Matthews: Knighthawks Are The NLL's Hottest Team

KNIGHTHAWKS: FROM SIX-GAME LOSING STREAK TO THE NLL’S HOTTEST TEAM

HUGE WIN IN TORONTO FOR AMERKS

ERICK AYBAR NOT LIKELY TO BE A RED WING

The Rochester Knighthawks started this pro indoor lacrosse season with two lopsided victories and were the talk of the nine-team National Lacrosse League.

Then the K-hawks lost six straight games. A few of the old pros looked tired and a few of the younger players appeared in over their heads.

Rochester with a 2-6 record and with 10 games remaining appeared destined for another season without making the playoffs.

But the rejuvenated K-hawks have bounced back admirably with three straight victories over the defending NLL champions (Georgia Swarm) and the two division leaders (Saskatchewan Rush and Buffalo Bandits). Rochester is 5-6 and will next play at home Saturday, March 10, against Georgia.

The K-hawks took a 7-0 lead in Buffalo last Saturday night and rolled to a 17-10 victory before 15,302 stunned fans.

Buffalo native and former Bandit Joe Resetarits exploded for 14 points – 3 goals and 11 assists – and is tied for the NLL scoring lead (as tied as he could possibly be):

Resetarits (Rochester) – 11 games...23 goals...41 assists...63 points

Mark Matthews (Saskatchewan) – 11 games...23 goals...41 assists...63 points.

Gritty Cody Jamieson continued his impressive comeback for the K-hawks with 2 goals and 5 assists against Buffalo and is up to sixth on the NLL scoring list: 11 games...17 goals...38 assists...55 points.

Resetarits and Jamieson were 1-2 Stars of the Game and not-so-old reliable goalie Matt Vinc was the No. 3 Star.

The three rookie first-round draft picks out of Ohio State – Austin Shanks, Eric Fannell and faceoff specialist Jake Withers – have become major contributors.

Rochester continues to impress on special teams: 1st in penalty killing (55.3 percent; 26-for-47) and 2nd on the power play (59.5; 23-for-42).

The top three teams in each of the two divisions will qualify for the playoffs. Eastern Division standings: Buffalo 6-4...Toronto 5-4...New England 5-4...Rochester 5-6...Georgia 4-5.

The K-hawks are far from a cinch to make the postseason, but no team in the NLL is playing better now.

AMERKS ALSO HAD A HUGE ROAD WIN SATURDAY

The Rochester Amerks showed they can compete against the very best in the 30-team American Hockey League with a 7-4 victory over the super tough Toronto Marlies, who had rallied to beat the Amerks 5-3 Friday night at Blue Cross Arena.

Rochester shut out the Marlies 2-0 in Toronto December 29 to take sole possession of first place in the North Division with a 20-7-3-3 record. The Marlies were 22-11-0-0. The teams have been going in opposite directions since: Toronto 17-4-0-1 and Rochester 7-8-5-3.

Rochester figures to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2013-14 season and might even win a playoff series for the first time since 2005. Beating Toronto for the Calder Cup suddenly doesn’t seem like a Mission Impossible.

The Amerks continued their unusual pattern of playing significantly better on the road (15-4-8-3; 41 of 60 possible points in the standings) than at home (12-11-0-3; 27 of 52 possible points).

Like the Knighthawks, the Amerks have been special on special teams this season: 2nd in the 30-team AHL in penalty killing (86.0 percent; 191-of-222) and 9th on the power play (18.5 percent; 46-of-249).

TWINS DIDN’T SIGN ERICK AYBAR FOR ROCHESTER

The Minnesota Twins on Saturday signed 34-year-old former Los Angeles/Anaheim Angels all-star shortstop to a minor-league contract. But don’t count on seeing him in a Red Wings uniform.

The Twins think they’ll be a playoff contender again this season (wishful thinking in my opinion – the pitching staff has too many holes) and Aybar is a switch-hitter who can play shortstop, second base and third base (not at the same time), and has already volunteered to play some outfield in a pinch. He’s a .271 career hitter.

Right-hander Aaron Slegers, 15-4 with the Red Wings last season, pitched two scoreless innings last Friday as Minnesota’s starter in the spring-training opener against the Red Sox. He’s a long shot to break camp with the Twins and could be Rochester’s Opening Day starter April 6 at home against Buffalo.

Former Red Wings relief pitcher J.T. Chargois, who has nasty stuff and has had elbow problems, was claimed by the Los Angeles Dodgers off Minnesota’s waiver wire last Friday. As a minor-leaguer for the Twins, he had a 1.91 ERA and 132 strikeouts in 113 1/3 innings.

Future Red Wings Hall of Famer left-handed pitcher Francisco Liriano signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the Detroit Tigers last week. He’s 34. He has as 102-99 record in his 12 big-league seasons. He was a combined 22-10 with Rochester in the 2005 and 2008 seasons and was a box-office draw whenever he pitched.

GIVE ORANGE CREDIT FOR MAKING TAR HEELS AND DUKIES WORK FOR WINS

Give the outmanned Syracuse Orange credit for putting up good fights in losses last week to Atlantic Coast Conference tough guys North Carolina and Duke.

