NLL Insider

We’ll call this one the Miracle on Carpet.

The 1-6 Edmonton Rush stunned John Grant Jr. and the defending NLL champion Rochester Knighthawks last night, winning 10-9 in overtime at Rexall Place.

Mike Hominuk, playing his first game for the Rush after a recent trade, beat Pat O’Toole with a low outside shot only 1:13 into the extra frame. It was Hominuk’s third goal of the game. Oh, and fellow newcomers Lindsay Plunkett and Brenden Thenhaus also factored heavily on the scoresheet for the revamped Rush offence, with both chipping in a goal and helper.

When it was suggested new Rush head coach and GM Bob Hamley was making a serious case for GM of the year after this one game, he laughed. ”It was a great effort by everybody,” said Hamley. “I didn’t mention the new guys (after the game in the dressing room) but I mentioned Troy Bonterre and Rory Glaves for doing their job on Grant and (Shawn) Williams. Incredible. That’s a big win for our franchise. It’s a very proud moment for all of us.”

Hominuck’s goal capped a wild finish at Rexall. With Chris Schiller in the box for holding a stick and Scott Evans warming a seat beside him for playing the ball without his helmet with 2:25 left to play, Dan Stroup scored with 1:13 left in the game. Cam Bergman then got sent to the penalty box with 57 seconds left for holding and Grant fed a nifty backhand pass to Williams, who tied it with 50 seconds left to play.

Rochester started OT on the power play and Rush goalie Curtis Palidwor made a huge stop on Williams, who was right on the top of the crease, before the Rush went downfloor and Hominuk potted the winner.

“You definitely couldn’t have written a better script than this tonight,” said Hominuk.

When asked what he was thinking with the ball in his stick, a clear shooting lane and the chance for a Cinderella finish, he cracked a big smile.

“Stick the ball in the net - grip it and rip it, baby,” he said.

The Rush did a good job of keeping Rochester’s potent attack in check in the first half, with Grant notching only two goals (although Pointstreak only credited him for one, giving the other to Matt Lyons). However, Edmonton was burned for two costly back-to-back transition markers by Scott Ditzell and Pat Cougevan that helped the K-Hawks to a 6-3 halftime lead.

A scrum at the end of the first quarter led to a scrap between Rush captain Chris McElroy and Shawn Evans. Both players dropped the gloves, flipped their lids and Evans even took the time to pull off his slash guards as McElroy rushed at him before getting the worst of it in a lop-sided tilt. Evans spent most of the time hanging on tight to McElroy who landed a handful of over-the-top-punches, but nothing nasty.

Edmonton went on to outscore the visitors 3-1 in the third quarter. Go to www.pointstreak.com for the full scoring summary.

ONE PASSING THOUGHT FROM FRIDAY: In Calgary’s 11-6 loss to Colorado at the Saddledome Friday night, the Mammoth scored four goals in the fourth quarter while the Riggers managed just one (to go with the single tally they had in the third quarter). So, for those of you keeping score at home, the Roughnecks have now been outscored 47-24 in the fourth quarter of games this year. Wonder why this team is 4-7? Look no further than that little stat. 

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