Cover photo courtesy of Ryan McCullough Toronto Rock/NLL
The Philadelphia Wings (5-9) visited the Toronto Rock (5-9) at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre in Mississauga, Ontario Saturday evening in front of another seller out crowd.
Both teams have had a difficult year falling way below expectations. The Wings were proactive at the trade deadline getting Mitch de Snoo and Chris Corbeil from Toronto, and Shane Simpson from Las Vegas. While they bolstered their transition game, the offense was still an issue coming into this game.
The Toronto Rock were sellers at the deadline, with an eye for the future. Nick Rose, Mitch de Snoo and Chris Corbeil were moved for draft picks over the next two years. This is now an opportunity to play the young players to see exactly what they have up and coming.
The goaltending match-up had Nick Damude in net for Philadelphia facing Troy Holowchuk in the Rock’s goal.
The first half saw the Rock completely dominate the Wings in every category. What stood out the most was the resurgence of the Rpck’s transition game. Toronto played much more aggressively, taking the Wings off their game. Toronto took an 8-2 lead to the intermission.
While the Wings showed more heart in the second half, Toronto’s transition game was still killing them. Latrell Harris, Justin Martin, as well as Josh Jubinville were forces. Sam LeClair continued his big evening scoring two power-play goals in the half. However, Toronto kept control of the majority of the half convincingly winning the game 15-8.
“We talked about a complete game from top to bottom. We wanted to score early, get some of our younger defenders in the lineup and see what our goalie could do, pleased with the result and performance tonight.”
Quote from Rock Head Coach Matt Sawyer courtesy of the Toronto Rock
To The Game:
Toronto drew first blood with a laser from Corey Small off a Chris Boushy pass at 2:05, followed by Dan Craig with shot from the top of the crease off a Small feed at 3:17. The Rock increased their lead to 3-0 when Challen Rogers blasted a shot from in close off a Josh Dawick pass at 5:04.
Philadelphia replaced Nick Damude with Deacan Knott in goal.
The Wings got on the board when Liam Patten went in all alone beating Troy Holowchuk off a Shane Simpson long lead pass at 12:21, but the Rock answered with a sidearm snipe to the far corner from Josh Dawick off a Dan Craig pass at 14:20.
After one quarter, Toronto 4 Philadelphia 1.
Second Quarter:
The Wings got on the board on a play that first saw a Rock goal disallowed. Brennan O’Neill converted an Isaiah Davis-Allen pass at 3:07.
The Rock answered in transition when Josh Jubinville hit Latrell Harris with a laser pass at 6:25, followed by Chris Boushy deposting a Jake Darlison pass in transition 0:15 seconds later.
On a broken play, with almost no time left on the shot clock, Chris Boushy dove from behind the net to beat Deacan Knott on the power-play at 10:34, followed by yet another Rock transition goal. Justin Martin found Josh Dawick streaking across the crease at 12:43.
At the half, Toronto 8 Philadelphia 2.
Third Quarter:
Philadelphia got on the board quickly to start the second half when Sam LeClair converted a Joe Resetarits pass from in front at 0:24 seconds on the power-play. Justin Martin answered for Toronto in transition going coast ot coast beating Knott, who got a piece but not enough of it at 3:00 unassisted.
Mitch Jones found Sam LeClair in front threading the needle with a laser pass at 9:14, but Nathan Grenon added another Rock talley with a great individual effort shorthanded at 13:01.
On the power-play Michael Sowers scored with a high to low shot off a Joe Resetarits pass at 14:56.
After three quarters, Toronto 10 Philadelphia 5.
Fourth Quarter:
Josh Jubinville added another Rock transition goal unassisted going coast to coast at 1:58, but Shane Simpson answered for the Wings also in transition going coast to coast at 2:46.
Chris Boushy added to the Rock lead with a low to low shot off a Josh Dawick pass at 4:13.
Nick Damude returned in the Wings goal.
Nathan Grenon added another highlight reel goal with a high to high blast to the top corner off a Josh Dawick pass at 5:22, followed by a beautiful tic-tac-toe play on the power-play that saw Dan Craig finish a Josh Dawick feed at 6:45.
On the power-play Sam LeClair fired a high to low shot from in close off a Michael Sowers pass at 8:36, but Dan Craig answered alone in front off a Corey Small pass at 9:38.
Joe Resetarits added another Wings goal with a bounced shot off a Sowers feed at 13:00, but it was too little too late.
Final score, Toronto 15 Philadelphia 8.
The Three Stars:
1. Josh Dawick
2. Brad Kri
3. Latrell Harris
Game Stats:
- Shots on goal favored the Rock 57-41.
- The faceoff battle was dominated by TD Ierlan of the Toronto Rock 20-8.
- The loose ball battle went to Toronto 70-58.
- Philadelphia went 3 for 7 on the power-play.
- The Rock went 2 for 3 on the power-play, also scoring a shorthanded goal.
Don’t forget to check us out every Sunday night at 8pm (ET) on StreamPunkEnt.com
