Photo courtesy of the NLL Instagram
The Halifax Thunderbirds (2-3) faced the Rochester Knighthawks (2-5) at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, NY Saturday night.
Halifax has had a frustrating year this year, but looked more like themselves in their win last week. Of course the Tyson Bell incident has been a distraction, but the team looked much more united last week. Add Cody Jamieson back in the mix, and this team becomes quite dangerous.
Rochester finally played a complete game last week dominating the Georgia Swarm. The Knighthawks played strong on both sides of the ball, with Riley Hutchcraft playing his best game of the year in net as well.
The goaltending match-up had Drew Hutchison in net for the Thunderbirds facing Riley Hutchcraft in net for the Knighthawks.
A very entertaining first half with loads of end to end action had the teams trade goals all half. For a time it looked like the Thunderbirds were going to run away with the game with a pair of goals from Cody Jamieson, Randy Staats, and Thomas Hoggarth. However, three goals from Connor Fields, as well as a pair from Thomas McConvey and Ryan Smith had this game tied 9-9 at the half.
In the second half it looked like Rochester was taking control of the game, but Thomas Hoggarth and Randy Staats would have something to say about that for the Thunderbirds.
Tied 13-13 in the fourth quarter, the Thunderbirds exploded for four goals led by Randy Staats and Thomas Hoggarth. Rochester kept pressing tying the game 18-18 with less than a minute left, on a highlight reel goal by Curtis Knight tip-toeing around the crease.
In dramatic fashion, Clarke Petterson won the game for the Thunderbirds scoring with less than 0:00.1 seconds left in the game. The play was reviewed for a number of minutes, but eventually was deemed inconclusive, but since it was called a good goal on the floor it stood. Halifax wins 19-18.
To The Game:
Randy Staats got the Thunderbirds on the board first with a bounced shot from the outside off a Jason Knox pass at 3:37, followed by Cody Jamieson with a great individual effort going high to low at 4:44. Johnny Pearson added to the Halifax lead with an unassisted sidearm snipe at 6:45.
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The Knighthawks finally solved Drew Hutchison on the power-play with Graydon Hogg quick sticking a Brad Gillies pass at 8:32, but Wake:Riat Bowhunter answered with a high to low bounced shot off a Mike Robinson pass at 10:50 to restore the three goal lead.
Connor Fields got on the board with a high to low shot that caught the far corner off a Ryan Lanchbury feed at 11:05.
After one quarter, Halifax 4 Rochester 2.
Second Quarter:
Halifax got on the board on the power-play when Dawson Theede blasted a quick stick off a Randy Staats pass at 0:58 seconds, followed by Thomas Hoggarth with a high to low shot to the shortside also off a Staats pass at 1:29.
The Knighthawks replaced Riley Hutchcraft with Kevin Orleman in net.
Rochester got on track starting with Thomas McConvey scoring back to back goals. The first was converting a Ryan Lanchbury pass at 2:29, followed by another outside laser off a Lanchbury pass at 3:47. Josh Medeiros then got the Knighthawks within one with a beautiful goal in transition at 4:57.
Randy Staats gave the Thunderbirds a bit of breathing room scoring his second of the game with a rocket to the top corner off a Thomas Hoggarth pass at 7:29, but a rebound in front scooped up by Connor Fields brought the game within one again at 8:42.
Cody Jamieson continued the scoring spree with a blast from in front off a Randy Staats pass at 9:36. Ryan Smith answered all alone from in front of the net at 10:46, followed by Connor Fields with a screen shot that tied the game at 12:50.
Hoggarth then converted a Dawson Theede pass for his second of the night at 14:10, but Ryan Smith converted a Graydon Hogg pass with 0:00.5 seconds left to have this game tied at the half.
https://twitter.com/NLL/status/1878247283977855171?t=N9droBBISHCEyhDDw-L4kw&s=19
At the half, Halifax 9 Rochester 9.
Third Quarter:
Thr Thunderbirds opened the second half scoring with Mike Robinson converting a Jason Knox pass at 1:55, but Thomas McConvey’s third of the night at 3:31 tied the game again. The Knighthawks got their first lead of the night when Mike Sisselberger won the draw and found Josh Medeiros in transition 0:08 seconds later.
https://twitter.com/NLL/status/1878253537789870588?t=my00-I0ok890HyjIM3JuxQ&s=19
Dawson Theede tied the game for Halifax with a howitzer from the outside off a Mike Robinson feed at 4:19, but McConvey continued his big night with his fourth of the night while being checked at 5:55. Ryan Smith then finished a McConvey pass in transition at 6:53 to open a two goal lead.
Thomas Hoggarth brought the Thunderbirds within one goal with a shot from in close over the shoulder of Kevin Orleman at 8:18, followed by Randy Staats scoring in transition off a long lead pass from Graeme Hossack at 9:35 to again tie the game.
After three quarters, Halifax 13 Rochester 13.
Fourth Quarter:
Clarke Petterson got the Thunderbirds the lead with a sweep shot from the side of the net off a Cody Jamieson pass at 0:28 seconds, followed by Randy Staats with a blast from the side of the net that handcuffed Orleman at 1:49. Jason Knox then added another goal in transition converting a Jake Withers feed at 3:37, followed by Thomas Hoggarth finishing a Randy Staats pass at 4:05.
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Ryland Rees stopped the Halifax six goal run with a goal in transition unassistedat4:13, but Wake:Riat Bowhunter answered scoring his second of the night off a Randy Staats pass at 4:34.
Matt Gilray scored his first goal of the year in transition off a Thomas McConvey feed at 5:22 to bring the Knighthawks within three goals.
Riley Hutchcraft returned to the Knighthawks net.
Curtis Knight brought the Knighthawks within two on the power-play scoring from the top of the crease off a behind the back pass from Connor Fields at 10:34, followed by Ryan Smith to bring this game within one goal at 13:19. Curtis Knight then tied the game off a beautiful Ryan Smith pass at 14:04 just barely staying out of the crease.
In dramatic fashion, Clarke Petterson won the game for the Thunderbirds scoring with less than 0:00.1 second left in the game. The play was reviewed for a number of minutes, but eventually was deemed inconclusive. Since it was called a good goal on the floor, the goal stood.
https://twitter.com/NLL/status/1878270720943194127?t=e0WlThDD5uQ_vTR2FAKA7Q&s=19
Final score, Halifax 19 Rochester 18.
The Three Stars:
1. Randy Staats
2. Thomas McConvey
3. Thomas Hoggarth
Game Stats:
- Shots on goal favored Rochester 60-54
- The faceoff battle was won by by the Knighthawks 24-17
- The loose ball battle went to Rochester 77- 73.
- Halifax went 1 for 1 on the power-play.
- The Knighthawks went 2 for 3 on the power-play.
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