The heated rivalry of the Battle of Alberta round two for 2015 takes place tomorrow afternoon at Rexall place between the slow start Calgary Roughnecks (1-7) and the surging Edmonton Rush (4-3).
After winning their first game of the year versus the Vancouver Stealth the Roughnecks went down the same style last week in another one goal loss in Champions Cup finals rematch with three time defending champ Rochester Knighthawks who had another late game winning goal from arguably the best player in the league Cody Jamieson who had two game winning goals in two weeks for his team.
On the other side of the floor the Edmonton Rush who won three in a row before falling to the top team in the league currently Toronto Rock in overtime 16-15 in a close back and forth affair in a game that could have gone either way.
In the first meeting of the season between these two teams the Rush had Derek Keenan back for the first time since his leave of absence and it showed with Edmonton blowing out the hometown Roughnecks 16-8, a game in which saw the explosive offence of the Rush at work with all the big names having big games with Mark Matthews leading the offence with eight points (3G,5A) as well as Zack Greer having a six point night (2G,4A) and Riley Loewen and Jarrett Davis both having five point (3G,2A) and super rookie Ben McIntosh having a break out game with a seven point effort (2G,5A) in a game that really never saw the Roughnecks get any long standing momentum with Aaron Bold shutting the door making 32 saves on 40 shots.
It’s not like Calgary didn’t have scoring chances or anyone having big nights. Curtis Dickson had a hat trick but Scott Evans lead the scoring with four points (2G,2A), but, it wasn’t a night that the Roughnecks really got any traction to open up the game and make it close. Penalties seem to be the Roughnecks trademark this season as well going into the box less than a minute into the game and taking 14 more calls, which you can’t do with the potent offence’s in this league.
Also, don’t be surprised to see Frankie Scigliano get the start again in net. Other then last week versus a potent Knighthawk team who seemed to be just getting the bounces the Roughnecks weren’t with Mike Poulin coming in as support to tend the tide but it seems Scigliano is on top of his game and head coach Curt Malawsky is supporting his goalie.
If the Calgary Roughnecks want to have any chance at the post season this year this weekend is where it needs to begin. The west is still a tight race with no team having more then four wins but other than the Roughnecks no team has more than five losses.
Game can be found on TSN GO at 2pm MT.
