Sarah Mills: The magic of the May Long Weekend
Sarah Mills is looking forward to the May Long Weekend, and says the holiday holds the promise of the summer ahead, even...
It was not the night the Saskatchewan Rush had in mind as they took the court in their first National Lacrosse League (NLL) Finals game since 2018 on Friday night in Buffalo New York.
The game started with Clark Walter and Levi Anderson finding the back of the net in the first quarter to give the Rush an early 2-0 lead but the Bandits answered with goals from Josh Byrne and Kyle Buchanan just 48 seconds apart.
Read more:
- Improbable road leads Joe Robustelli to massive opportunity with Riders
- Hilltops lineman turns heads at Riders training camp on Thursday
- Coach Mace not concerned after injury sidelines centre Sean McEwen
Rush forward Austin Shanks scored to get the lead back, taking Saskatchewan into the second quarter with a 3-2 lead.
Brock Haley got the second quarter started on the right note for the Rush as he quickly made it 4-2, but the Bandits replied with three unanswered goals, two from Ian Mackay and one from Chase Fraser.
Mike Messenger and Shanks would find the back of the net to give the Rush a 6-5 lead but with 35 seconds left in the quarter Mackay would record his hat trick and tie the game at 6-6.
Austin Shanks had an eight point night in game one!@PlayNowSK Highlights pic.twitter.com/ztCBC6H11B
— Saskatchewan Rush (@SaskRushLAX) May 17, 2025
In the third quarter, Rush forward Zach Manns got off to a quick start scoring two goals to give Saskatchewan an 8-6 lead but the Bandits would get one back as Mackay netted his fourth goal of the night.
Rush forward Ryan Keenan got the lead back to two goals, before Dhane Smith responded for Buffalo.
Shanks made it 10-8 for the Rush as he recorded his hat trick but that’s where the scoring stopped for Saskatchewan.
Smith scored two more goals in the third quarter, and Buchanan also scored twice over the last two quarters, as the Rush would ultimately fall 12-10.
Sunday’s Game 2 at Sasktel Centre in Saskatoon at 6 pm is now do-or-die for the Rush in the best-of-three series.
Shanksy snipes 🎯 pic.twitter.com/k4zVqpP3K8
— Saskatchewan Rush (@SaskRushLAX) May 17, 2025
Preparing for the finals
Jake Boudreau, Rush transition player, joined The Green Zone earlier this week to say he believes his team’s work ethic and athleticism will be a big factor in the series.
“We’re really hard working, and that’s contagious,” he said. “We’re fast, athletic, we get along and that goes a long way.”
Ahead of the Buffalo game, Boudreau said the team would not make too many changes.
“We don’t really play based on the opponent,” he said. “We basically have our systems in place and it’s the same every single game.”
Boudreau said playing in Buffalo isn’t something that bothered the team.
“It’s not going to bug us,” he said. “It’s not going to help us, but it’s just kind of something that’s happening in the back.”
Boudreau pointed out that the Bandits have plenty of work ethic as well.
“They were the hardest-working team that we’ve played this year,” he said. “Their offence has played together for a long time. Their chemistry just looks amazing some nights, so that’s going to be a challenge.”
— with files from CKOM News
Read more:
