The Saskatchewan Rush are into the second round of the NLL playoffs after a 13-9 win over the Georgia Swarm on Saturday night in their single-elimination quarter-final matchup.
Saskatchewan got off to a slow start as Georgia jumped out to a 2-0 lead. But Saskatchewan is now 10-1 when their opponents score first.
Transition was the difference in this game, as Jake Boudreau scored four goals in transition. Meanwhile, goaltender Frank Scigliano silenced critics who claimed he couldn’t win big games. He made 39 saves and absolutely robbed Shayne Jackson in the fourth quarter when the Rush were leading by just one, turning the tide of the game.
On the faceoff dot, Jake Naso got the better of Jeremy Thompson, going 18 for 26 on draws.
Saskatchewan will now face the Halifax Thunderbirds in the NLL semifinals in a three-game series, with the Rush holding home-floor advantage. The schedule has yet to be announced by the league.
Rush Start Slow
Georgia opened the scoring 1:02 into the game. Jacob Hickey scored in transition on an odd-man rush.
The Swarm then made it 2-0 at 6:41 when Lyle Thompson sent a flip pass to Brendan Bomberry. But remember, the Rush have only lost once this season when their opponents scored first.
Saskatchewan ended the first quarter on a four-goal run. Austin Shanks cut in front at 10:17 to get the Rush on the board.
Then, on transition, Matt Hossack found Jake Boudreau on a two-on-one at 11:27. Boudreau banked it off the post, off Brett Dobson, and in to tie it 2-2.
Only 21 seconds later, Zach Manns hit paydirt with an outside shot as the Rush took the lead.
The Rush rounded out the first-quarter scoring with Robert Church finding Ryan Keenan diving through the crease with 1:07 left on the clock. The Rush led 4-2 after one.
Saskatchewan Holds First-Half Lead
The Swarm stopped the bleeding in the second, but not until the 5:21 mark, when Bomberry beat Frank Scigliano with a far-side bouncer to make it 4-3.
Saskatchewan ended the quarter on a 2-0 run. Clark Walter’s shot through traffic at 6:52 gave the Rush a two-goal lead.
With 49.9 seconds on the clock, Mike Messenger scored in transition with a diving twister, giving Saskatchewan a 6-3 lead at the half.
Georgia Claws Back
Georgia got off to a quick start in the third quarter. Lyle Thompson found the back of the net 46 seconds into the frame to make it a 6-4 game.
Bryan Cole then scored through traffic on the power play—capitalizing on a Saskatchewan five-minute major—to bring the score to 6-5.
On that same penalty, Hossack found Shanks for a shorthanded marker at 1:41 to put Saskatchewan back up by two.
Going four-on-four, Jordan MacIntosh found the back of the net with a bouncer at 4:56.
However, Saskatchewan responded. Walter picked up a long rebound and charged the net with 37.6 seconds on the clock. The Rush led 8-6 heading into the fourth quarter.
Saskatchewan Ends Georgia’s Season
Saskatchewan pulled away to punch their ticket into the second round of the playoffs.
Shanks sent a cross-floor pass to Ryan Keenan for the quick stick 1:25 into the fourth quarter.
On the power play, Boudreau stripped Lyle Thompson at the restraining line and went coast to coast at 2:27 to put Saskatchewan up 10-6.
Georgia answered 21 seconds later with Shayne Jackson scoring on an outside shot. Then, with 5:47 left, MacIntosh was open at the side of the net on a three-on-one, bringing the Swarm within one.
Boudreau put the game out of reach with 1:13 left on a breakaway empty-net goal.
Fighting to keep their season alive, Lyle Thompson fired a shot and Cole buried the rebound with the extra attacker with 57.5 seconds remaining to make it 11-9.
Saskatchewan sealed the win when Jake Naso won the ensuing faceoff. Boudreau picked up the loose ball and sent it back to Naso for the empty-net goal with 47 seconds left. Boudreau capped it off by picking off a pass, taking it down the floor, and beating Dobson with 5.7 seconds left, sending Saskatchewan to the second round with a 13-9 win.
Rush co-head coach and general manager Derek Keenan, defenceman Jake Boudreau, and goaltender Frank Scigliano spoke with the media after the game:
Top Scorers
Saskatchewan Rush
- Austin Shanks: 2g, 2a
- Jake Boudreau: 4g, 1a
- Clark Walter: 2g, 1a
- Ryan Keenan: 2g, 1a
- Robert Church: 3a
- Matt Hossack: 3a
Georgia Swarm
- Jordan MacIntosh: 2g, 2a
- Bryan Cole: 2g, 1a
- Brendan Bomberry: 2g, 1a
- Lyle Thompson: 1g, 2a
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