
Sat, Feb 24
20:00:00
Halifax
Saskatchewan
Sat, Feb 24
21:00:00
Philadelphia
Calgary
Sun, Feb 25
16:00:00
Georgia
Panther City
WK
14
Fri, Mar 1
19:00:00
Georgia
Halifax
Fri, Mar 1
20:00:00
San Diego
Panther City
Fri, Mar 1
22:00:00
Toronto
Las Vegas
Fri, Mar 1
22:00:00
Buffalo
Vancouver
Sat, Mar 2
13:00:00
Calgary
Philadelphia
Sat, Mar 2
19:00:00
New York
Albany
Sat, Mar 2
21:00:00
Saskatchewan
Colorado
Sat, Mar 2
22:00:00
Toronto
San Diego
Sun, Mar 3
16:00:00
Rochester
Panther City
WK
15
Fri, Mar 8
19:00:00
Vancouver
Albany
Fri, Mar 8
19:30:00
Calgary
Georgia
Fri, Mar 8
19:30:00
Saskatchewan
Buffalo
Sat, Mar 9
17:00:00
Colorado
Toronto
Sat, Mar 9
19:00:00
Albany
Rochester
Sat, Mar 9
19:30:00
Las Vegas
New York
Sat, Mar 9
22:00:00
Halifax
San Diego
Sun, Mar 10
15:00:00
Panther City
Philadelphia
WK
16
Fri, Mar 15
18:30:00
Panther City
Halifax
Fri, Mar 15
21:00:00
San Diego
Calgary
Fri, Mar 15
22:00:00
Las Vegas
Vancouver
Sat, Mar 16
19:00:00
Rochester
Albany
Sat, Mar 16
19:00:00
Toronto
Buffalo
Sat, Mar 16
19:30:00
Philadelphia
Georgia
Sat, Mar 16
20:30:00
New York
Saskatchewan
WK
17
Fri, Mar 22
20:00:00
Buffalo
Panther City
Fri, Mar 22
21:00:00
Albany
Calgary
Sat, Mar 23
19:00:00
Halifax
Toronto
Sat, Mar 23
19:00:00
Vancouver
Philadelphia
Sat, Mar 23
19:30:00
Saskatchewan
New York
Sat, Mar 23
21:00:00
Rochester
Colorado
Sat, Mar 23
22:00:00
Las Vegas
San Diego
Sun, Mar 24
17:30:00
Saskatchewan
Georgia
WK
18
Sat, Mar 30
13:00:00
Buffalo
Philadelphia
Sat, Mar 30
19:00:00
Halifax
Rochester
Sat, Mar 30
19:30:00
Toronto
New York
Sat, Mar 30
22:00:00
Vancouver
Las Vegas
WK
19
Fri, Apr 5
21:00:00
Saskatchewan
Calgary
Fri, Apr 5
21:00:00
Buffalo
Colorado
Fri, Apr 5
22:00:00
Panther City
San Diego
Fri, Apr 5
22:00:00
Halifax
Vancouver
Sat, Apr 6
19:00:00
New York
Rochester
Sat, Apr 6
19:00:00
Toronto
Albany
Sat, Apr 6
19:30:00
Las Vegas
Georgia
Sat, Apr 6
20:00:00
Calgary
Saskatchewan
Sun, Apr 7
16:00:00
Philadelphia
Panther City
WK
20
Fri, Apr 12
21:00:00
Philadelphia
Colorado
Sat, Apr 13
19:00:00
Rochester
Toronto
Sat, Apr 13
19:30:00
Calgary
Buffalo
Sat, Apr 13
20:00:00
San Diego
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 13
22:00:00
Colorado
Las Vegas
Sat, Apr 13
22:00:00
New York
Vancouver
Sun, Apr 14
16:00:00
Albany
Panther City
WK
21
Fri, Apr 19
19:30:00
Rochester
Georgia
Fri, Apr 19
22:00:00
Vancouver
San Diego
Sat, Apr 20
18:00:00
Colorado
Halifax
Sat, Apr 20
19:30:00
Albany
New York
Sat, Apr 20
20:00:00
Toronto
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 20
21:00:00
Panther City
Calgary
Sat, Apr 20
22:00:00
Buffalo
Las Vegas
Sun, Apr 21
15:00:00
Philadelphia
Rochester
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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