2023-24 Season Memberships Are On Sale Now BUY NOW

×
WK
2
Sat, Dec 9
19:00:00
Philadelphia
Toronto
WK
4
Fri, Dec 22
20:00:00
Toronto
Panther City
WK
5
Sat, Dec 30
16:00:00
New York
Toronto
WK
7
Fri, Jan 12
18:30:00
Toronto
Halifax
WK
8
Sat, Jan 20
19:00:00
Georgia
Toronto
WK
9
Sat, Jan 27
19:00:00
Buffalo
Toronto
WK
10
Sat, Feb 3
21:00:00
Toronto
Calgary
WK
11
Sat, Feb 10
19:00:00
Calgary
Toronto
WK
13
Sat, Feb 24
19:00:00
Vancouver
Toronto
WK
14
Fri, Mar 1
22:00:00
Toronto
Las Vegas
Sat, Mar 2
22:00:00
Toronto
San Diego
WK
15
Sat, Mar 9
17:00:00
Colorado
Toronto
WK
16
Sat, Mar 16
19:00:00
Toronto
Buffalo
WK
17
Sat, Mar 23
19:00:00
Halifax
Toronto
WK
18
Sat, Mar 30
19:30:00
Toronto
New York
WK
19
Sat, Apr 6
19:00:00
Toronto
Albany
WK
20
Sat, Apr 13
19:00:00
Rochester
Toronto
WK
21
Sat, Apr 20
20:00:00
Toronto
Saskatchewan
Powered By
MGM Logo
Scores / Schedule
News

It Ain’t Over Yet, Rock Beat Bandits

Toronto Wins For The Second Time Against East-Leading Buffalo

Toronto, ON – The Toronto Rock (5-10) defeated the Buffalo Bandits (10-5) by a score of 12-9 on Friday night at Air Canada Centre to keep their playoff hopes alive. Rock defender Brodie Merrill and goaltender Nick Rose led the way to a much needed Rock win in the first half of the weekend home-and-home with Buffalo.

“We haven’t given up, it was a character win,” said Rock head coach John Lovell following the game. “Especially when we were down at the half, we dug down and we had the belief to win. Our defence has played very well, I’m not sure how sometimes given the injuries. It’s just unfortunate we dug ourselves such a whole in the beginning (of the season).”

The first quarter ended tied at three after Jesse Gamble scored with under three minutes remaining in the frame to even the score. Turner Evans opened the scoring for the Rock and Rob Hellyer also tallied for Toronto in the opening 15 minutes.

After trading goals, the visiting Bandits scored twice to take a 7-5 lead into the half. Buffalo goaltender Anthony Cosmo made several huge saves in the first half to keep his team ahead of the Rock.

The Rock played a near flawless third quarter, outscoring the Bandits 3-0 in the process. Stephan Leblanc, Dan Lintner and Kasey Beirnes scored for Toronto, giving the Rock an 8-7 lead after three quarters. Early in the frame, defender Brock Sorensen went down awkwardly with an apparent knee injury. He left the game and did not return.

Toronto continued their run, scoring three more times to build an 11-7 lead on the strength of the six-goal run. Lintner netted the 10th goal of the game, which would stand up as the game-winning goal.

The Rock defence did something no other team had done this year and that was holding the league’s leading scorer, Buffalo’s Dhane Smith to just one goal and one assist.

“It was a great win, it was a good game, they are a good team and really transition the ball well and we held Dhane in check,” said Rock forward Josh Sanderson. “We had the offence going and I thought we were getting some good chances and then we got going in the second half. Steph (Leblanc) really got us going with that goal in the second half.”

The home and home with the Bandits continues tomorrow night in Buffalo at First Niagara Center at 7:30 p.m. Fans can watch the game live on Rogers TV Toronto, Peel, Durham and Georgina.

Single Game Tickets and Group Tickets are on sale now. For more information about Toronto Rock tickets, please contact our account executives at 416-596-3075 or visit www.torontorock.com.

Toronto Rock