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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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Stories/Op-Ed

Sask Away: Rush Takes Home 10-8 Win Vs. Roughnecks

The first-ever ‘Battle of the Prairies’ kicked off the 2016 NLL season for the Calgary Roughnecks (0-1) as they played host to the defending champion Saskatchewan Rush (1-0) on Saturday night. It was the opening to the season that the Rush was looking for, as they triumphed over the Riggers with a 10-8 comeback win in front of 11,977 fans at Scotiabank Saddledome.

Less than two minutes into the game Roughnecks Defenseman Dan MacRae scored the first goal of the 2016 season. ‘Necks forward Dane Dobbie then got an opportunity to put one past Aaron Bold on a power play. The first quarter would end with the Riggers in the lead 2-0, a good start against the team that eliminated them from a Champion’s Cup run last year.

“There’s a lot of animosity there,” said Roughnecks head coach Curt Malawsky. “They knocked us out last year and our guys didn’t forget that. And we came out of the gates hard.”

Five rookies were on Calgary’s opening-day 20-player roster and the coaching staff was impressed with their quick start and energy. 

“[The Rush] haven’t changed anything and we’ve made some changes,” Malawsky said. “There was lot that I liked about our game. I thought our compete was good, I thought our composure was great for a young team…they didn’t panic.”

Rush forward Ben McIntosh opened the scoring for the team. Defenseman Chris Corbeil then managed to tie the game up at 2 with a short-handed. The Rush then found themselves on a power play for five minutes as Roughnecks transition Curtis Manning took a major call for high sticking. Dane Dobbie still managed to put his second of the night past Bold. Wesley Berg kept the effort going by scoring his first-ever NLL goal. Followed by another goal from Curtis ‘Superman’ Dickson. Riggers lead the Rush 5-2 with Saskatchewan leading in shots, 29-28.

At the half, the Rush seemed to be the opposite of the high-powered championship team they were in 2015.

“I thought there was slow starts overall for our offense,” said Rush general manager and head coach Derek Keenan. “I mean we struggled a little bit, having two goals at halftime isn’t really characteristic of our team.”

The second half was when the game began turning around for the Rush. While they couldn’t put one on the board until almost 10 minutes into the 3rd, they found footing when Rush forward Zack Greer scored two goals in a row. A short-handed goal from Mark Matthews decreased the Riggers lead to just one goal, the third saw a huge change in the Rush’s gameplay.

“There were defensive stops at the start of the third quarter, and we finally made some plays,” Keenan said. “Transition-wise, we made some plays…and finally our goal scorers starting scoring a little bit too.

“Mark was sluggish in the first half, but got his legs going and started working a little bit harder, and Knight…Curtis is always going to give you that 100% effort, and, even if he’s not scoring, he does a lot of things for us that helps us win games.”

Rush forward Riley Loewen then tied up the game 6-6 with another great short-handed effort. That would conclude the third quarter. 

“We finally got our offense going a little bit in the second half and made some plays and finally got a little bit of execution… It was pretty good,” Keenan said.

“When you can get a couple of grind plays on offense, and you get a couple goals like that, it sparks our offense,” Matthews said. “And when that happens, we get the ball going and we find the back of the net.”

While the Rush powered ahead in the second, Malawsky watched his team start falling apart.

“We had a tough go in the second half but the Rush are a good team, they put you in spots,” he said. “I think that cost us, I think we stopped moving our feet, but they have that championship resiliency, and we have that youthful resiliency. But we have to be better.”

The Roughnecks then made a quick come back with back-to-back goals from Dickson and Dobbie, but it wasn’t enough. Mark Matthews didn’t take long to find the back of the net again. Saskatchewan found the lead just seconds after, as Church got his second of the evening.

“We came out and were a little flat in the second half there, and they took advantage of it,” said Roughnecks forward Curtis Dickson. “A couple of mental lapses and a couple short-handed goals that were the difference… It’s just one of those things where we got to finish when we’re in tight. And get those opportunities because you know they won’t come around often with these guys.” 

In the end, the Saskatchewan Rush would walk away with a 10-8 ‘W’ with a 48-45 favor in shots. An opening to the season the Roughnecks coaching staff was not happy with.

“To be honest with you, you don’t want to draw the champs right out of the gate,” Malawsky admitted. “I’d be lying if I said I wanted it, but you play who you play and they are who they are. When it’s all said and done, you have to measure yourself up against them. To me, it’s a results-based business and as great as we played…we still didn’t get the results.”

“It’s always tough when you play these guys, I thought they played really well and their defense was outstanding,” Keenan said. “But when you win a bit of an ugly one, sometimes you’re even happier than a perfect game.”

The Roughnecks will head to Buffalo to take on the Bandits next week, while the Rush have a bye week before hosting the Vancouver Stealth on January 15.

As for the two teams, they may now be in different provinces, but the same rivalry is still there.

“There’s no love lost there,” Matthews said. “It’s a battle every time.”

Three Stars of the Game as selected by the media:

1) Mark Matthews
2) Dane Dobbie
3) Aaron Bold

Story by Laura Bates (@RoughnecksBeat) for NLL.com. Photo by Candice Ward.

NLL