Although they’re off to one of their worst starts in years, the Saskatchewan Rush were looking like world beaters on Saturday night, taking a 16-7 win over Panther City Lacrosse Club.
The win improves the Rush to 2-4, good for fourth place in the West Division, while the expansion PCLC remain in last place in the division at 1-5.
Playing in front of a home crowd, this one was never really in doubt. Jeff Shattler scored his first of four on the night just 1:34 into the game, followed less than a minute later by a power play marker by Dan Lintner. Mark Messenger scored a minute and a half after that, then Lintner dunked another goal from behind the net less than a minute after that. Robert Church notched his first of the night a few seconds later, putting Saskatchewan up 5-0 only five and a half minutes into the contest.
Panther City would respond with two goals later in the quarter, but the rout was on and the Rush would never let it get close, the margin growing steadily from that three-goal deficit as the night wore on.
Shattler would end the evening with seven points, including his four goals while Church and Ryan Keenan would also contribute seven points apiece to the offensive attack.
Rush goalie Adam Shute had an excellent game in net, turning aside 32 shots to earn the win.
For Panther City, Dawson Theede and Phil Caputo each contributed two goals while Taite Cattoni and Patrick Dodds both had four-point nights. Nick Damude made 37 saves in the loss.
Panther City travels to Vancouver next Saturday, Feb. 5, to face the Warriors. The Rush get a week off before returning to action on Feb 11, against those same Warriors in Vancouver.
