This league, man.

Colorado Mammoth 11 – Rochester Knighthawks 10

Rochester started the game with a powerplay in the first minute, but none of their four shot attempts in the two minute minor found the back of the net. In addition to a breakaway chance that nearly fell over the line minutes later, the Knighthawks offense had their fair share of early chances, but it was the Mammoth scoring first with Will Malcom stepping into one and scoring from outside. The Knighthawks were however rewarded for their early persistence minutes later, as Kyle Waters laid a big check to prevent a potential turnover with Thomas McConvey playing pressure defense to force an 8 second call and get the ball back, and then it was McConvey found Ryan Smith on the doorstep for the quick stick to tie the game with 8 minutes left in the first quarter. A final minute penalty against Rochester gave the Mammoth a powerplay in in the closing seconds led to a goal from Eli McLaughlin on a quick stick, and then it was McLaughlin opening the scoring off a turnover in the early second quarter to put the Mammoth up 3-1.

Second time was the charm for the Knighthawks powerplay, as Ryan Lanchbury fed Thomas McConvey on a quick stick, which was followed up by two goals of Lanchbury’s own to give Rochester the 4-3 lead – one from midrange and then another on a cut to the net and feed from Ryan Smith. Will Malcom got his second of the game on the run to re-tie the game at 4 with 6:42 left in the opening half, and then Rochester got another man advantage. While that one was unsuccessful, another penalty only seconds after the first’s expiration led to a second chance with the man up, but after an initial save on a shot from Connor Fields, Warren Jeffrey sent an outlet pass up the floor to clear the danger. While the pass was well over the head of Owen Rahn, the pass hit off the lead official straight in the back, around the far restraining line, and Rahn picked up the loose ball and scored to give the Mammoth a lead that they would hold onto at the half, as their penalty kill came out unscathed from the extended late looks for Rochester.

As mentioned last week when previewing the game, Colorado hadn’t played in Rochester since March 31, 2018, a game in which Mammoth GM Brad Self had a goal. Also scoring in that game was Ian Llord, and it was the 39 year old vet scoring for the first time since February 26, 2022 to open scoring in the second half after scooping up a loose ball, faking a scoop pass to Ryan Lanchbury, and stepping in from outside for the tally. Then on their next offensive possession, Connor Fields fed Thomas McConvey on a pick and pop to give Rochester the lead back. The lead did not last long, however, as Connor Kelly put a stellar spin move on his man to get open and score from outside 2:31 into the quarter, but the deadlock wouldn’t last too long either, as Kyle Waters buried a bouncer in his return to the lineup to make it 7-6. Out of the under 10 timeout, Eli McLaughlin scored off a screen to re-tie the game. Colorado looked to have re-taken the lead after Ryan Lee rebounded an outside shot and dove to score, but the goal was called back on a successful Mike Hasen challenge. Late in the third, a powerplay goal for the Knighthawks from Connor Fields gave Rochester the lead back, and then Lanchbury found Waters in front on a roll on their next possession for their first two goal lead of the game.

The defenses locked in and the whistles went away in the fourth quarter, and a defense was the first to get on the scoreboard in the final 15, as after Ryan Smith was stopped point blank by Dillon Ward, Tim Edwards scored in transition for the Mammoth. With just under five minutes to play, Curtis Knight extended the lead back to 10-8, but after the under five timeout, an early goalie pull from Pat Coyle paid off, as Ryan Lee found Eli McClaughlin amidst the Knighhawks zone, and he fired a perfect quick stick in the net to cut the deficit back to one with 3:39 still on the clock. Off the ensuing faceoff, Rochester forced a turnover but was quickly forced into an over and back before they could clear the first couple of feet after the midline, and as Colorado’s offense re-joined the floor, it was Will Malcom again finding space and scoring from outside to make it all even with 3:10 to play. After some stalemate lacrosse back and forth, it was the final minute of the fourth quarter, and for a third straight game, it was going to come down to the final possessions.

