At this point of the season the Knighthawks are playing for pride. Currently last in the NLL, their playoff hopes are very slim. This Saturday, the 3rd place Western Divisional Calgary Roughnecks (6-7) came into the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester for some interdivisional play.
For a majority of the season the Knighthawks have not been a 1st quarter team with the other teams usually scoring first. The Knighthawks stopped that trend from happening when Brad Gillies started the scoring for Rochester. After a quick goal by Calgary to tie things up at (1-1). The Knighthawks got back to back goals from both Graeme Hossack and Ryan Benesch and the Knighthawks were able to tally 3 goals in the first quarter. Calgary however did add another goal before the end of the 1st to give Rochester a (3-2) lead going into the 2nd quarter.
However, the 2nd quarter would see a back and forth battle between the two teams. Calgary would start the scoring in the 2nd with a goal coming from Curtis Dickson to tie the game at (3-3). Kyle Jackson however would give the lead right back to the Knighthawks. The two teams would then trade goals until the end of the half. Ryan Benesch added his 2nd goal of the game and Kyle Jackson would score 2 more goals to give himself a hat trick in the 2nd quarter and the Knighthawks at (7-6) lead at halftime.
Luc Magnan would score his 2nd goal of the season to start the scoring for the Knighthawks in the 3rd and give them a (8-6) lead. The Roughnecks would get it within one halfway through the 3rd quarter with a goal from Dane Dobbie and tie it up at (8-8) with a goal coming Curtis Dickson. Curtis Dickson would score again 4 minutes later to give the Roughnecks a (9-8) lead. Kyle Jackson looked like he tied things up at the end of the 3rd but after review it was overturned and that time had already expired. So after the 3rd quarter the Roughnecks had their first lead of the night.
Calgary would open scoring in the 4th quarter with Dane Dobbie’s 3rd goal of the game giving himself a hat trick for the night. Cody Jamieson would get the Knighthawks within one but the Roughnecks would answer back seconds later to make it (11-9). The Roughnecks would add another goal and the Knighthawks would go on to lose by the final score of (12-9).
For the Knighthawks they now drop to (2-11) and their playoff hopes are now but impossible after dropping 8 straight games. A positive for the Knighthawks tonight was definitely Kyle Jackson who finished with 4 pts (3G, 1 A). Knighthawks Head Coach Mike Hasen said after the game that the Knighthawks struggles like this “Take time” and “Is all part of the learning curve”. Up next for the Knighthawks is another game in Connecticut to face the New England Black Wolves at Mohegan Sun Arena. The Knighthawks lost their previous match up to the Black Wolves (16-13) back on February 9th. Faceoff against the Black Wolves is set for Sunday, March 31st at 1pm.
Three Stars of the Night:
1.Curtis Dickson (Calgary)
