A record-setting 11-point effort from Connor Fields (4+7) and four power-play goals fueled the Rochester Knighthawks (2-0) to a 16-14 victory win over the Saskatchewan Rush (0-2) Saturday at SaskTel Centre.
Along with Fields turning in his second hat trick of the season, Ryan Smith (3+3) aided the charge for the Knighthawks as the duo combined for seven goals for the second time in as many weeks. Newcomer Ryan Lanchbury (2+2), acquired by Rochester on Thursday from the Georgia Swarm, made an immediate impact in his Knighthawks debut with a four-point performance, matching that of Turner Evans (0+4) and 2022 first overall pick Thomas McConvey (3+1).
Austin Hasen (1+1) and Dan Coates (0+2) each had a pair of points in the victory. Ethan O’Connor, Kyle Waters and Mitch Ogilvie found the back of the Saskatchewan net while Brad Gillies, Tyler Biles, Rylan Rees, and Thomas Whitty all logged an assist.
With four goals, Fields has scored two or more goals in 19 straight games dating back to last season while McConvey notched the first three goals of his NLL career after making his debut last week. Joe Post also set the single-game franchise record with 24 face-off wins.
Goaltender Riley Hutchcraft, who recorded his first-career NLL victory last week against Calgary to open the season, drew his first start of the season. In addition to notching an assist in the second quarter on O’Connor’s marker, he made 36 saves to improve to 2-0.
WATERS FOR THE WIN! 😁 pic.twitter.com/KdCeUKzRpJ
— Rochester Knighthawks (@RocKnighthawks) December 10, 2023
Zach Manns (3+3) produced his second hat trick in as many weeks for the Rush, who had eight players finish the night with multiple points. Robert Church (2+3), Jake Boudreau (2+2) and Clark Walter (2+1) all had two-goal nights while Mike Triolo (1+3), Ryan Keenan (1+3), Patrick Dodds (1+2) all turned in a multi-assist performance. Mike Messenger (1+1), Nathaniel Kozenikov (1+0), Ryan Barnable (0+1), Adam Jay (0+1), Isaac Ngyou (0+1) and Bobby Kidd (0+1) capped off the scoring.
Twelve-year veteran goaltender Frank Scigliano made his second appearance of the young season after being acquired in the off-season from the San Diego Seals. Scigliano stopped 40 of the 55 shots he faced, which included 21 in the first half.
🚨 THOMAS McHAT TRICK?! THOMAS McHAT TRICK!
13-13, tie game | Q4, 10:55 remaining pic.twitter.com/Zfzreur1ji
— Rochester Knighthawks (@RocKnighthawks) December 10, 2023
In the fourth quarter, the teams went goal for goal as they combined for nine in the final 15 minutes of regulation.
The Rush scored twice in nine seconds as well as a power-play marker from Keenan with under five minutes remaining to take a 14-13 lead. However, just 18 seconds after the Keenan goal, Smith gathered Hasen’s pass by the left corner of the field and steamrolled his way towards the crease. As the Robert Morris University product reached the crease, he leaped into the air and tucked a shot under the crossbar to even the score and complete his second hat trick in as many weeks.
🚨 LANCHBURY FOR THE LEAD!
11-10, us | Q3, 2.8 seconds remaining pic.twitter.com/XZNyIEWbGg
— Rochester Knighthawks (@RocKnighthawks) December 10, 2023
Following Smith’s goal with just 3:11 to play in a 14-14 game, the Rush were whistled for a dead-ball foul, giving Rochester its sixth power-play of the contest.
On the ensuing man-advantage, it appeared the Knighthawks were going to be unable to capitalize as the power-play clock was nearing an end. However, Waters was fed with a cross-crease pass by Evans, and despite initially fanning on the shot, he calmly scooped the loose ball and whipped it past leg of Scigliano to put the Knighthawks ahead in final minutes.
We're gonna watch this one over…and over…and over again
🤩🤩🤩 pic.twitter.com/vSrJqwsUi0
— Rochester Knighthawks (@RocKnighthawks) December 10, 2023
Facing a one-goal deficit in the final 60 seconds, the Rush pulled their netminder for the additional player to even the score, but Rochester’s defense stood tall by forcing a shot clock violation.
Immediately after the horn sounded for the infraction, Gillies quickly snatched the ball and dished a pass across the center line for Ogilvie to fire into the vacant net, sealing the 16-14 victory.
🚨 THOMAS McCONVEY, FIRST @NLL GOAL! 🫂
5-4, Rochester | Q2, 9:38 remaining pic.twitter.com/MsAr9BDrmv
— Rochester Knighthawks (@RocKnighthawks) December 10, 2023
In the first 20 minutes to begin the matchup, the two clubs each had two-goal runs answered by the other until Rochester built a 5-4 score 5:22 into the second quarter.
To close the opening half, the Rush outscored the Knighthawks 3-1 and made it a 7-7 score, including Church’s marker with just two seconds remaining.
"You're not going to shut Connor Fields down. You can just hope to contain him."
Knighthawks x Rush
📺 LIVE on ESPN+ (https://t.co/npo0hUpywa and TSN+ pic.twitter.com/5DK9QbUTdI
— NLL (@NLL) December 10, 2023
After the break, the two teams totaled 16 goals in the second half before Rochester finished the scoring with three straight tallies in the final four minutes to earn the 16-14 win.
The Knighthawks look improve to 3-0 for the second straight season as they welcome the Vancouver Warriors to Segar and Sciortino Field at The Blue Cross Arena on Saturday, Dec. 23 at 7:00 p.m. ET. All the action will be carried live on Big 107.3 FM as well as ESPN+.
