Brock Haley scored 1:34 into overtime as the Saskatchewan Rush defeated the Toronto Rock 10-9 on Saturday night and secured a home playoff date next weekend.
Saskatchewan snapped a three-game losing skid in the final game of the regular season.
The Rush trailed by as many as three goals on Saturday night but chipped away and outscored the Rock 7-4 in the second half, including two key goals from faceoff specialist Jake Naso.
Credit to Nick Rose in Toronto’s goal. He was bombarded with 50 shots and stopped 40 in the loss. Meanwhile, at the other end, Frank Scigliano stopped 30 of 39 in the win.
The victory improves Saskatchewan’s record to 12-6, while the Rock fall to 11-7 and will have to hit the road for the first round of the playoffs.
These two teams will now meet again next weekend in Saskatoon.
First Quarter
It didn’t take long for the Rush to strike first. Zach Manns set up Robert Church, who found the back of the net with a quick release just 24 seconds into the game.
Toronto tied it at the 3:51 mark, with Isiah Moran-Weekes finding Josh Dawick in front.
The Rock then took the lead when Sam English ran through the middle uncontested at 4:43 to make it 2-1.
Saskatchewan responded at the 7:19 mark, with Manns firing a sidearm shot around a defender.
A strong individual effort by CJ Kirst, who broke free shorthanded with 3:19 left on the clock, gave the Rock a 3-2 lead after the first quarter.
Second Quarter
The second quarter was controlled by Toronto, but the scoring didn’t begin until the 6:34 mark. Kirst found Moran-Weekes at the side of the net to make it 4-2.
Challen Rogers added another with a sidearm shot that went far side with 6:23 left on the clock, extending the Rock’s lead to 5-2 at halftime.
Third Quarter
In the third quarter, every time it looked like Saskatchewan might gain momentum, the Rock responded.
Saskatchewan opened the scoring at the 5:24 mark, with Manns going bar down to make it a two-goal game.
Off the ensuing faceoff, Nick Rowlett won the draw and scored six seconds later to make it 6-3.
Brock Haley dove from behind the net just 13 seconds later to get the Rush back within two.
Off a loose ball, Brad Kri took it down the floor and scored in transition at 9:27 as the Rock went ahead 7-4.
However, Jake Naso won the draw and fired a shot to score 13 seconds later, cutting the lead to 7-5 heading into the fourth quarter.
Fourth Quarter and Overtime
The Rush would not go away in the fourth quarter. Austin Shanks drilled one into the top corner 2:16 into the frame, bringing Saskatchewan within one.
The Rock replied with Chris Boushy sliding to the middle and scoring at the 4:38 mark.
Once again, Naso won the draw, took it down the floor, and scored in six seconds to make it 8-7.
Boushy then dove from behind the net and caught Scigliano going the wrong way at 6:07 to restore Toronto’s two-goal lead.
With the extra attacker on the floor, Levi Anderson drove to the net and leaped over the crease with 1:20 left in regulation.
The comeback was completed when Church’s shot through traffic 20 seconds later tied the game 9-9 and sent it to overtime.
In overtime, Brock Haley fired a bounce shot along the ground at the 1:34 mark to give the Rush a 10-9 win and home-floor advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
The Rush’s Frank Scigliano, Brock Haley, Zach Manns, and Jimmy Quinlan commented after the game:
Top Scorers
Saskatchewan Rush
- Zach Manns, 2g 3a
- Ryan Keenan, 5a
- Brock Haley, 2g 1a
Toronto Rock
- CJ Kirst, 1g 3a
- Sam English, 1g 2a
Don’t forget to check us out every Sunday night at 8pm (ET)
