The second NLL Semifinal inaugurated in The Maritimes, where just shy of 11,000 fans jammed Scotiabank Centre for a downtown Halifax fracas between the hometown Thunderbirds and the visiting Saskatchewan Rush. Despite the Rush finishing with a better regular season record, the T-Birds played host to Game 1, with next weekend’s Games 2 and 3 (if necessary) moving west to Saskatoon’s SaskTel Centre. Notwithstanding all the opening matchup advantages owned by the Nova Scotia guys, the Rush were very much in charge of this one, easily outpacing the locals 16-7.
Early on, it looked like all the momentum was on the Halifax side, as Clarke Petterson connected on the opening goal, a mere 53 seconds into the festivities. With the Thunderbirds suddenly feeling good about their prospects, the Rush scorched five straight past Drew Hutchison, ending the first stanza leading 6-3, behind an opening quarter hat trick courtesy of former Thunderbird icon Austin Shanks. Entering the third with a 7-4 benefit, Shanks added three more scores in his return to the place he spent the first six seasons of his career, allowing SSK to cruise to an easy nine-goal victory.
It was a six-goal night for Austin Shanks in Game 1, as the former Thunderbird led @SaskRushLAX in their 16-7 win.
Shanks highlights 👀 pic.twitter.com/GTfkFGm75N
— NLL (@NLL) May 4, 2025
The highly charged gathering of NLL stars took an odd turn late, when a series of skirmishes and subsequent penalties led to the Rush attempting three penalty shots within the final 1:07 of the contest. Brock Haley delivered on two, while Mike Triolo was stoned by Warren Hill, who replaced a struggling Hutchison between the pipes.
In addition to Shanks’ sock trick, Zach Manns etched two goals and seven assists, with Robert Church adding two scores and three helpers.
Within the Saskatchewan crease, Frank Scigliano stood as tall as a Toronto skyscraper, knocking down 41 of 48 HFX attempts.
Frank. The. Tank 😤
Scigliano made 41 saves in goal to backstop @SaskRushLAX to a win in Game 1 of the Semifinals. pic.twitter.com/VBQOAGoEPt
— NLL (@NLL) May 4, 2025
On the defeated side of the spectrum, Randy Staats scored one and assisted on five more, as Dawson Theede and Thomas Hoggarth notched two each in an all-around disheartening showing for the now down 1-0 Thunderbirds.
