What to watch for vs. Saskatchewan Rush

Must Win Playoff Game On The Prairies

SASKATOON, SK – The Toronto Rock (#6 Playoff Seed) are on the road to begin the 2026 NLL Playoffs against the Saskatchewan Rush (#3 Playoff Seed) tonight in Saskatoon, SK at the SaskTel Centre.  These two clubs are just one week moved from a regular-season-ending matchup that fell in the Rush’s favour.

The NLL Quarterfinals round is a winner-take-all single game elimination.  The winner of tonight’s game will go on to face the winner of the San Diego (#7) vs. Colorado (#2) quarterfinal in the best-of-3 NLL Semifinals beginning next weekend.

Fans can watch the game vs. Saskatchewan at 9:00pm ET on TSN 3.  Alternatively, tune in on TSN’s digital platform TSN+ via TSN.ca and the TSN App as well as ESPN+.  To stream the game on TSN+ or ESPN+, a paid subscription is required.

Here’s what to watch for in Saturday’s matchup.

• Following morning shoot around, the Rock made two massive roster moves. Both Dan Craig and Mark Matthews were moved from the Injured Reserve List to the Active Roster.  Craig is the current active leader in Rock playoff goals with 13 in 11 games played.  Moving to the Practice Roster are Jake Darlison and Isiah Moran-Weekes.
• The Toronto Rock did not lose back-to-back games at any point this season.
• The Rock are coming off an OT loss to these same Saskatchewan Rush a week ago at SaskTel Centre. It was a game the Rock only trailed for 3:27 seconds and that was from the time of the Rush’s first goal of the game until the Rock tied the game 1-1.  After that, the next time the Rock trailed was at the final buzzer in OT.
• Mark Matthews (3) and Steven Orleman (2) are the only two Rock players with NLL championship rings. Matthews earning his with the Rush and Orleman with the Bandits.  Matthews has accumulated the most playoff points of anyone on the Rock roster with 126 points in 25 postseason games.  Those 126 points are 8^th most in NLL playoff history.
• Of the 21 players on the Rock’s Active Roster, 9 have not played a single playoff game in their NLL career. Good thing or bad thing?  Time will tell.
• With Mark Matthews missing the final two games of the regular season, it allowed CJ Kirst to tie Matthews for the team lead in points with 71.
• Brad Kri led the NLL in CTO with 33. It’s the first time in his career that Kri has led the league in CTO and this may finally be the year he wins the NLL Defensive Player of the Year Award.
• Kirst also led all NLL rookies in points with 71, finished second in goals with 34 and tied for first with 37 assists. Teammate Owen Hiltz was second in rookie scoring with 64 points (32+32).
• INJURY REPORT: TD Ierlan is on the PUP List. Zack Kearney, Kobe Handsor, and Robert Hudson are on the Season Ending Injured Reserve List.  Justin Martin (Lower), and Phil Mazzuca (Upper) are on the Injured Reserve List.
• The 2026 NLL Playoffs continue next weekend with the opening games of the Semifinals round.

A new episode of the Toronto Rock Total Access Podcast is out now!  Challen Rogers and Mike Hancock get you primed for the playoffs.

Check out the latest episode of Rock City Unplugged which is out now!

For more information on Toronto Rock tickets, please contact a Toronto Rock account executive by phone at 905-426-4744, by email at tickets@torontorock.com or visit torontorock.com.