The Tar Heels and Blue Devils obviously are more-talented and deeper than Syracuse. They figure to be at least Sweet 16 teams in the NCAA Tournament. The Orange could be bound for the NIT. ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi has SU on his “First Four Out” list (with UCLA, Nebraska and Mississippi State).

Watching the two games made me look forward to SU playing North Carolina and Duke next season. The Tar Heels and Blue Devils figure to lose some of their top players to the NBA. With or without Tyus Battle, the Orange figure to be loaded. Coach Jim Boeheim will have a much stronger bench and won’t need to play stallball the way circumstances dictated this season.

Can SU sneak into this season’s Big Dance? Three victories might be enough. Sweep or split the two games remaining in the regular season (at Boston College Wednesday night and home against Clemson Saturday) plus one or two wins in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament.

GIONTA ALREADY IS A HERO IN BOSTON

The Boston Bruins mean business in their pursuit of this NHL season’s Stanley Cup. Adding veteran forwards Brian Gionta and Rick Nash for the stretch run and the playoffs are proof of that.

Gionta was a terrific four-year star for Boston College. How’s this for consistency:

1997-98 season – 40 games...30 goals + 32 assists...62 points

1998-99 season – 39 games...27 goals + 33 assists...60 points

1999-2000 season – 42 games...33 goals + 23 assists – 56 points

2000-2001 season – 43 games...33 goals...21 assists...54 points.

Totals – 164 games...123 goals...109 assists...232 points.

RONDA ROUSEY BODY-SLAMMED TRIPLE H

Roman Reigns and Alexa Bliss won the men’s and women’s WWE Elimination championship matches Sunday night at the pay-per-view show in Las Vegas, but the biggest news was Ronda Rousey body-slamming Triple H through a table inside the ring.

The table was a prop for Rousey’s “official signing” to join the roster of Monday Night Raw.

Rousey, who again praised the late Rowdy Roddy Piper for being her inspiration to enter pro wrestling, will be a prominent performer in Wrestlemania 34 April 8 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. There is speculation that the WWE hopes to lure The Rock from Hollywood to team with Rousey in a match. They might need to settle for Kurt Angle.

SHORT SHOTS

The Buffalo Sabres beat visiting Boston 4-1 Sunday at KeyBank Center and are 5-4-1 in their last 10 games after going 4-9-2 in their previous 15 games. It will be interesting to see how many of the 16,500 season-ticketholders won’t renew after this disappointing season. Management might not care that much because there is a waiting list ready to tap.

The Rochester RazorSharks split two weekend games against the Vancouver Knights: lost 114-111 Saturday and won 113-104 Sunday. The Sharks are 6-12 and play their next four games at Blue Cross Arena: Thursday against the Kentucky Thoroughbreds...Wednesday and Thursday, March 7-8, against the Yakima Sunkings, and Thursday, March 15 against the Kansas City Tornados.

Pro Football Focus (Mike Florio) on Saturday listed the 2018 NFL starting quarterbacks in projected average pay per year. Kirk Cousins was No. 1 at $29 million per year. Tyrod Taylor was 21st on the list at $15.25 million. Florio noted. “Whether he plays for the Bills or someone else, it’s a pretty good deal.”

On this date in sports (February 26), 100 years ago (1918), 604 people were killed when the stands at the Hong Kong Jockey Club collapsed and burned...83 years ago (1935), the Yankees released fading slugger Babe Ruth. He signed with the Boston Braves...37 years ago (1981), Minnesota and Boston brawled in an NHL game and logged 84 penalties for 406 minutes...29 years ago (1989), Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry was fired.

On this date in sports (February 27), 59 years ago (1959), the Chicago Cardinals traded star running back Ollie Matson to the Los Angeles Rams for nine players...55 years ago (1963), Mickey Mantle signed a one-year contract with the New York Yankees for $100,000...26 years ago (1992), 16-year-old Tiger Woods became the youngest PGA player in 35 years.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...

Monday, February 26

Morgan Brian (25)...Darrius Heyward-Bay (31)...Robert Mathis (37)...Steve Blake (38)...Marty Reasoner (41)...Josh Towers (41)...Sam Cowart (43)...Marshall Faulk (45)...Darcy Loewen (49)...J. T. Snow (50)...Wesley Walls (52)...Rick Knickle (58)...Rolando Blackman (59)...Phil Villapiano (69). Michael Bolton (65) can sing Happy Birthday...Johnny Cash was born on this date 86 years ago (1932) and died in 2003 at age 71.

Tuesday, February 27

Meyers Leonard (26)...Daniel Gibson (32)...Yovani Gallardo (32)...Denard Span (34)...Anibal Sanchez (34)...Delvin Harris (35)...Tony Gonzalez (42)...Duce Staley (43)...Chris Dishman (44)...Kent Desormeaux  (48)...Matt Stairs (50)...John Davidson (65)...Rusty Tillman (72). Chelsea Clinton (38) is invited to the birthday party. Elizabeth Taylor was born on this date 86 years ago (1932) and died in 2011 at age 79.


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