Calgary Journal Online

Roughnecks extend winning streak after dismantling Wings

On “Elvis/Viva Las Vegas” night at the Saddledome, the King of Rock and Roll may have opened up the night, but it was the Calgary Roughnecks’ own King who had the fans cheering.

Roughnecks goaltender Matt King continued his hot streak, turning away 40 shots, backstopping the Roughnecks to a 15-7 win over the visiting Philadelphia Wings on Saturday night.

“We were able to limit what they were able to do, I made a couple good stops when I had to, and kept the momentum going for our team,” continued King, who came out rocking the Elvis sideburns.

The victory continued the Roughnecks’ four-game winning streak and places them, tied with the Edmonton Rush, within a half-game of the first-place Washington Stealth in the Western Conference of the National Lacrosse League.

Another player who stepped up was forward Scott Ranger. He notched a four-goal night, but was also left battered and bruised by the end of the 60 minutes, taking three shots to the head.

Calgary Roughnecks goalie Matt King stops Philadelphia Wings forward Drew Westervelt's shot with his head during their March 6 game at the Saddledome. The Roughnecks won, 15-7.

Photo: Bryce Forbes/Calgary Journal

In the first quarter, while teammate Jeff Shattler was extending the lead to two for the Roughnecks, Ranger was slammed in the back of the head, driving his face right into the turf. Later on, when his helmet was knocked off, Ranger was hammered into the sideboards, and in the game’s dying seconds, he was blasted again after backing up teammate Nolan Heavenor.

Ranger said the hits just motivated him more.

“I joked at halftime that maybe I should get hit in the head more often,” Ranger said. “My bucket came off quite a bit. Maybe I will make that a tradition.”

Ranger said the team suffered some lapses but it was the closest to a complete game they have played this year.

“The guys on this team make it easy to put points on the board. They find you in a right spots. I was lucky to put four in tonight,” he said.

Team captain Tracey Kelusky was also a major contributor, firing in a hat trick and five assists, while teammate Josh Sanderson continued to pick up points at an astonishing rate, with one goal and seven points. Sanderson currently sits tied for third in NLL scoring with 55 points, with two games in hand over leader Colin Doyle of the Toronto Rock.

Kelusky said it was a complete team effort to get the victory.

“Any given night, the guys that are in the lineup, we know that they can do the job. It’s about being mentally sharp and prepared to go to war,” he said.

Also notching goals for the Roughnecks were Shattler and Kaleb Toth with two each, while Dane Dobbie, Scott Carnegie and Craig Conn all picked up singles.

The Roughnecks chased Wings goaltender Brandon Miller late in the third stanza after Miller allowed 13 goals on 42 shots.

Assistant captain Andrew McBride was a scratch from the game due to a foot infection.

Next up for the Roughnecks is the Stealth, in a battle for first place in the Western Conference on March 13.