CALGARY, AB – Behind an unbelievable 43-save effort from goaltender Frankie Scigliano, the Calgary Roughnecks were able to clip the Minnesota Swarm’s wings in a critical 10-6 win.
The game got off to a quick start with forward Dane Dobbie opening the scoring on the first shot of the game, just 0:40 seconds in. Sean Pollock and Daryl Veltman followed up with markers to open up a three goal advantage for Calgary.
After both the Roughnecks and Swarm had goals waved off due to crease violations, it was Shayne Jackson who legitimately found the twine.
Five minutes into the second quarter with Calgary holding a 3-1 lead, Karsen Leung went coast-to-coast to re-ignite the Roughnecks offence. Just over a minute later, Shawn Evans scored the first of a natural hat-trick in the second quarter. Calgary led the Swarm 7-1 at the end of the first half.
Just 0:12 seconds into the second half, Greg Downing of the Swarm took the ball of the face-off and scored. Johnny Powless scored is first goal of the game, but the Roughnecks still led 8-3.
Curtis Dickson of the Roughnecks would score the only goal for Calgary in the third quarter on the power play.
Even being down five entering the fourth quarter, Minnesota didn’t back down. They scored three goals courtesy of Joel White, Powless, and Sam Bradman, to shrink the deficit to two goals.
However, Calgary dug in their heels and scored two quick goals by Jeff Shattler and Evans which would eventually be enough to hold off the Swarm.
Evans finished with six points (4g, 2a) and increased his season point total to 123 points — an NLL record.
With the 10-6 win over Minnesota, the Roughnecks improve to 6-11 on the season and control their own destiny in an effort to capture the final playoff spot in West Division. A win over the Vancouver Stealth two weeks from now will ensure they qualify for the post-season for the 13th consecutive season.
