The Calgary Roughnecks (2-7) captured its second win of the season with a 12-11 overtime thriller against the Edmonton Rush (4-4) in the second installment of the Battle of Alberta season series on Sunday

It took both teams a few minutes to get their legs under them while playing in the afternoon, but after that, the pace of the game turned right up. Edmonton started with a 3-0 lead with goals from Ben McIntosh, Mark Matthews, and Robert Church. It was Shawn Evans who got Calgary on the board late in the first to close out the scoring in the quarter. Edmonton had better control of the ball early, with multiple shot-clock possessions and forcing turnovers on the defensive side.

Back-and-forth action continued in the second, with Calgary playing crisper and shooting the ball well. The Roughnecks outscored the Rush 5-3 with two goals each from from Curtis Dickson and Daryl Veltman, and one late from Jeff Shattler to tie the game at 6-6. Edmonton got goals from Zack Greer, Jarrett Davis and Church, and looked to make some half-time adjustments against the Calgary defense that wasn’t giving up many quality shots.

Neither team was willing to back down in the third. Matthews scored to give Edmonton the lead back, but Curtis Dickson scored 33 seconds later to tie it up at 7-7. Robert Church scored his hat-trick goal before Riley Loewen scored his first goal since these two teams played back in January to regain a two-goal lead. Shawn Evans ripped one to get Calgary back within one heading into the fourth quarter.

The Roughnecks tied the game once again when Daryl Veltman scored his third of the game. The back and forth action continued. Karsen Leung gave the Roughnecks their first lead of the game, but Zack Greer tied it back up at 10-10 with his second of the game.

With 49.7 seconds left, Jeff Moleski scored his first of the season to give Calgary the lead. The win looked secured, until Calgary took a Too Many Men Penalty with 15 seconds left resulting in an automatic penalty shot for Edmonton. Greer was given the opportunity and made no mistake, scoring his third of the night. For the second time in as many games, Edmonton was going to play overtime.

Also for the second week in a row, the Rush would experience overtime heartbreak, this time at the hands of Daryl Veltman. The Roughnecks got the team’s much-needed second win of the year and are still very much a factor in the West Division as the second half of the season gets rolling. Veltman lead the game with four goals, while teammate Evans had a game-high eight points (2+6).

Sunday’s win was also a big one for Calgary goaltender Mike Poulin who posted a .750 save percentage and made some big saves throughout the game.

Three Stars of the Game as selected by the media:

1) Daryl Veltman
2) Shawn Evans
3) Mark Matthews

Story by Mike Wilson (@RushBeat) for NLL.com. Photo by Dale MacMillan.

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