Week 12 in the NLL wrapped up Sunday night when the Georgia Swarm came into the Scotiabank Saddledome to take on the Calgary Roughnecks in their second meeting of the season. These teams met in the UnBOXed game in Edmonton during Week 8, with the Swarm administering a 19-9 drubbing on the Roughnecks. Calgary was looking to make it two wins in a row after getting their first home win of the season the previous night against Philadelphia.
It was a much closer affair this time, with the teams tied 6-6 after three quarters. However, behind Goaltender of the Year and MVP candidate Brett Dobson, Georgia shut out the Roughnecks in the fourth quarter for an 11-6 win. It’s the fifth straight win for the Swarm, who sweep the season series with Calgary and move into third place in the standings with a 7-3 record. Calgary falls to 2-8 overall and 1-4 at home with the loss, splitting their double-home doubleheader this weekend.
Georgia keeps Calgary offense in check in first half
Tyler Pace got the Roughnecks on the board just 22 seconds into the game. Markers from Jordan MacIntosh (3:11) and Nolan Byrne (5:04) gave Georgia a 2-1 lead. However, Justin Inacio took the ensuing faceoff to the house seven seconds later to tie the game 2-2. The quarter continued at a brisk pace until Jacob Hickey scored on a 3-on-2 break (14:24) to put Georgia in front 3-2 after 15 minutes of play. Inacio worked more magic to start the second quarter, scoring seven seconds in to tie the game again at 3-3. But Lyle Thompson (2:03) and Kean Moon (2:56) scored 53 seconds apart, giving the Swarm a 5-3 edge heading into halftime.
Big fourth quarter leads Georgia to fifth straight win
Thompson’s second goal at 2:13 of the third quarter extended Georgia’s lead to 6-3. The Roughnecks then went on a three-goal run to tie the game once again. Newly acquired forward Jacob Dunbar (2:49) scored his first goal as a Roughneck, followed by Haiden Dickson (3:07) and Brayden Mayea (6:23) as the game entered the fourth quarter all even at 6-6. Unfortunately for Calgary, the fourth quarter was all Georgia, as they outscored the Roughnecks 5-0. Byrne netted his second at 1:24 to give the Swarm the lead for good, followed by Shayne Jackson (7:03) and Kaleb Benedict (8:12 power play). Thompson then scored his hat trick (11:05), and Michael Grace (13:46) closed out the scoring. Dobson was again stellar in net, turning aside all Calgary shots in the final frame and lowering his league-leading GAA to an otherwordly 7.03.
Other Stats Of Note
Georgia: Thompson (3g, 1a); Byrne (2g, 4a); MacIntosh (1g, 2a); Jackson (1g, 1a); Moon (1g, 1a); Benedict (1g, 1a); Hickey (1g, 1a); Grace (1g); Bryan Cole (5a)
Calgary: Inacio (2g); Mayea (1g, 1a); Dickson (1g); Pace (1g); Dunbar (1g); Tanner Cook (2a); Riley Loewen (1a); Kyle Pepper (1a); Harrison Matsuoka (1a)
Justin Inacio (CGY): 21-22 faceoffs; 6 Loose Balls
Aden Walsh (CGY): 40 saves; Brett Dobson (GA): 36 saves
