Week 4 of the NLL encompassed a quartet of matchups, three of which were defensive dominations, with only one featuring a plethora of goals scored. The weekend’s action even included an ultra-rare goalie fight!
Vancouver Warriors @ Oshawa FireWolves 12/19/25 (Credit: David Pickering/NLL) Player Pictured: Christian Del Bianco
Anchored by all-world goaltender Christian Del Bianco, the visiting Vancouver Warriors escaped Ontario winners of an 8-6 skirmish over the Oshawa FireWolves. Oshawa jumped out to 3-0 and 5-2 leads, only to relinquish what they had accomplished in the wake of six straight Vancouver goals.
Bal and Dickson Score Two Goals Each
Keegan Bal and Curtis Dickson each scored twice during the run with Jesse King and Marcus Klarich, picking up his second goal of the game, rounding out the scoring. Defender Jackson Suboch had the game’s opening goal, just the second in his five-year career. Christian Del Bianco stopped 48 shots against a desperate Oshawa club.
Clark Lets the Teddy Bears Fly
On the other side of the equation, Ethan Walker scored twice, with Alex Simmons and Dyson Williams finding twine once each. Taggart Clark scored the memorable Teddy Bear goal, which saw 2,327 stuffed animals hit the floor in support of Lakeridge Health.
Next Up for Oshawa in Week 5: Bye
Next Up for Vancouver in Week 5: Bye
Philadelphia Wings @ Rochester Knighthawks 12/20/25 (Credit: Jonathan Tenca/NLL)
The Knighthawks moved to 2-0 with a raucous 15-11 win over the Philadelphia Wings on Saturday at Blue Cross Arena. The high-powered Knighthawks raced to 3-0 and 5-1 advantages, with the Wings never getting closer than a four-goal margin at any point during the final 30 minutes.
Knighthawks Can’t Stop Scoring
Reigning MVP Connor Fields continued to keep the good times rolling, with an 11-point effort on five goals and six assists. Ryan Lanchbury was an assist machine, setting up his teammates seven times. Jake Piseno etched his first career hat trick, with new arrival Zed Williams scoring twice and helping on one more.
Wings Wouldn’t Go Away
The game wasn’t a runaway. Brennan O’Neill tallied one goal and five assists for Philadelphia, with Joe Resetarits, Sam LeClair, Eric Fannell and Dustyn Birkhof each scoring twice. The Wings outscored Rochester in the fourth quarter.
A Lot of Pads Came Off!
Goalkeepers Rylan Hartley and Nick Damude made news not only for their 32 and 38 respective saves, but also for the rumble that broke out between the men late in the game’s final stanza. It was the first goalie fight in the League since Hartley fought Albany’s Ethan Woods four years ago. Prior to that, the last goalie fight was in 2012.
Next Up for Rochester in Week 5: Bye
Next Up for Philadelphia in Week 5: at Ottawa | Saturday 7:00PM ET on ESPN+, NLL+ and TSN+
With below-zero temperatures and several inches of snow as the backdrop, the defending runners-up from Saskatchewan kept the Georgia Swarm at bay, winning 7-4 at Sasktel Centre. The game tied the record for the lowest combined score in regular-season history.
The local guys built a 5-1 lead through the third before the Swarm mounted a frenzied fourth-quarter comeback, bringing the score to a one-goal separation. With the scoreboard showing a 5-4 game, the Rush took control of the festivities, as Austin Shanks and Holden Garlent (into the empty net) found paydirt in the final minute, securing the three-goal win.
It was a night for the goalies. Frank Scigliano, who successfully redirected 35 of 39 projectiles, held former MVPs Lyle Thompson and Shayne Jackson to one assist each. Brett Dobson produced an outstanding effort in defeat, walling off 37 of 43 shots.
Next Up for Saskatchewan in Week 5: at Halifax | Saturday 6:00PM ET on ESPN+, NLL+ and TSN+
Next Up for Georgia in Week 5: at Colorado | Saturday 9:00PM ET on ESPN+, NLL+ and TSN+
Henderson, USA – Dec. 20, 2025: Ottawa Black Bears vs Las Vegas Desert Dogs at Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson, USA. (Photo by Candice Ward/National Lacrosse League)
The Las Vegas Desert Dogs got the home opener win they desperately wanted, a thrilling 10-9 event over Jeff Teat and the Ottawa Black Bears. In front of a packed Lee’s Family Forum, the Desert Dogs pounced on the opposition early, exploding to 6-0 and 9-1 leads for perhaps their best-ever start to a game.
A Comeback for the Ages
Just as it appeared that the new-look Desert Dogs were going to run away with the game, Ottawa reeled off eight consecutive goals, miraculously tying the game 9-9 midway through the fourth, while shutting out the Desert Dogs for nearly 30 minutes. With a historic collapse suddenly looming, Mitch Jones directed the game-winner into the back of the net with 2:20 left to play, sealing Las Vegas’ win.
Jones scored three and assisted on four, with Jonathan Donville contributing two goals and three helpers. Chase Fraser debuted and totaled four points, while Chris Cloutier dished out five assists. Rob Hellyer continues to star for the Black Bears, engraving two goals and four assists. Teat was relatively quiet, scoring just once, but assisting on four others.
Ottawa outshot Vegas 57-46, but Landon Kells stood tall, obstructing 48, while Zach Higgins stymied 34.
Next Up for Las Vegas in Week 5: at Toronto | Saturday 7:00PM ET on ESPN+, NLL+ and TSN+
Next Up for Ottawa in Week 5: vs. Philadelphia | Saturday 7:00PM ET on ESPN+, NLL+ and TSN+
