The Rochester Knighthawks (6-8) were held to just three goals in the second half as they dropped a 12-9 score to the Halifax Thunderbirds (9-7) Saturday at Segar & Sciortino Field at The Blue Cross Arena.
POST-GAME REPORTWith the defeat, Rochester, which has dropped four of its last five at home, shows a 1-6 record in the seven games all-time against Halifax. The Knighthawks have a 6-8 record entering the final month of the regular season.
Ryan Smith (2+3), Connor Fields (2+2), and Thomas McConvey (2+0) all registered a two-goal outing for the Knighthawks while Ryan Lanchbury finished with four points (1+3) and tied Smith with a team-high three assists. Curtis Knight (1+2) and Turner Evans (1+1) both scored one goal each while Kyle Waters (0+1) concluded the scoring as he added an assist.
Goaltender Riley Hutchcraft (6-6) faced 33 shots, making 24 saves before Doug Buchan finished the game for the final 19:30 of regulation in relief. Buchan (0-2) stopped seven of the 10 shots he faced but was dealt with the defeat.
Leading point-getter Ryan Benesch totaled a game-high five assists and seven points for Halifax while Cody Jamieson (3+3) and Dawson Theede (3+3) each had hat tricks as part of multi-point efforts. Clarke Petterson (2+4) and Aaron Woods (2+0) both scored a pair of goals. Austin Shanks logged four helpers while Wake:Riat Bowhunter (0+1) and Tyson Bell (0+1) notched an assist.
What an effort from Fields! Fields stays on his feet through the hits and finds the net on the doorstep.
Its all tied up in the 2nd quarter 👀 pic.twitter.com/iD4qBQdDHY
— NLL (@NLL) March 30, 2024
Netminder Warren Hill (8-7) made his 16th appearance of the season for the Thunderbirds, making 45 saves, which included double digits in three of the four quarters. The Six Nations, Ontario, native improved to 8-7 on the season with the win.
After emerging from the half deadlocked at 6-6, Halifax scored five of the first six goals in the third quarter to take an 11-7 lead at the 13:32 mark.
🚨 THE ROOKIE GETS US BACK WITHIN ONE!
4-3, them | Q2, 14:18 remaining pic.twitter.com/QVo0WKXtPp
— Rochester Knighthawks (@RocKnighthawks) March 30, 2024
Halifax opened the scoring in the frame with three unanswered markers, two of which came from Petterson, before Evans stopped the run with his first goal since Dec. 23.
The Thunderbirds responded immediately afterwards as Jamieson and Woods upped the cushion to three goals late in the quarter.
Both teams tallied a power-play goal in the fourth frame before Lanchbury wrapped up the 12-9 score.
During the opening frame, Rochester seemed to kick off the scoring 3:52 into the contest as Gilray connected off Ethan O’Connor’s feed, however, it was challenged and ultimately overturned due to a crease violation.
SMITTY'S SOARIN' AND SMITTY'S SCORIN' 🤩
2-2 | Q1, 1:25 remaining pic.twitter.com/OkMAnIp3dd
— Rochester Knighthawks (@RocKnighthawks) March 30, 2024
The Thunderbirds responded three minutes later as Woods broke the scoreless game with his 12th of the season with just under 10 minutes remaining in the quarter.
The two clubs would trade goals as Knight and Smith both scored for Rochester while Theede made it a 2-2 score before Halifax closed out the quarter with a pair of tallies in the final 61 seconds.
After the break, Rochester used a three-goal run in the first four minutes of play to grab its first lead of the night, but again the two teams went goal for goal to close the half knotted at six goals apiece.
McConvey, who kicked off the scoring run, tallied a pair of markers sandwiching Field’s first of the night.
TURNER EVANS TURNS ON THE JETS AND GOES AIRBORNE! ✈️🚨
9-7, them | Q3, 3:59 remaining pic.twitter.com/2pyG5cSHXc
— Rochester Knighthawks (@RocKnighthawks) March 31, 2024
Halifax outscored Rochester 6-3 in the final 30 minutes of the contest to seal the win.
The Knighthawks remain at home as they welcome the intrastate rival New York Riptide back to Sciortino Field at The Blue Cross Arena on Saturday, April 6 for the only time this season. Game time is slated for a 7:00 p.m. start and will be carried live on Big 107.3 FM as well as ESPN+.