Tops in NLL: Undefeated Saskatchewan Rush look to improve to 4-0

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Game-time is 7 p.m. SaskTel Centre arena in Saskatoon.

It will be the third game in three weeks for undefeated Saskatchewan, which is looking to improve its National Lacrosse League record to 4-0 to start the new season.

The Rush squad is coming off a third-straight victory last Saturday night in Rochester, N.Y., where the Green, Black and White knocked off the host Knighthawks 14-12.

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A trio of newcomers led the Rush scoring attack against Rochester. Austin Shanks, who was acquired in free agency from the Halifax Thunderbirds, racked up four goals and three assists, while Brock Haley and Josh Zawada each recorded four points in the match. Haley earned two goals and two assists, while Zawada netted a single goal and assisted on three others.

Manns is currently tied with Calgary Roughnecks forward Dane Dobbie with 13 goals apiece. He’s tied for 11th in NLL points at 19.

Thanks to a dominant third quarter in which the Rush outscored the Knighthawks 5-1, Saskatchewan entered the fourth quarter with a comfortable 9-6 lead on its way to a win.

The Rush increased that gap to 13-7 early in the final quarter before Rochester mounted a comeback bid. Momentum shifted with 10:03 left on the clock, as the Knighthawks went on a scoring spree of their own, netting five unanswered goals in just over five minutes, to cut Saskatchewan’s lead to 13-12 with 4:55 remaining in the game.

Scoring was stingy for either team after that point, but, with 13 seconds left in the game, Saskatchewan’s Matt Hossack added some insurance for the Rush, notching what would be the final goal.

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Frank Scigliano stopped 35 of 47 shots in net for the Rush. Meanwhile, the Knighthawks doubled up on goaltenders with Riley Hutchcraft making 33 saves on 44 shots before he was replaced by Kevin Orleman, who made 11 saves on 13 shots.

At 3-0, Saskatchewan shares the top spot in the NLL standings with Georgia Swarm, who are also 3-0.

RUSH HOUR: Matt Hossack currently leads the NLL with 11 caused turnovers … Defender Mike Messenger is tied for second in the league with seven blicked shots … Saskatchewan will be without star forward Robert Church, who has been placed on the Injured Reserve list with a lower body injury. The Rush have activated Josh Zawada from the practice roster.

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