RIGGER RAMBLINGS
FANTASTIC FINISH: The Calgary Roughnecks finished off their National Lacrosse League season in fine fashion with an 11-10 road victory in Denver over the Colorado Mammoth on April 23. It was the fourth straight win for the Roughnecks (10-6) who sewed up second spot in the West Division and a home playoff berth in at least the first round of the NLL playoffs. Scott Ranger capped off a three-goal, one-assist performance by scoring the game-winning goal with just 16 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Josh Sanderson and Dane Dobbie each had a hat trick and four assists, captain Tracey Kelusky counted a goal and three helpers, while Jeff Moleski also scored. Rob Van Beek and Kaleb Toth chipped in with a pair of assists each. Goalie Mike Poulin stopped 46 of 56 shots he faced to improve his record to 5-1 as a Roughneck since being acquired from the Boston Blazers earlier in the season. Jed Prossner notched a hat trick for the Mammoth (4-12), who had a disappointing season by their standards. Jamie Floris scored twice and set up another, while Ilija Gajic (1g, 2a), Jamie Shewchuk (2g), Cliff Smith (2g), Brian Langtry (4a) and Derek Malawsky (4a) also had multiple-point performances. Colorado goalie Chris Levis, who started the season in Calgary, made 47 saves in a losing cause.
BATTLE OF ALBERTA, PART 4: Although Calgary and the Edmonton Rush both finished the season with 10-6 records, the Roughnecks earned the right to host Saturday afternoon's playoff game by virtue of their 2-1 record in the regular season against their northern rivals. Edmonton won 14-11 at home on Jan. 30 before Calgary rebounded with a 13-8 triumph at the Pengrowth Saddledome on Feb. 5. The Riggers then captured the season series with a 15-14 overtime win at Rexall Place on April 16. This will be the first-ever playoff meeting between the Roughnecks and Rush. Calgary has an all-time record of 12-4 against Edmonton (4-2 at home, 8-2 on the road). Sanderson led all scorers in the three regular-season games between the two teams with eight goals and 11 assists, while Dobbie (6g, 9a), Kelusky (5g, 9a), Jeff Shattler (4g, 6a), Ranger (4g, 5a) and Toth (4g, 5a) also had strong showings for Calgary. Meanwhile, Gavin Prout paced the Rush attack with six goals and six helpers in the three-game set, while Ryan Ward (4g, 9a), Brodie Merrill (4g, 6a), Andy Secore (3g, 5a), Corey Small (3g, 5a) and Dean Hill (4g, 3a) also fared well.
PLAYOFF MILESTONES WITHIN REACH
- With one more goal, Kaleb Toth will have 30, while he needs to pick up 18 more loose balls to hit the 100 mark.
- Craig Conn needs just one point and one more loose ball to give him 50 in each category.
- By scooping up just one more loose ball, defenceman Bruce Codd will hit the 100 mark.
- Craig Gelsvik needs nine more loose balls to reach 50.
- While he was on the bench for one game in 2007 with the Toronto Rock and one contest in 2009 with the Boston Blazers, goalie Mike Poulin has yet to see his first minute of playoff action.
- Rob Van Beek is in search of just his second playoff point. He recorded a goal in his lone playoff contest with the Philadelphia Wings back in 2008.
- Curtis Manning will play in his first ever post-season game against the Rush, while fellow defenceman Peter McFetridge is also looking to make his playoff debut.
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