Roughnecks Meet Rock In West Vs East Showdown

By Alex Medina | Staff Writer
Photo credit Candice Ward Calgary Roughnecks

After seeing their three-game winning streak come to an end last weekend, the Calgary Roughnecks are looking for redemption to get back into the win column.

The Roughnecks will seek that redemption during a rare Sunday matinee when they welcome the Toronto Rock to the Scotiabank Saddledome at 2 p.m. local time.

The Roughnecks are coming off a 15-11 loss to their West Division rivals, the Saskatchewan Rush on Feb. 4, in a game that got away from them during the final quarter.

The loss against the Rush marked the first time in the last four games that the Roughnecks allowed more than four goals in the fourth quarter.

The Roughnecks record dropped to 3-2 on the 2017 NLL campaign, in a tie with the Rush for top spot in the West Division.

“You have to play 60 minutes and the full four quarters,” captain of the Roughnecks Mike Carnegie said in regards to the slow second half the Roughnecks had, which resulted in the loss.

“Playing a half doesn’t mean you’ll win a game.”

The Roughnecks will need to play a complete game if they hope to bounce back with a win and start a new winning streak.

It’ll be no easy task however, as the Rock come into the matchup after a decisive 18-10 victory over the Buffalo Bandits on Feb. 3.

The win improved the Rock’s record to 3-1, good for second place in the East Division and, just a half a game back of the Georgia Swarm for first place.

A major factor for the Rock’s fast start on the year, has been thanks to the play of goaltender Nick Rose, who leads the league in save percentage with a .798 mark, and a goals against average of 8.75.

Despite the offensive outburst of last weekends victory, the Rock still find themselves towards the bottom of the NLL in goals, with just 51 goals scored in the four games played.

So far on the year, Tom Schreiber leads the Rock in scoring with 23 points, six goals and 17 assists, following the ten-point night the 24 year-old rookie had against the Bandits.

Curtis Dickson continues his strong start to the season, leading the Roughnecks in scoring with 32 points, 17 goals and 15 assists, after a seven-point night against the Rush.

This meeting will mark the first of two games that the teams will face-off during the season, with the rematch game set for Mar. 11 back in Toronto.