By: Riley Pollock – 26.04.25
The Riggers couldn’t recover from a slow start falling to the Halifax Thunderbirds 16-12 in the first round of the NLL playoffs.
The Thunderbirds got out to a quick start on Saturday night scoring twice in 14-seconds to take a 2-0 lead.
Halifax would add one more in the first quarter to make the score 3-0 heading into the second.
Brayden Mayea found the back of the net from in tight for his first career playoff goal to make the score 3-1.
Mayo’s first NLL playoff goal! pic.twitter.com/oVtvZ5A1pz
— Calgary Roughnecks (@NLLRoughnecks) April 27, 2025
The Thunderbirds would answer shortly after to make the score 4-1.
Tyler Pace fired one short-side coming off the bench to make it 4-2 but once again Halifax had an answer to make it 5-2.
The Thunderbirds found the back of the net shorthanded to put them ahead 6-2.
Jesse King went low to high to get the Riggers within three but Halifax would score two more late in the half to send it to the break 8-3.
The Riggers scored on the powerplay to start the second half but Halifax answered off the faceoff to make the score 9-4.
Curtis Dickson picked up a rebound and dropped it into the back of the net to make it 9-5.
King cut into the Thunderbirds lead following a beautiful passing play to make the score 9-6 just under halfway through the third-quarter.
Dobbie with the oh-so-casual BTB pass to King is just too good 🤮@NLLRoughnecks pic.twitter.com/7hqiVMRbEt
— NLL (@NLL) April 27, 2025
The Thunderbirds found the net in transition making the score 10-6.
The two sides traded goals to end the third-quarter putting the score at 11-7 heading into the final frame.
After two goals from the Thunderbirds, Curtis Dickson answered to make the score 13-8.
Halifax would score two more before Curtis Dickson finished off his hat-trick to make it 15-9.
Pace added two more and Haiden Dickson found the back of the net on a quick stick but it wasn’t enough as the Riggers fell 16-12.
