Rock rebounds to down Roughnecks
The Toronto Rock scored the only three goals of the fourth quarter for a come-from-behind 9-7 win over the Calgary Roughnecks on Saturday night.
"They actually allow a lot of goals in the fourth quarter and that's something we talked about," Toronto forward Blaine Manning told Rogers Sportsnet.
Manning notched a hat trick, including the game winner with 1:17 left in the final quarter, and added an assist in front of 14,542 fans at the Air Canada Centre.
The Roughnecks (3-6) led after all three quarters, but couldn't beat Toronto goalie Bob Watson late in the game. Watson finished the game with 41 saves, including 12 in the fourth quarter to backstop the Rock (5-3) to their second straight win.
Scott Ranger counted his second hat trick of the season for the Riggers and added an assist, while Lewis Ratcliff scored twice and set up another. Jeff Shattler and Kelly Hall each had a goal and an assist, while Kaleb Toth returned to the lineup and chipped in with two helpers.
While Watson played well in the Toronto net, Pat ‘Paddy' Campbell was also solid in the Calgary goal, stopping 33 of the 40 shots he faced. Toronto's final goal was into the empty net with Campbell on the bench in favour of an extra attacker.
Kasey Biernes and Rob Marshall each scored twice for the Rock, while Josh Sanderson had a goal and three assists. Aaron Wilson also scored.
Just five seconds into the contest, Calgary's Ryan McNish took on Toronto's Scott Campbell in a spirited fight.
"That kind of set the tempo and showed that there's no love lost between the teams," said Calgary defenceman Bruce Codd.
Shattler, Ratcliff and Ranger scored goals in the first quarter to give the Roughnecks a 3-1 lead, while Hall scored the lone goal of the second quarter. Manning countered with a pair of power-play goals, including one with Toronto enjoying a two-man advantage, as the Rock trailed by one heading into the first-half intermission.
Campbell stopped 17 of the 20 shots he faced in the first half.
"He's making the saves for us when we're breaking down on D," Calgary coach Troy Cordingley told Sportsnet adding that the defence played well to contain the Rock to just three first-half goals. "I thought they did an awesome job."
Early in the third quarter, Beirnes picked up a rebound in the Calgary crease and fired a shot past Campbell to tie the contest.
Ranger and Ratcliff then scored for the Roughnecks before Wilson picked the top corner over Campbell's left shoulder to pull the Rock within one again.
The Roughnecks were then awarded a five-minute power play after Jon Harasym checked Hall hard to the floor. Harasym was given a major penalty and a game misconduct for dangerous contact to the head.
Early during the man advantage Ranger completed his hat trick. The Riggers then just about took a three-goal lead but Watson made a nice shoulder save on a quick-stick attempt by Jeff Moleski.
Jim Veltman then picked up the loose ball and passed it ahead to Marshall who broke into the Calgary zone and fired a shot past Campbell. Sanderson tied the game at 8:01 of the fourth quarter when his shot squeaked off the post behind Campbell and into the net.
Manning counted the game winner after he took a pass from Biernes and picked the top corner on the short side while diving across the crease.
"It was another ugly win," Manning told Sportsnet after the game, "... but we'll take it."
The Roughnecks now have a week to prepare for their next game against the Portland LumberJax (3-5) next Saturday at the Pengrowth Saddledome
|