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Global News
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Global News
Magical season ends with Game 3 loss in NLL finals for Saskatchewan Rush
Despite their best efforts, the magic finally ran out Saturday for the Saskatchewan Rush as the dynastic Buffalo Bandits dashed the team's hopes for a National Lacrosse League title. The Bandits would hold the Rush off the scoresheet over the final two quarters of Saturday's Game 3 tilt in Buffalo. The hosts taking contest at KeyBank Center to earn a third consecutive NLL championship by a 15-6 final score. After keeping their season alive with a Game 2 victory on their home floor last Sunday, the Rush came out firing in the final and scored the opening goal for the third straight game, courtesy of Austin Shanks. At the midpoint of the first quarter, they held a 3-2 lead. But that soon vanished as the Bandits went on a 5-0 run through the final three minutes of the first quarter and the opening five minutes of the second quarter. Story continues below advertisement Putting the Bandits up to a 7-3 lead were goals from Chris Cloutier, Ian MacKay, Kyle Buchanan and a pair from Josh Byrne. Saskatchewan, however, countered before halftime with Robert Church's first two goals of the series, as well as a Ryan Keenan marker to cut the Buffalo lead to 7-6 at the break. 2:07 Saskatchewan Rush stave off elimination with gutsy Game 2 victory in NLL Finals Coming out of halftime, however, the Bandits would take full control of the game, scoring six times in just over 11 minutes with Byrne and Cloutier completing hat-tricks. Dhane Smith also got on the board with a pair himself. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The Rush gave up two more goals in the fourth quarter from Buchanan and Cam Wyers and failed to find the back of the net themselves. At the end, they watched Buffalo raise the NLL Cup for a third-straight season. Scoring seven goals and 12 points over the course of the series, MacKay took home NLL finals MVP honours. Story continues below advertisement The Game 3 loss ends Saskatchewan's 2024-25 season, which saw the Rush return to NLL playoffs for the first time in six years and go 4-2 over the course of their run to the NLL championship series.
CBC
11-05-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Saskatchewan Rush heading to NLL championship final after dramatic OT win
For the first time since 2018, the Saskatchewan Rush are back in the National Lacrosse League championship final. Austin Shanks scored the game-winning goal in overtime Saturday night at Saskatoon's SaskTel Centre, giving the Rush a 10–9 victory over the Halifax Thunderbirds in Game 2 of their best-of-three semifinal. The win completed a 2–0 series sweep and sends Saskatchewan to the NLL final against the two-time defending champion Buffalo Bandits. Stunning comeback in final seconds The Rush were down 9–7 with under a minute to play in regulation when they pulled off one of the most dramatic comebacks in franchise history. Zach Manns scored with 44 seconds left to bring the Rush within one. Then, with under five seconds remaining, Matt Hossack tied the game off a turnover caused by Mike Messenger. In overtime, Saskatchewan earned a power play. Shanks, who spent several seasons with Halifax, scored his second goal of the night to send the Rush to the league final. WATCH | NLL recap of Saskatchewan Rush v. Halifax Thunderbirds: Saturday's win sets up a rematch of the 2016 championship, when the Rush defeated Buffalo to claim their second NLL title. The Rush last won the championship in 2018. Now, with home-turf advantage in Game 2, they'll look to reclaim the title in front of their fans at SaskTel Centre. The series begins Friday in Buffalo before shifting to Saskatoon on Sunday. If necessary, a deciding Game 3 is scheduled for Friday, May 24, back in Buffalo.