Rochester called timeout after forcing a shot clock violation and took the ball back with under 40 to play. Two man action forced a defensive switch, leading to Ryan Lanchbury being given a speed mismatch on Warren Jeffrey, and with the isolation, he drove left and got to the net, but Dillon Ward stopped him with the shoulder save. Jeffrey rebounded the shot, and the Mammoth called timeout. With 21.3 on the clock and the net empty, Connor Kelly brought the ball up the floor and set up in a 4-wide look with Eli McLaughlin and Zed Williams set up in the middle near the net. Kelly received a screen up top from Connor Robinson and swung to Will Malcom goal-line extended, while McLaughlin screened for Williams, and Zed got the open look that found the back of the net with 2.3 left on the clock. Two weeks after Clarke Petterson beat the buzzer to beat the Knighthawks on their home floor, the Mammoth had done it as well.

Williams was held pointless for the first 59:57 of the game but got the one that counted to improve the Mammoth’s record to 5-3, matching their win total from the nightmare season prior in Denver. Eli McLaughlin had 4 goals and an assist, and Will Malcom had 3 goals and an assist, while Ryan Lee had 6 assists. Dillon Ward picked up the win with 39 saves.

As for Rochester, three seconds stand between a potential for a 5-4 record through 9 games, but instead they sit at 3-6 and a 1-4 record at Blue Cross Arena. Their record matches last season’s halfway through the season as well. While they were able to go 5-4 down the stretch to get the 8 seed in the playoffs, it will probably take a stronger stretch than that to finish the season in the top 8 this year as the only team that has played 9 games so far, meaning that everyone has between 1 and 4 games in hand on them. Connor Fields assisted on 7 of the 10 goals and added a goal of his own to lead the Hawks, while Ryan Lanchbury had 2 goals and 4 assists and Thomas McConvey had 2 goals and 2 assists.

Week 9 Around The League

Toronto Rock 14 – Calgary Roughnecks 9

Here come the Rock. 3 goals and 3 assists from Tom Schreiber helped to lead the Rock to a road win at the Saddledome for their second consecutive victory since he returned to the lineup. Corey Small and Josh Dawick also had 6 point nights with a goal and 5 assists each. Dan Craig and Brian Cameron each had 2 goals and 3 assists. For Calgary, Jesse King had 3 goals and 3 assists, Curtis Dickson had a goal and 5 assists, and Mathieu Gautier had 3 goals.

Vancouver Warriors 8 – Ottawa Black Bears 4

The Warriors defense continued their fantastic start to the season with a new season low goals allowed, shutting out the Black Bears for the final 23:07 of the game on their way to an 8-4 home win, limiting Ottawa to 37 shots on goal and forcing 34 off net, with Aden Walsh making 33 saves. Adam Charalambides had 3 goals and 3 assists to lead the Warriors, with Keegan Bal adding a goal and 4 assists and Ryan Martel getting a goal and 3 assists. Eric Fannell had 2 goals and 2 assists for Ottawa, with Connor Kearnan also getting 2 goals, while Jeff Teat was held scoreless on 9 shots on goal, adding 3 assists.

Saskatchewan Rush 17 – Albany FireWolves 13

20 year old Thomas Kiazyk got the very late surprise start for the Rush, as Frank Scigliano missed the game for the birth of his son, and while Albany peppered him for 4 goals in the first 5:06 of the game, the Saskatchewan offense chipped away to the tune of a 5-5 first quarter and then led most of the rest of the way en route to a 17-13 win, sweeping the FireWolves on the season. The vets stepped up for Kiazyk (39 saves), as it was Robert Church getting double digits with 5 goals and 5 assists, and Ryan Keenan getting 2 goals and 7 assists. Zach Manns had 2 goals and 2 assists as well. For Albany, Alex Simmons led with 2 goals and 5 assists, Dyson Williams had 3 goals and 3 assists, and Tye Kurtz had a goal and 5 assists.

