The Toronto Rock lost a back and forth nail biter to the Edmonton Rush at Rexall Place this afternoon. With the 14-13 loss Toronto’s record now sits at 6-3. The Rock and Rush have split their 2010 regular season series 1-1, both taking the win at home.
Bob Watson played in Toronto’s net turning away 41 of 55 shots on net. Rookie Garrett Billings led the Rock with eight points from three goals and five assists.
Matt Disher recorded the win for the Rush stopping 37 of 50 shots. Lead scorer for Edmonton was Ryan Powell with four goals and four assists.
Sandy Chapman opened scoring 0:49 seconds into the game but Brodie Merrill answered for the Rush. The rookies were next with goals from Garrett Billings on the power play and one from Stephan Leblanc for Toronto. Andy Secore and Ryan Ward scored for Edmonton to tie the game 3-3 at the end of the first.
A shorthanded goal by Cam Woods started the second quarter, but the Rock lead was short lived as Dan Stevens and Secore put Edmonton ahead. The back and forth continued with Leblanc for Toronto, Stevens and Ryan Powell for the Rush, and Billings and Scott Campbell for the Rock. Colin Doyle was next for Toronto, but Powell tied it again.
Gavin Prout scored near the top of the third, and after 10 minutes of defensive pressure Blaine Manning and Billings got past Matt Disher in Edmonton’s net to give the Rock the 10-9 lead heading into the final quarter of play.
Merrill, Ward and two from Powell gave the Rush the lead. Doyle put his second of the night into the net on the power play but Ward extended the Edmonton lead again. Manning and Kasey Beirnes scored to bring the game within one, but it wasn’t enough as the Rock were narrowly edged out 14-13 by the Rush.
The Toronto Rock return home for Kids Night on Saturday, February 27 to host the Orlando Titans. Game time is 7:00 p.m. at the Air Canada Centre, and the game will be televised at 8:00 p.m. ET on TSN2. For ticket information, fans should check out the Toronto Rock website at www.torontorock.com.
