The thunderbirds maintained their perfect record (3-0) in NLL through a slugfest in overtime against the Rock with a final score of 14-13. Thanks to the game-winning hat trick by Stephan Leblanc!
Playing in his first full game of the season, Austin Shanks was a man on a mission. He led the team with eight points (5G, 3A), his fifth of the night forcing overtime.
The 1st two quarters were already a battle as both teams trade goals and runs started by Shanks and Chris Boushy with four goals. Eric Fannell had the final word of the half as he streaked off the bench, received a pass from Ryan Terefenko making his NLL debut, and scored the transition goal with the Thunderbirds leading at halftime 8-6.
Boushy opened the second half’s scoring, but another three-goal Rock run tied up the game at nine goals apiece. Boushy bookended the quarter, also scoring his off the bench. The third frame ended with the Thunderbirds up 10-9.
A quick trade of goals to start the fourth kept a little distance for the Rock, but back-to-back goals for Zach Manns gave the home team their first lead of the night. Shanks would tie it up at 12, then Dan Dawson, becoming the second player in NLL history to play in 300 games, earned his second point with a goal, taking sole possession for second-most points in league history.
Shanks refused to let history dictate the game, however, and his fifth tally of the night sent this game to overtime. It was a back-and-forth battle of free lacrosse, but nearly nine minutes in, Leblanc ran a circuit towards the right side, whipping the ball past Rock goalie Troy Holowchuk for the game-winner.
More to this story at https://www.halifaxthunderbirds.com/news/detail/thunderbirds-improve-to-3-0-outlasting-the-rock-in-overtime-slugfest#:~:text=Thunderbirds%20Improve%20to%203%2D0%2C%20Outlasting%20the%20Rock%20in%20Overtime%20Slugfest,-Jan%2015%2C%202022&text=HAMILTON%2C%20Ontario%20(January%2015%2C,the%202021%2D22%20NLL%20season.
