With a tight lacrosse game and a packed nest, Jan. 18 felt like just another ordinary day with the Thunderbirds.
On Jan. 11 in Rochester, the Thunderbirds won against the Rochester Knighthawks 19-18; the final goal was a buzzer beater from Clarke Petterson. With a second left on the clock, Petterson shot over four players clogging the house, picking the bottom left corner clean and putting Halifax up by one.
A week later, Rochester visited Halifax in the Thunderbirds’ barn. Riley Hutchcraft, the Knighthawks goalie, had the ball in his crease with 31.7 seconds left. He managed to put it past Jake Withers and to a Knighthawks defenseman streaking along the restraining line. But just as the defenseman turned 45 degrees to clear the zone, Halifax defender Colton Armstrong came flying from the other side of the floor and stripped the ball. Halifax quickly called a timeout.
Just like in Rochester, it would be Halifax with the final possession of the game. But this time, they wouldn’t win. Connor Fields got the best of Halifax as he put four goals in the back of their net along with 16 shots while Riley Hutchcraft stopped 43 shots. Randy Staats was hot on Fields’ tail all night as he made the Scotiabank Centre erupt three times as the Birds had an 8-5 lead after a four-goal third quarter. However, Rochester wouldn’t give up as they put five goals past Warren Hill in the fourth quarter. The Knighthawks were up 10-9; this possession would be to stay alive.
The East Coast Kitchen Party theme at Scotiabank saw laid back Canadian heritage celebrated with classic East Coast dishes, live music at halftime and relaxed Celtic music rolling throughout the game. But with the end of the “The Night Pat Murphy Died” sing-along, the mood got serious, and eyes turned to the Thunderbirds taking their place on the floor. The whistle blew.
The Thunderbirds had three good chances to score and couldn’t bury. There was no photo finish this time. The Thunderbirds lost.
This dropped them to 2-4 on the season, though the Thunderbirds aren’t hitting the panic button. Armstrong admitted after the game that it’s been a “tough start.” As of Jan. 22 the T-Birds sit 11th in the NLL, ironically right behind the Knighthawks, and three spots above last-placed Toronto Rock.
Armstrong pointed to every loss, except against Colorado, being by one goal. He also says the defense is starting to be much less scattered.
“We’re right there the whole time,” Armstrong said. “I think we’re ready for the rest of the season.”
In the fourth quarter the Thunderbirds offense scored no goals; the only point on the board came from Armstrong on a breakout turned breakaway.
Thunderbirds captain Cody Jamieson said he thinks the offense was a little predictable but feels like they weren’t overly struggling, and said they had some bad bounces.
The Thunderbirds’ next game is on Jan. 31 at the Scotiabank Centre against the Vancouver Warriors. East Coast Kitchen Nighy may be over, but the party isn’t. Pack your swimsuits and floaties Halifax…
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