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BUF at TOR - Sat. 7pm ET 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
FINAL
Toronto
11
Albany
9
Sat, Mar 25
FINAL
Halifax
14
Philadelphia
10
Sat, Mar 25
FINAL
Georgia
13
New York
8
Sat, Mar 25
FINAL
Calgary
14
Saskatchewan
6
Sat, Mar 25
FINAL/OT
Buffalo
7
San Diego
6
Sat, Mar 25
FINAL
Colorado
12
Vancouver
14
Sat, Mar 25
FINAL
Rochester
7
Las Vegas
12
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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Scores / Schedule
Game Recaps

Recap: Knighthawks Drop Season Opener

By Jeremy Pike / NLL.com Correspondent 

Photo by Micheline V / Rochester Knighthawks

In a battle of new-look rosters to open the 2017 National Lacrosse League season, the Toronto Rock defeated the Rochester Knighthawks 12-5 in front of 8,137 fans at the Blue Cross Arena Thursday night. Forward Brett Hickey led all scorers with five points (3+2). Josh Currier (1+1) and Quinn Powless (2+0) led the Knighthawks with two points apiece.

New Toronto head coach Matt Sawyer was understandably pleased with his team’s performance against the rival Knighthawks.

“It’s obviously a nice win to start the season for us,” said Sawyer. “It’s every team’s goal in their first game. We put a lot of work into this the last six weeks, and that’s why we have the commitment we have. You put the work into it the way you do, and it’s good for the guys to be rewarded with a win here tonight.”

The first quarter could have been a commercial for what makes box lacrosse amazing as both teams flew up and down the BCA turf creating havoc with hits and scoring chances. The quarter fittingly ended in a 3-3 tie in what was an evenly-matched battle.

However, the second quarter was decidedly one-sided as Toronto picked apart the Knighthawks in transition en route to six goals in the quarter. Rochester was unable to slow down the Rock and was only able to muster one goal, entering halftime down 9-4.

“It was great,” said Rochester forward Dan Dawson. “They got 3-1, got 3-3. Then all of a sudden, we have a lull of 15 minutes and we’re behind 9-4. That’s the way lacrosse is.”

“It’s tough, right?” said Knighthawks defender Joel Matthews. “You also don’t want to put blame on anyone, because every loss is a team thing. I just think it comes down to little things like competing. I don’t think we were running to the bench hard enough. Offense off, defense off. So they were catching us in transition that way. Loose balls, I think we just got out-worked. Honestly, it sounds bad to say, but at the end of the day, I think they just out-worked us. They earned this one.”

“In the second quarter, our compete level we kind of dropped that a little bit,” said Rochester head coach Mike Hasen. “We left a lot of loose balls on the floor. That’s the game of lacrosse and it nipped us in the (butt) tonight.”

“We feel that’s the way the game of lacrosse is supposed to be played,” Sawyer said. “We want to play an up-tempo style. We expect everyone on the floor to contribute on offense. Just because you’re a defender and coming out the backdoor, doesn’t mean they’re not expected to be in the offense. You saw that tonight. A lot of times it’s just somebody committing to get to the bench hard or making the proper read, and that can be just as important as putting the ball in the net.”

“We know we have speedy guys on the backend of our defense to push the ball the ball in transition,” said Rock forward Brett Hickey. “That’s what won us the game. I think in the first half there, we had six or seven of our goals were in transition.”

“Tonight was one of those nights where you got outworked,” Dawson said. “That’s inexcusable. It showed with the score. If you look at the stat line, I guarantee you they out loose-balled us. They outshot us. They killed us in transition. Their special teams were better than us. You aren’t winning any games in this league no matter who you are if you’re behind in every stat line.”

Just as Dawson guaranteed, Toronto did win on the stat sheet. The Rock claimed 79 loose balls to Rochester’s 62. Goalie Nick Rose faced 48 shots while the Knighthawks goalies (Matt Vinc was briefly pulled for Angus Goodleaf for the final 1:31 of the first half) faced 56 shots. On offense, Hickey and Kasey Beirnes played a large role in the domination.

“They’re big keys, especially tonight without Stephan Leblanc,” Sawyer said. “The three of them are what we call our ‘returning veterans.’ Brett, Kasey, and Steph when he’s healthy back there are guys we’re going to lean on, and they’re expected to contribute and put the ball in the net every night. We need that from them. Tonight was a good start.”

“It feels good to be back,” Hickey said about missing time at the end of the 2016 season. “I know what I bring to the team is goal scoring. There’s a few chances I probably want back, but I was happy I was able to contribute to the win, help out, and get a few on the board. Kasey’s done it for his whole career, getting the ball in the dirty areas and putting it in the net. He’s a leader and a voice on this team.”

Toronto locked down the Knighthawks’ offense who were without star forward and 2014 Most Valuable Player Cody Jamieson, along with Cory Vitarelli and Stephen Keogh. Rochester only had three returning offensive players on the floor against the Rock in Dan Dawson, Joe Resetarits, and Powless. Dawson and Resetarits were held to one assist each.

However, Rochester feels like the issues that manifested in the loss are correctable.

“We say in the room ‘everything is correctable’,” Dawson said. “It’s things that we can control. They deserved to win tonight. They were the better team, but a lot of that was on us. Getting beat to the bench, getting beat in transition, not finishing our chances, not making saves, not executing on the power play. Those are correctable things in the game, and that’s the positive side of tonight. You do have to take positives away from it. We still got chances. But we have to correct these things real quick. It’s 18 games, now it’s 17 and you’re 0-1. You’ve got to get back to 1-1 next week.”

The Knighthawks return to the turf at the Blue Cross Arena Saturday January 7 at 7:30 pm to host the New England Black Wolves. The Rock get a week off then host the defending Champion’s Cup winner Saskatchewan Rush on Saturday January 14 at 7:30 pm. 

NLL