The Toronto Rock clinched a spot in the NLL post-season on Saturday. But they had to outlast a stubborn Albany FireWolves club to do it.
Despite falling to 2-11 in a dismal season, the FireWolves pleased their home fans with a strong defensive performance but could not completely shut down the Rock, who posted an 11-9 win in the New York state capital.
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“We punched our ticket to the playoffs. That’s the start of a new season,” Rock forward Dan Craig said. “We have three games left and that’s going to prepare us.”
The FireWolves got solid goaltending by Doug Jamieson, who made 47 saves. Rock goaltender Nick Rose made 33, bouncing back from a lacklustre performance in a 14-12 loss to the Halifax Thunderbirds last week.
Craig continued his breakout season with a hat trick for Toronto (11-4) including a great individual effort leading to an airborne marker from in front of the net to break an Albany run in the fourth quarter. Rookie Josh Dawick scored twice. Tom Schreiber, Zach Manns, Corey Small and Brandon Slade also scored, as did Challen Rogers in his first game back after being out two with injury, and Latrell Harris, who capped the scoring into an empty net.
John Piatelli scored three goals for the FireWolves, including one that pulled Albany to within one with 40 seconds left. Ethan Walker also had a hat trick while Tanner Thomson scored twice. Marshall Powless also scored.
Both of Toronto’s major rivals played on the west coast on Saturday. The Buffalo Bandits (10-3) faced the San Diego Seals (10-2) in a battle of first-place teams. The Rochester Knighthawks (9-4) made a junket to Las Vegas to face the expansion Desert Dogs (4-8). The Rock and Bandits will square off next Saturday in a critical matchup at First Ontario Centre.
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Rock falls to Halifax
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Rock doubles up on Albany