McIntosh stepping in for Snider, Church’s scoring touch, and Leung’s crucial comeback role highlight Week 2 of the NLL Playoff Rookie Report.
In the West Divisions Finals, the Calgary Roughnecks captured a Game One victory with a 12-11 overtime win.
Karsen Leung had one goal and one assist for Calgary, while also scooping up three loose balls. After falling behind early, the Roughnecks were able to battle back into the game by outscoring the Rush 6-4 in the final two quarters of play. Leung played an integral role in the Roughnecks come from behind efforts, with both the rookies’ points coming during the second half scoring surge.
With Geoff Snider absent from the Roughnecks lineup with a lower-body injury, rookie Garrett McIntosh was thrust into the faceoff circle winning 8-of-23 draws while adding two loose balls and one forced turnover.
Robert Church (2 G) was one of three Edmonton players to have a multi-goal game, along with Zack Greer (2G, 1 A) and Mark Matthews (3 G, 4 A). After being held without a goal during four of the Rush’s final seven regular season games, Riley Loewen had one goal and one assist in the loss.
In Game One of the East Division Finals, the Buffalo Bandits defeated the two-time defending champion Rochester Knighthawks 12-8. Bandits rookie Mitch Wilde, the only first year player in the lineup for either squad, picked up three loose balls in the win.
Game Two of each series is set for the upcoming weekend, as Calgary will look to finish off top seeded Edmonton Friday, May 16 on the Rexall Place turf while the Bandits have the chance to thwart Rochester’s hopes of a three-peat Saturday, May 17 at Blue Cross Arena.
