The Saskatchewan Rush punched their ticket to the post-season with a 10-9 win over the San Diego Seals to become the first team to clinch a playoff spot.
The Saskatchewan win, combined with Georgia’s loss, means the Rush can now finish no lower than eighth in the standings.
After a slow start to the game, trailing 6-4 at the half, the Rush locked in and outscored the Seals 6-3 in the second half.
Frank Scigliano shut the door in goal for the Rush, stopping 39 of 48 shots. Chris Origlieri stopped 37 of 46 shots in the loss.
It was a battle at the faceoff dot between two heavyweights, but Trevor Baptiste came out on top over Jake Naso, winning 15 of 23 draws.
First Quarter
It took a while for both teams to get on the board. It wasn’t until the 6:06 mark that Ari Steenhuis scored on transition to give San Diego a 1-0 lead.
The Seals extended the lead at the 6:26 mark four-on-four when Tre Leclaire turned and shot to make it a two-goal game early.
Leclaire then found Ben McIntosh all alone in front with 4:26 left on the clock as the Seals went up 3-0.
The Rush would then tie it with three goals in just over a minute. Robert Church went short side on the power play with 2:45 left. Austin Shanks picked up the rebound off the glass from the Church shot and scored 34 seconds later to make it 3-2.
Ryan Keenan found Josh Zawada breaking to the net with 1:08 left as the Rush tied the game 3-3 at the end of the first quarter.
Second Quarter
The Seals struck early in the second quarter. McIntosh scored off a shot around a defender on a delayed penalty 27 seconds into the quarter.
Church tied it up 18 seconds later, leaping in the air, to make it 4-4.
San Diego retook the lead at 9:16 as Connor Robinson spun between two defenders and scored shorthanded.
McIntosh rounded out the scoring with 2:28 left with an outside shot through traffic to make it 6-4 San Diego at the half.
Third Quarter
Saskatchewan took charge in the second half. Zach Manns opened the scoring at the 2:14 mark.
Shorthanded, Mike Messenger sent a deep pass to Matt Acchione at 5:31 to tie the game 6-6.
The Rush then took the lead at 10:54 with a quick stick from Ryan Barnable at the shot clock buzzer. The goal was challenged, but the officials ruled it a good goal as Saskatchewan took the lead 7-6.
Church put Saskatchewan up by two on the power play with 3:31 left on the clock with an outside shot that just got by Chris Origlieri.
After a caused turnover at centre field, Graydon Bradley took it in himself with 2:27 left as the Seals trailed 8-7 heading into the fourth quarter.
Fourth Quarter
The Rush kept their foot on the gas in the fourth. It wasn’t until the 6:38 mark that Manns, coming off the bench late, picked the corner to make it 9-7.
Leclaire scored with a shot through traffic on the power play with 2:05 left to make it a one-goal game.
However, Matt Hossack put the icing on the cake with an empty-net goal with 20.3 seconds left to make it 10-8.
With the extra attacker on the floor, McIntosh scored far side with five seconds left on the clock, but the Rush held on for the 10-9 win to clinch a playoff spot.
The Rush’s Ryan Keenan, Brock Haley, and co-head coach Jimmy Quinlan commented after the game:
Top Scorers
Saskatchewan Rush
- Robert Church, 3g 2a
- Zach Manns, 2g 2a
- Brock Haley, 4a
San Diego Seals
- Ben McIntosh, 4g 1a
- Tre Leclaire, 2g 2a
- Zach Currier, 4a
Don’t forget to check us out every Sunday night at 8pm (ET)
