Rush remain perfect with overtime win over the Rochester Knighthawks

The best season a team ever had in the National Lacrosse League came when the league went by a different name. The Buffalo Bandits were a perfect 10-0 en route to a Major Indoor Lacrosse League championship in 1993.

The schedule is twice as long now, but the Edmonton Rush are well on their way to a historic journey of their own.

The Rush improved to 5-0 with a dramatic 8-7 overtime win over the visiting Rochester Knighthawks on Saturday at Rexall Place.

Mark Matthews scored only one goal, but it was the biggest one of the game. The second-year forward patiently worked his way in front of the Knighthawks net in overtime and bounced a shot past goalie Matt Vinc (42 saves) at 1:16.

“It’s a big-game player making a big play,” Rush head coach/general manager Derek Keenan said.

In a low-scoring, physical game, all of the action came after Matthews’ goal. The post-game handshake turned into a mass jerseypulling, shoving match that was highlighted by a fight between Rush transition player Jeremy Thompson and Knighthawks transition Joel McCready.

“It was an emotional, tough game and they had one guy who wanted to goad our guys and tempers flared,” said Rochester head coach Mike Hassan. “Seven power plays to one (the scoresheet says 4-1), that’s a huge difference,” said Hassan. “It’s a fast game and there’s room for error, but that was bad.”

Keenan wasn’t pleased with the officiating either. The Rush led 3-0 in the first quarter but weren’t able to pull away. The Knighthawks clawed their way to overtime, despite being down 7-5 with just over three minutes left in regulation. They tied the game up with 1:04 to play on Stephen Keogh’s goal.

Oil Kings win eighth straight game

Mitch Moroz scored two goals and Curtis Lazar netted one as the red-hot Edmonton Oil Kings downed the Tigers 5-1 in Medicine Hat on Saturday.

The Oil Kings, who have won 14 of their last 15 games, are riding an eight-game winning streak with Moroz and Lazar once again sharing the team lead in goals, with 29.

Brandon Ralph (fifth goal) scored the game-winner while Reid Petryk tallied a short-handed marker.

Oil Kings goaltender Tristan Jarry made 25 saves for his league-leading 33rd win.

Edmonton continues its four-game four-game road trip at 8 p.m. Wednesday against the Blazers at Kamloops, B.C.