(Photo courtesy of NLL Twitter page)
The Las Vegas Desert Dogs (6-7) visited the Rochester Knighthawks (5-8) in NLL action Saturday night at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, NY.
Las Vegas entered the second part of the matchup at 5-7, looking to make a playoff push as they came to Rochester. Mitch Jones leads the team in points through 11 games with 23 goals and 40 assists.
The Knighthawks are trying to steady the ship under that guidance of Interim Head Coach Randy Mearns. With the addition of Blaze Riorden, Rochester got more dangerous inside, hopefully opening more room for Connor Fields, Ryan Smith, and Thomas McConvey on the outside.
The goaltending match-up had Alex Buque in net for Las Vegas facing Rylan Hartley in net for the Knighthawks.
The Las Vegas Desert Dogs picked up where they left off last week. Getting out to a 6-0 lead, the Dogs were having their way with the Knighthawks defense. Led by Adam Poitras and Chris Cloutier with a pair each, Las Vegas had Rochester on their heels early. While the Knighthawks finally got on the board, another Desert Dogs goal chased Rylan Hartley from the net. Las Vegas took an 8-1 lead to the second quarter.
The second quarter saw Rochester get back on track. The Knighthawks scored five of the seven goals in the frame, cutting the deficit to four at the half. Riley Hutchcraft was able to steady the ship for the Knighthawks as he was playing superb in relief. At the half, Las Vegas led 10-6.
The Knighthawks came out in the third quarter on fire. Scoring three of the next four goals, Rochester brought the game within two goals early in the stanza. Every time Las Vegas would pull away, the Knighthawks would reply to stay within two throughout the frame.
The fourth quarter was full of heart-stopping action. The Knighthawks fought back to tie, then eventually take the lead. Alex Buque was then replaced in the Vegas net by Landon Kells, changing the momentum. Las Vegas got to work tying and eventually taking the lead with just over five minutes to play.
The final minutes saw intense action going both ways. Las Vegas was able to mount an attack with Kyle Killen and Chris Cloutier getting insurance markers, plus an empty net goal from Mitch Jones to grab the victory. Las Vegas wins 16-13.
To The Game:
The Desert Dogs struck first when Chris Cloutier hit a low outside shot unassisted at 0:41 seconds, followed by Adam Poitras converting a Kyle Killen feed at 1:40.
The early onslaught continued with Chris Cloutier’s second goal of the night off a Mitch Jones pass at 2:34, followed by Drew Belgrave in transition from all alone in front at 6:10.
Adam Poitras then added an unassisted marker 0:08 seconds later for a 5-0 lead, followed by Jonathan Donville with a shot from in close that beat Hartley off a Kevin Crowley pass at 8:48.
The Knighthawks finally got on the board on the power-play when Ryan Smith hit a blast from the outside off a Ryan Smith pass at 11:24, but on a delayed penalty Kevin Crowley hit the back of the net off a Connor Kirst pass at 11:41 for a 7-1 lead.
The Knighthawks replaced Rylan Hartley with Riley Hutchcraft.
Las Vegas welcomed Hutchcraft to the game when Adam Poitras finished a pass from Kevin Crowley from in close at 13:45.
After one quarter, Las Vegas 8 Rochester 1.
Second Quarter:
Ryan Lanchbury got the Knighthawks rolling in the second quarter with a low to low laser from the outside off a Connor Fields pass at 3:45, followed by Ryan Smith with a sweet move from in close off a Kyle Waters feed 0:16 seconds later. Rochester kept building momentum with Connor Fields scoring off a Ryan Lanchbury pass at 7:00.
The Desert Dogs finally stopped the Knighthawks run when Mitch Jones converted a Chris Cloutier pass at 9:45, but a blast from Ryan Lanchbury kept Rochester moving forward at 10:45. Zed Williams then got the Knighthawks within three with a shortside blast off a Thomas McConvey pass at 11:44.
The Desert Dogs got one late when Mitch Jones hit a bounced shot from in close off a Jonathan Donville pass at 14:47.
At the half, Las Vegas 10 Rochester 6.
Third Quarter:
Rochester opened the third quarter with Ryan Smith finding the far corner off a Ryan Lanchbury pass at 0:25 seconds, but a knuckleball from Kevin Crowley eluded Hutchcraft restoring the four goal lead at 3:41.
The Knighthawks struck again when Blaze Riorden hit a bounced shot from the outside off a Ryan Lanchbury pass at 5:37, followed by a great individual effort from Connor Fields to narrow the deficit to just two 0:19 seconds later.
Brandon Goodwin gave Las Vegas some breathing room going in all alone finding the corner off a Connor Kirst pass at 8:43, but the Knighthawks replied with Connor Fields hitting a low to low shot off a Blaze Riorden feed at 10:25.
After three quarters, Las Vegas 12 Rochester 10.
Fourth Quarter:
The fourth quarter saw Rochester get within one when Ryan Smith hit a shot to the shortside off a Connor Fields pass at 0:20 seconds, followed by Connor Fields tying the game off a Ryan Lanchbury pass on the power-play at 1:36. Rochester then took their first lead of the game when Fields hit a sidearm snipe off a Thomas McConvey pass at 3:13.
Landon Kells replaced Alex Buque in the Desert Dogs net.
Las Vegas tied the game when Adam Poitras dove from behind the net to beat Hutchcraft off a Mitch Jones feed at 4:16, followed by Kyle Killen with a low to low laser that found the back of the net off an Adam Poitras pass at 9:33.
Mitch Jones and Chris Cloutier added insurance markers late in the game, followed by an empty net marker from Mitch Jones to seal the victory for the Desert Dogs.
Final score, Las Vegas 17 Rochester 13.
The Three Stars:
1. Adam Poitras
2. Connor Fields
3. Kyle Killen
Game Stats:
- Shots on goal were tied 55-55.
- The faceoff battle went to the Knighthawks 26-9.
- The loose ball battle was won by Rochester 86-74.
- The Desert Dogs went 1 for 4 on the power-play, while Rochester went 2 for 2.
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