Rock clip Wings

Philadelphia – The Toronto Rock (8-2) stormed into Philadelphia and clipped the Wings (4-5) by a score of 16-13.

The Rock came out of the gate firing on all cylinders and were able to build a big lead early and got some scoring in transition that only helped their cause as they led 6-3 after one quarter.

Toronto built a 5-0 lead just 7:19 into the game and it wasn’t until Philadelphia struck for a powerplay goal that they were able to break up the Rock run to open the game.

The Wings scored the first two goals of the second quarter to shave to gap to just one goal, trailing 6-5.  But the Rock would again swing the momentum in their favour rattling off 4 straight to lead 10-5.

Stephan Leblanc had completed the hat trick by halftime and was looking for more.  Fellow sophomore Garrett Billings (5 assists) and Captain Colin Doyle (2 goals, 3 assists) each had 5 points in the first half. 

Toronto’s five-goal lead was just three goals after the third quarter had concluded.  Philadelphia scored four times in the quarter, two of those coming on the powerplay and one coming with an extra-attacker on the floor.

In the fourth quarter, the two teams each struck four times as the Wings just could never completely overcome the 5-0 hole they found themselves in early in the contest.

Billings finished the night as the big scorer for Toronto with a 10-point night on the strength of 2 goals and 8 assists.

Tomorrow Head Coach Troy Cordingley, Captain Colin Doyle, Garrett Billings and Sandy Chapman will participate in the 2011 NLL All-Star Game at Turning Stone Casino Event Center in Verona, NY.  The game can be seen on TSN2 at 10pm.

Friday, the Rock host their annual “Black Out Breast Cancer” fundraiser benefitting Sunnybrook Foundation.  The Philadelphia Wings will be the guests at Air Canada Centre at 7:30pm.  The game will be broadcast live on TSN2.