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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
20:30:00
San Diego
Panther City
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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Rock Looking to Avenge Week 2 Loss in Alterna Cup Matchup

Challen Rogers thinks his Toronto Rock are up to the challenge of getting on a roll.

The 2-2 Rock have been on an up-and-down rollercoaster this season, with an opening win followed by a loss followed by a win followed by a loss. Toronto’s only real consistency so far has been its slow starts.

But Rock captain Rogers is confident his squad can turn it on, turn it up and turn it around against the visiting Halifax Thunderbirds on Saturday night at FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton ON. The East Division matchup and all-Canadian Alterna Cup tilt is also the Sports Interaction Game of the Week on TSN (7 pm ET/TSN2).

“It comes down to focus,” says Rogers. “We’re a team that when we have confidence, we’re a tough team to stop. And confidence comes from preparation. It boils down to starting on time, being engaged with every shift and playing freely.”

The Rock are chasing the 2-0 Thunderbirds in both the NLL Eastern Conference and Alterna Cup standings. The two teams met earlier this season on Dec. 10, a 11-7 Halifax home win in which the Thunderbirds jumped out to a 6-1 lead by halftime and 7-1 early in the third quarter. As it sits, Toronto is at the bottom of the charts at 0-1 in Alterna Cup matchups whereas the Thunderbirds are leading at 2-0.

“We had a slow start, and when we score minimal goals in the first half it can be deflating,” says Rogers, the two-time reigning NLL Transition Player of the Year (4 goals, 5 assists this season). “Mistakes happen in this sport all the time. It’s about minimizing those self-inflicted mistakes and finishing our opportunities. We need to give ourselves the best opportunity to win.”

Toronto lost 12-6 last week at Buffalo in another rough-and-tumble chapter of that historic rivalry. But familiarity breeds contempt, and Rogers foresees a similar Bandits-type rivalry with Halifax.

“The rivalry between Buffalo and Toronto stems from decades of battles,” says Rogers. “What creates a rivalry are two teams that have a history of hard-fought and close games.”

“I certainly think that there is a rivalry brewing with the Thunderbirds. Halifax has to be at the top of our list. Every game we always seem to have tight battles with them, and we’ve been neck and neck with them in the standings. With both our aspirations to win the East and win a NLL championship, I think that the games will only be more intense and certainly spark a rivalry.”

The Rock will get a boost from the return to the lineup of veteran scorers Dan Dawson (3 goals, 6 assists in three games this season; Saturday will mark his 300th career game) and Tom Schreiber (8 goals, 2 assists in two games) but will be missing forward Reid Reinholdt (5 goals, 9 assists) and defender Brandon Slade, both out with lower body injuries.

The Thunderbirds, meanwhile, expect captain Cody Jamieson to make his season debut on Saturday, returning to the lineup from injury, but is a gametime decision.

Against Halifax on Saturday, Toronto will be simultaneously trying to slow down Thunderbirds forward Clarke Petterson (6-goal sock trick, 1 assist in Dec. 10 game versus the Rock) while getting to goalie Warren Hill (45 saves on Dec. 10). Halifax has not played since that game against Toronto, or any road games yet this season, due to pandemic-related postponements.

“Hill played very well last time,” says Rogers. “We’re looking to get some by him early and build momentum.”

Thunderbirds netminder Hill has an 8.40 goals-against average and .824 save percentage in two games this season while his Rock counterpart Nick Rose is 10.25 and .776 in four games.

And while Toronto tries to claw its way up the Eastern Conference standings with a win against Halifax on Saturday, the all-Canadian Alterna Cup competition is also in the back of Rogers’ mind.

“Any chance you’re able to put yourself at the top of the Canadian leaderboard, it feels good,” says Rogers, from Coquitlam BC. “We want to be the best and if we’re at the top of the Alterna Cup standings, we’re on the right path.”

Saturday’s game will be be broadcast nationally in Canada on TSN as the Sports Interaction Game of the Week.

“The nationally televised games help our sport grow and give young lacrosse players around Canada a vision and a potential dream,” says Rogers. “Exposure is what the sport of lacrosse needs. And with the best sports network in the country televising NLL games, it can only help the sport grow and get more eyes on the sport.”

Due to current government COVID restrictions there will be no fans in attendance at FirstOntario Centre on Saturday, which makes the TV and digital coverage even more important.

“For all our fans not being able to attend the game, they will still have the opportunity to watch us from home and be able to cheer us on,” says Rogers.

The Toronto Rock have one of the most loyal fan bases and were off to a 2-0 start this season in front of the Rock faithful.

“I certainly think it’ll be different not playing in front of the best fans in the league, but it gives us more incentive to win for those that aren’t there,” says Rogers. “We know the energy that they bring every night propels us, but we’re going to have to find that energy from within.”

NLL