The NLL Eastern division final is now set - Toronto hosts Rochester at the ACC on Friday, after Rochester held on to beat Buffalo 19-14 on Saturday night. The game was a lot closer than the final score indicates, sort of -- Rochester dominated for a while (it was 10-3 at one point), then let Buffalo catch up, getting as close as down by one (12-11). Then Rochester got 4 goals in under 2 minutes and put the game away. Former Bandit Mike Accursi was on fire, scoring 7 goals and adding an assist, while John Grant scored 4 and assisted on 4 others, and Shawn Williams got 3 and 2. Steenhuis scored 5 for Buffalo.
Rochester dominated the face-offs, and Steve Toll was back to his old self on transition - even the speedy Mark Steenhuis couldn't quite catch up to him. Pat O'Toole wasn't outstanding in net, but was better than Chugger, though it wasn't all his fault either. Buffalo swapped between him and Derek General a couple of times, but General was no better, and Buffalo fans weren't happy with his lack of hustle in getting to the bench on delayed penalties and such.
So Rochester will play Toronto on Friday, which is probably better for the Rock, in that Rochester has only won twice in Toronto - once in a meaningless game last year, and then there was the blowout earlier this year, but we don't like to talk about that one.
Predictions:
Toronto 17 Rochester 12
Calgary 15 Arizona 13
Toronto 18 Calgary 11
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