Toronto Wins Third Straight
from press release
CALGARY - The Toronto Rock continued their
surge in the second half of the season, defeating the Calgary
Roughnecks 12-10 at Pengrowth Saddledome on Friday night. Lewis
Ratcliff scored five goals as the Rock (5-7) won their third
straight.
In the first quarter, former Roughneck Lewis Ratcliff scored the
first two goals of the game, as Toronto took a 2-0 lead. For
Calgary, former Rock player Kaleb Toth scored twice in the quarter.
The game was tied 3-3 after the first quarter.
The Rock dominated the second quarter. Ratcliff and Kasy Biernes
each scored twice, and Bob Watson stopped eight out of the ten
shots faced. After the eighth Toront goal, the Roughnecks pulled
starting goaltender Matt King and sent in Pat Campbell. Toronto led
9-5 at halftime.
The goaltending change proved effective. Campbell stopped all ten
of the Rock shots on goal, while Toth and Dane Dobbie scored to
bring Calgary to within two at 9-7.
In the fourth quarter, goals by Dobbie and Josh Sanderson tied the
game at 9-9 with twelve minutes remaining. Midway through the
fourth, Blaine Manning stepped up for the Rock, scoring two goals
within a minute of each other. Moments later, Ratcliff scored his
fifth goal of the game to give Toronto a 12-9 lead. That was more
than enough for Watson and the Rock defense, en route to the 12-10
victory.
With the win, Toronto improves to 5-7 and continues their second
half of the season revival. The Rock are now tied for fourth place,
percentage points behind Rochester (4-6).
Despite the loss, Calgary (8-3) can still clinch a playoff berth
this weekend, with a win on Saturday and at least one San Jose
loss, or with two San Jose losses and an Edmonton loss.
Both teams will be back in action on Saturday night. Toronto heads
north to face the Edmonton Rush, while Calgary heads east to face
the Minnesota Swarm.
