Apparently you can stop the Rock….can stop the Rock…you can stop the Rock…can stop the Rock…
12-11 in overtime, a playoff berth clinched, and maybe, just maybe this team that has been so promising at some times and frustrating at others is finally catching fire, just in time for the playoffs.

Things didn’t look good early, as Lewis Ratcliff responded to a warm welcome from the ex-home crowd with a natural hat trick within the first five minutes of the game that looked ridiculously easy to get. Afterward, coach Troy Cordingley admitted there was a little too much respect for the departed superstar early, but once they got that early run out of their systems, the Roughneck defenders succeeded in marginalizing Ratcliff for the rest of the night.

This was plain and simple one of the most fun nights I’ve ever had at a lacrosse game. Back and forth battles, changes in fortune, and outstanding goaltending at both ends of the floor. Steve Dietich and Bob Watson matched each other save for save, stopping 70 of the 93 shots directed at them. Each loose ball was battled over like a bouquet tossed in the middle of a batch of desparate bridesmaids. Both teams playoff hopes were at stake, and both teams battled like it. In the third quarter, the Roughnecks D held strong during a 5 minute major to Tracey Kelusky, not only not allowing a goal, but not allowing shots on a couple of Rock attacks.

In the end, it was Captain Kelusky beating Watson with a bounce shot blast that gave the Roughnecks just their 5th win in 14 tries against a team that has always had their number. It was also the second straight strong 4th quarter from a team that’s struggled in the final frame all year as the locals outsocred the Rock 3-1, capped off by Scott Ranger’s game tying goal with two and a half minutes to go, and a couple of game saving saves by Dietrich in the dyng minutes.

Afterwards, Kelusky joined Ryan Ballantine and I on the team’s on-line version of Roughneck’s Radio with a defiant message to the nay-sayers that have been ripping the team and its front office all year long. He feels the team is finally playing up to its potential and getting on board with the changes Cordingley’s made to the game plan. He vehemently defended Kurt Silcott for the much-maligned Ratcliff trade and the offensive overhaul that came with it.

There was also a scary moment for Keluksky, an inexplicable non call on a stick to the head that left him sprawled on the carpet, wondering if another head shot had just ended his season. To his, the team’s and the crowds relief, he was fine. A huge milestone on the mental road to recovery from a head injury that has you wondering what’ll happen the next time you take one in the noggin.

With the win, next week’s season wrapper against Edmonton take on a lot less meaning, given the fact a spot has been clinched, and finishing third or 4th doesn’t really mean all that much as Coldorado and San Jose are basically 4 quarters or a buck when comparing opponents. Portland has a tough road test in Buffalo and the Roughnecks hold the tiebreaker, so I’m betting on third.

A few notes

-Before the game, Brad Bannister and Ken King joined forces to announce a new two year lease deal on the Saddledome. Good news, as long as the terms give Bannister the chance to make a go of it financially. He’s hoping to see the season ticket base grow from 4 to 7 thousand for a little more stability.

-Good on the Roughnecks and the fans for classy tributes not only to Ratcliff, but also to retiring Rock Captain Jim Veltman.

-Loved the kid rocking it out with the guitar during time outs. Note to youth: playing a real guitar is cool. Pushing buttons on a chunk of plastic shaped like a guitar with no strings is not.

This entry was posted on Sunday, April 20th, 2008 at 12:25 am and is filed under Misc. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.