The Halifax Thunderbirds are one win away from their first NLL Final after a 12-7 win over Georgia in Game 1 of their best-of-three series at Gas South Arena on Saturday night. Halifax came into the game after setting a record for the largest comeback in NLL playoff history last week against top-seeded Vancouver, rallying from a 7-1 halftime deficit to win 10-7. The Swarm entered the game on the heels of a 17-10 dismantling of the Buffalo Bandits, ending their hopes of winning an unprecedented fourth straight title. The series now shifts to Halifax next weekend, where Game 2 and Game 3 (if necessary) will be played. The Thunderbirds will host both remaining games despite Georgia having the higher seeding, due to scheduling conflicts that left the Swarm without an available venue for a second home game.
Second quarter run gives Halifax lead at halftime
The Swarm got on the board first, with Richie Connell (1:18) beating Thunderbirds goaltender Warren Hill low. Jason Knox tied the game for Halifax at 9:06, but Georgia got a rare goal from Mike Manley (10:15) to take a 2-1 lead after one quarter of play. Quick strikes from Jordan MacIntosh (0:16) and Lyle Thompson (0:49) extended the Swarm lead to 4-1. Halifax responded with a four-goal run, started by former Swarm forward Brendan Bomberry (3:26). Clarke Petterson (6:23) and Stephen Keogh (7:01) followed before Knox added his second (13:02) to give Halifax a 5-4 lead going into halftime.
Halifax pulls away in second half to take 1-0 series lead
Knox scored again on a power play (0:28) to start the second half, but Connell answered with his second (1:01) to keep it a one-goal game, 6-5. The Thunderbirds put together a three-goal run in a 90-second span to push their lead back to four. Keogh’s second (8:06), Casey Wilson (8:36), and Bomberry’s second (9:36) gave Halifax a 9-5 lead. Kaleb Benedict scored late in the third quarter (14:56 power play), then Shayne Jackson scored in transition (5:38 fourth quarter) to cut the lead to 9-7. However, another three-goal run from the Thunderbirds closed the door on Georgia’s comeback hopes. Johnny Pearson (7:26), Knox’s fourth of the game (7:49), and an empty net goal from Petterson (13:09) put Halifax up five, and the Swarm could not muster anything further.
Other Stats Of Note
Halifax: Knox (4g, 2a); Petterson (2g, 7a); Bomberry (2g); Keogh (2g); Wilson (1g, 3a); Pearson (1g); Cody Jamieson (3a)
Georgia: Connell (2g); Jackson (1g, 3a); Thompson (1g, 2a); Manley (1g, 1a); MacIntosh (1g); Benedict (1g); Jacob Hickey (2a)
Warren Hill (HFX): 35 saves on 42 shots; Brett Dobson (GA): 53 saves on 65 shots
Power Play: HFX 1 for 3; GA 1 for 3
Jake Withers (HFX): 19-23 faceoffs; 11 Loose Balls, 2 Blocked Shots; moved past Jamie Hanford and Stephen Hoar into 5th place all-time in playoff faceoff wins (205). He is five wins away from passing Tim Edwards and Geoff Snider for 3rd place all-time, and 64 wins away from 1st place all-time.