Week 10 Preview

Albany FireWolves (2-6) @ Buffalo Bandits (5-0) – Saturday February 1, 7:30 pm, ESPN+, CW23

The NLL finals rematch is missing the standings implications one may have expected early on this season, with 3 OT losses being the biggest blemish early on with Albany’s 2-6 record, but regardless of the finals history, Albany did sweep the Bandits in the regular season last year.

It will be Buffalo’s first Tucker Out Lymphoma Cup game of the season, as Dyson Williams will be playing his first game in Buffalo, where Shawn Williams played while Tucker went through his cancer battle. Through 8 games, Williams is fourth on the FireWolves in points with 12 goals and 17 assists.

Rochester Knighthawks (3-6) @ Philadelphia Wings (5-2) – Saturday February 1, 8:00 pm, ESPN+

In their final game before their long awaited first bye week of the season, the Knighthawks head to Philadelphia looking to tame the high-powered Wings offense that has won each of their three home games so far this season. The Knighthawks beat the Wings in Rochester on the final day of the season to clinch a playoff spot last year, and this will be their first trip to Philadelphia since April 2, 2023, during which the Wings beat the Knighthawks 13-12 in overtime.

One thing to watch for will be the injury report, as despite still being out last week, Rylan Hartley appeared as questionable for the first time this season and was suited up for shootaround last week. They may still give it one more week with the bye coming up as well, but the Knighthawks could see their starting goaltender make his season debut this week.

Vancouver Warriors (4-3) @ Halifax Thunderbirds (2-4) – Friday January 31, 6:30 pm, TSN Game of the Week

Coming off a bye week, the Thunderbirds welcome the Warriors to town for a big test for their offense which has been up and down all season. The Warriors beat the Thunderbirds in Vancouver in last season’s matchup, and this will be Vancouver’s first trip to The Maritimes since March 5, 2022.

Calgary Roughnecks (3-3) @ Ottawa Black Bears (4-3) – Friday January 31, 7:00 pm

After never making the trip to Long Island, the Roughnecks do get to make their first trip to Ottawa this weekend hoping to bounce back after being handled by Toronto last weekend. With Calgary’s issues keeping the ball out of the net so far this season, it could be a huge opportunity for the Black Bears to bounce back in an up and down start for an offense with high aspirations this season. Calgary lost last season’s matchup 11-10.

Toronto Rock (2-5) @ Colorado Mammoth (5-3) – Saturday February 1, 9:30 pm

This could be the game of the weekend. Looking for their third win in a row, the Rock are heading to Denver for the first time since January 12, 2019 to face a Mammoth team that has continued their magic at home again this season. Last year in Toronto, the Rock defeated the Mammoth 12-7 on March 9.

Georgia Swarm (4-3) @ Las Vegas Desert Dogs (2-5) – Saturday February 1, 10:00 pm

The Swarm make their first trip to the desert with their eyes set on snapping a three game losing streak after starting 4-0, while Vegas has won 2 of their last 3, including their upset of the Seals back on the 18th. Justin Geddie will likely be back in between the pipes for the Desert Dogs for a second straight start. Georgia won 13-9 on April 6 in last year’s matchup in Duluth.

Saskatchewan Rush (5-2) @ San Diego Seals (3-4) – Saturday February 1, 10:00 pm

The Rush signed Laine Hruska to an active roster spot, suggesting that Thomas Kiazyk will be back in between the pipes at Pechanga Arena this weekend if Frank Scigliano misses another week on paternity leave. For the Seals, it’s the start of what will definitely be the toughest stretch of their season, with a trip to Toronto and a home-and-home with the Bandits also on the docket in February and then a matchup with the Warriors to start March. With championship aspirations in Southern California, it could be a make it or break it month in California, and not to mention a chance for a statement win to get to 6-2 for a Rush team that has lived up to their lofty expectations so far this season. The Rush won last season’s matchup 13-8 on April 13.

(Photo Credit: Jonathan Tenca)