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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

Knighthawks’ Vinc Credits Strong Leadership and Work Ethic for His Success

Thanks to his “one game at a time approach” and his impeccable work ethic on and off the turf, few goalies in league history have accomplished what the Rochester Knighthawks Matt Vinc has achieved over the last 13 years.

On top of winning Goaltender of the Year five times (three more than any other goalie) and becoming an NLL Champion’s Cup winner three times, this season, Vinc became only the second netminder – Anthony Cosmo is the other – to surpass 7,000 regular season saves (Vinc has 7,118 stops and is only 104 behind Cosmo for the record), and, just last week he became the NLL’s all-time postseason saves leader, heading into this year’s NLL Finals having amassed 847 postseason stops over a league-most 1,386 playoff minutes played.

But, before Vinc became the eventual-Hall of Fame player he is today, he came into the league set to be a benchwarmer and destined to go through growing pains.

“When you’re young and coming out of Junior, you kind of expect things to be easy,” Vinc said of his early years in the NLL. “I was fortunate to get drafted into a good situation in San Jose where there was no pressure. They had one of the best goalies of all-time in Anthony Cosmo and another great starting goalie in Brandon Miller, so I didn’t expect to play at all. I used that time to learn from them – those two guys were great. They definitely helped me settle in, especially with the adjustment with the bigger net.”

The following year, Vinc was selected by the New York Titans in the NLL Expansion Draft. After spending just 14 minutes in net during his rookie-season, Vinc was thrown into the starting role for the Titans to put all he had learned in San Jose to the test.

“Going into a situation as I did in New York, I faced a lot of shots,” Vinc stated. “We were a young team that was trying to find an identity. That ultimately helped me adjust to the different styles of play in the NLL.”

Aside from Cosmo, Miller, and his other teammates, Vinc credits the coaching staffs he’s played for since 2006 for breeding him into the prolific goaltender he is today.

“I’ve had great coaches throughout my career,” Vinc said. “Just looking at a few of them, Ed Comeau is one of the guys that helped me through my career, and now Mike Hasen. These guys showed me the importance of video and prep. You can only do so much on the floor. It’s all about the mental preparation, studying the game and all the different aspects that go into knowing the position. That has been the biggest help over my career. It’s all the things off the turf that have helped me to do everything that I have achieved.”

Regarding winning championships, it wasn’t until Vinc’s second year in Rochester that one of his teams began to establish itself as a dominant force in this league. Vinc once again points to excellent veteran leadership being a key reason to his past team’s successes and believes that this 2018 squad has the same traits as the Knighthawks clubs that won the Champion’s Cups in 2012, 2013, and 2014.

“During those times in Rochester, we had great leadership,” Vinc said of his Champion’s Cup three-peat teams. “We had a great coaching staff in Mike Hasen, Pat O’Toole, and at that point, Paul Day. I look at our captains; Pat McCready is one of the best leaders I’ve ever had and when I look at the supporting leaders like Mike Accursi, that, during that time, these were proven winners in the summer and in the NLL. We used those guys and their experiences to learn how to win in big games. Now with this squad, I feel we the same type of people in place. We have guys like Sid Smith, Billy Dee Smith, Cody Jamieson, they all have championship pedigree, and that’s been a huge part of the Knighthawks success.”

If there’s one thing on the Knighthawks side headed into the NLL Finals against the Saskatchewan Rush, it’s that they were the only team to defeat the Rush twice this year. However, Vinc says, that while the regular season wins were significant, the Rush have still had the upper-hand since they lost to the Knighthawks in the 2012 Champion’s Cup.

“We had a couple of good games against a very talented group,” Vinc said of his team’s victories over the Rush this year. “They might be one of the best-coached teams in the league with Derek Keenan, and they run a system as near-perfect as you can get. We’re going to have our hands full, and we know they’re going to watch film and try to throw a wrinkle in there to catch us off guard. We don’t think we have the upper hand because we won two games. If you look at the last five or six years, we have a lot of losses against them. We know we’re playing the top team and we know we have to play our best games to give ourselves a chance.”

Vinc’s defensive teammates, however, have confidence that their goaltender can continue to shine as one of the league’s best in net for a few more games to bring the first NLL Cup to Rochester for the team’s first championship since 2014 and their fifth title overall.

“Being behind the scenes, I get to see how hard [Vinc] works,” Knighthawks Defender Scott Campbell said of Vinc. “All the accolades that he’s earned comes from all the work he puts in on and off the turf. He makes it look easy out there, but, he’s in the gym every single day, watching film, taking shots at practice. Whatever it is, he’s doing it better and spending more time at it then anyone else has in the past.”

“It makes our job easier,” Knighthawks Defender Paul Dawson said of Vinc’s effort each game. “You’re not worried about screwing up or giving up shots because you know that if you do, most likely Vinc is going to make that save. At the same time, when you have a guy like that in net, you play harder knowing how good he is and what he can do. It’s great to see a guy like Vinc finally grab all the records he did this year. It’s a nice tip of the cap to him.”

The belief that the Knighthawks can upset the top-seed Rush on their home turf Saturday in Saskatoon is present. Now, if each player can put in the effort the Vinc puts in each game, they will have a chance to beat the Rush for a third time this season and possibly go on to win the NLL Cup in few weeks time.

NLL