Photo courtesy of the NLL
The Las Vegas Desert Dogs (2-1) faced the Toronto Rock (1-2) at the TD Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario Saturday evening in front of 6,725 boisterous fans.
The Desert Dogs made a lot of noise in the off season with the acquisition of Chase Fraser, Chris Cloutier, Mitch Jones, Connor Sellars, Tyson Gibson, and Tony Malcom. This has changed the entire look and chemistry of the team.
Toronto also made changes adding a number of new players to their lineup. CJ Kirst, Owen Hiltz, Sam English, as well as Hugh Kelleher infused some youth to a veteran squad.
The goaltending match-up had Landon Kells in net for the Desert Dogs facing Troy Holowchuk in net for the Rock.
An entertaining game through the first half saw the action go back and forth throughout. Although the Rock struck first, Las Vegas was able to build a 5-2 lead midway through the second quarter. Toronto got within one late in the half with Josh Dawick and Challen Rogers converting opportunities. However, Mitch Jones’ second goal of the half came with just 0:55 seconds left to give the Desert Dogs a two goal cushion heading to the dressing room. Las Vegas led 6-4 at the half.
An explosive third quarter saw the teams combine for nine goals. Also, the temperature got turned up between the teams as well with many stiff hits. As the quarter came to a close the Desert Dogs were firmly in control 11-8.
The fourth quarter was another explosive quarter again with another combined nine goals. The Desert Dogs took a stranglehold on the game scoring five of the first six goals in the frame. Jackson Webster completed his natural hat-trick with a pair of goals to start the fourth adding to the one he had to end the third. While the Rock were getting opportunities, the Vegas defense and Landon Kells in net were up to the task. The Desert Dogs dominate the Rock 17-11 for the victory.
To The Game:
Toronto struck first in transition with a dive across the crease from Josh Jubenville off a beautiful dish from Latrell Harris at 6:10, but the Desert Dogs answered immediately when Chase Fraser scored from in close off a Sean Westley pass 0:27 seconds later.
Las Vegas took the lead when Fraser then fired a low to low laser off a Jonathan Donville pass at 10:14, followed by Mitch Jones converting a pass from Chris Cloutier at the top of the crease at 10:43.
After one quarter, Las Vegas 3 Toronto 1.
Second Quarter:
Toronto opened the second quarter scoring with CJ Kirst firing a rebound in off a Chris Boushy shot at 3:20, but Sean Westley answered with a low shot to the shortside off a Jonathan Donville pass at 4:54 to restore the two goal lead. Chris Cloutier then fired a low to low laser that beat Holowchuk to the stick side off a Chase Fraser feed at 6:18.
An outside shot from Josh Dawick found the corner off a Mark Matthews pass at 12:06, followed by a high to low bounced shot from Challen Rogers 0:15 seconds later which brought the Rock within one goal.
Mitch Jones restored the two goal lead converting a Sean Westley pass from medium range at 14:05.
At the half, Las Vegas 6 Toronto 4.
Third Quarter:
Early in the third quarter, Nick Rose went in the Toronto net, replacing Troy Holowchuk.
On the power-play, Las Vegas increased the lead with an inside shot from Chase Fraser at 1:29, followed by John Lafontaine going coast to coast in transition off a Tony Malcom pass at 6:25. Chris Cloutier added a power-play goal from the outside with a low to low laser off a Mitch Jones feed at 8:50.
Josh Jubenville gave the Rock some life scoring his second of the night in transition going in all alone scoring to the stickside off a Brad Kri pass at 9:01, followed by a blast from Hugh Kelleher from the outside off a Sam English pass 0:37 seconds later. CJ Kirst got the Rock closer with a blast from just above the top of the crease off a Mark Matthews pass at 13:16.
Las Vegas stopped the Rock run when Adam Poitras finished a Mich Jones pass at 13.43, but the Rock answered immediately when CJ Kirst scored off a Dan Craig pass at 14:12.
The Desert Dogs added one more before the end of the quarter when Jackson Webster scored in transition off a John Lafontaine pass at 14:55.
After three quarters, Las Vegas 11 Toronto 8.
Fourth Quarter:
The Desert Dogs started the fourth quarter scoring with a quick stick from Jackson Webster off a Chris Cloutier feed at 0:27 seconds, followed by Webster completing his natural hat-trick on the power-play with a dive from behind the net off a Chase Fraser feed at 1:49.
Mark Matthews got the Rock rolling again with a howitzer to the corner off a Phil Mazzuca pass at 7:10, but Las Vegas answered with Jonathan Donville diving across the crease off a Mitch Jones feed at 9:47, followed by Sean Westley converting a Jackson Webster pass at 10:22. Connor Kirst then added an empty net goal off a Drew Belgrave pass at 10:51.
(Photo courtesy of the NLL)
Owen Hiltz added a late goal for Toronto off a Chris Weier pass at 11:51, but the Desert Dogs came back with Adam Poitras scoring from in close at 14:04.
CJ Kirst scored his fourth of the night with a blast from the outside off a Josh Dawick pass at 14:48, but it was too little too late.
Final score, Las Vegas 17 Toronto 11.
The Three Stars:
1. Jackson Webster
2. Mitch Jones
3. CJ Kirst
Game Stats:
- Shot on goal were tied 51-51.
- The faceoff battle went to Las Vegas 22-10.
- The loose ball battle went to the Desert Dogs 77-76
- Las Vegas went 3 for 3 on the power-play, while the Rock went 0 for 1.
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