Joe Resetarits could become the first American in 29 years to win the NLL scoring title.
The 28-year-old native of Hamburg, N.Y., scored three goals and assisted on 11 in Rochester’s 17-10 win in Buffalo on Saturday and the 14-point binge boosted his output to 64 points, tying him with Saskatchewan’s Mark Matthews for most points. Both have 23 goals and 41 assists 11 games into their 18-game schedules.
“Our offense is playing so well right now,” Resetarits said. “Anyone on the offense could have had that night. We’ve been moving the ball well, getting in the right spots, and finding people. It’s all about how good we’re working as a team. We’re playing good lacrosse right now.”
Three straight wins have rendered a six-game losing streak ancient history.
“We’re finding our identity,” Resetarits said.
The 11 assists were two shy of the single-game record of 13 set by Buffalo’s Mark Steenhuis on Feb. 14, 2009. Steenhuis’ 17 points that night also remain a league record.
Joe Resetarits put up 14 points for the @RocKnighthawks last night as they downed their rivals, the @NLLBandits.https://t.co/VRv6ZFrM2G pic.twitter.com/G34TjQlnlX
— NLL (@NLL) February 25, 2018
The last American to win the pro indoor scoring title was Syracuse University grad Brad Kotz, who had 34 points including 28 goals for the Philadelphia Wings in 1989 when teams played eight-game schedules in what was then known as the Major Indoor Lacrosse League.
Rochester coach Mike Hasen has been reluctant to alter his lineup since the winning streak began, which meant Dan Dawson, who is fifth on the all-time league points list, remained a healthy scratch as fellow right-side forward Resetarits thrived. Dawson was at games encouraging his teammates.
Knighthawks GM Curt Styres disliked seeing a player of Dawson’s stature left idle. So, on Monday, he traded Dawson, 36, a 17-year NLL veteran, to Saskatchewan for a second-round 2018 draft pick and a 2020 third-round pick.
“We won two championships with Dan and we are very grateful,” said Styres. “He is a class act and a team-first guy. He leads by example and shows the rookies the right way to conduct themselves. He is a Hall of Famer and the league’s Ironman. After thinking long and hard about it, we can’t have our cake and eat it, too. With Dan ready to play and being a scratch, for all he’s done for lacrosse he deserves to play.”
Resetarits and the rest of the Knighthawks are sad to see Dawson go.
“Dan is one of the best players to ever play the game if not the best,” Resetarits said. “I’ve been very fortunate to play with Dan. He’s made me the player I am.”
Resetarits was Dawson’s teammate in Brampton in Ontario’s summer league before he joined the Knighthawks.
“Playing as a young kid with him in Brampton, he took me under his wing. I owe a lot to him. I’ve always looked up to him, not just in lacrosse but in life. He can take over a game at the drop of a hat. He’s a great leader and one of the nicest guys around.”
Resetarits followed older brother Frank, a former NLL player, to St. Catharines, Ontario, to play junior box lacrosse in his teens and that decision laid the groundwork for his impactful play in the NLL today. His coaches were Mike Accursi, the former Knighthawks player and current assistant coach, and Eric Vinc, the older brother of Knighthawks goalie Matt Vinc. Teammates who went on like Resetarits to NLL careers from the Jr. A Athletics include Corey Small, Danny Coates, Joel McCready, Ian Llord and Tyler Burton.
Matt Vinc was outstanding again Saturday. The way he was playing, there was no way the Bandits were going to overcome a 9-2 Rochester lead.
“He might be the best goalie to ever play,” Resetarits saidof the five-time winner of the award for goaltender of the year. “He’s done it all. He’s the reason why we’re winning games. He’s holding teams under 10 and our offense is playing well. When he’s on like that, all we have to do is put the ball in the net. He’s always ready. There’s not many guys who can do what he does, stand on his head like that. All year, he’s been on top of his game.”
The prospect of having right-handed attackers Resetarits and Tom Schreiber together for the 2019 FIL World Indoor Lacrosse Championship in Langley, British Columbia, has to put a smile on the face of U.S. coach Regy Thorpe.
5-for-5 Power Play
After defeating Calgary 10-6, overall leader Saskatchewan has seven games remaining in its schedule to nail down home-floor advantage in the playoffs. The latest win made the Rush the first to clinch a playoff berth.
Saskatchewan, 9-2, now has won 10 of its last 11 regular-season games with Calgary. Only two Roughnecks, Wes Berg and Curtis Dickson, were able to put balls behind goaltender Evan Kirk.
“Our defense was huge in front of me and that gave me a lot of confidence,” Kirk said.
A 5-for-5 power play subdued the ‘Necks.
Never Give Up
New England was down 4-0 against Vancouver and rallied to win 12-11 in overtime and move into a tie with idle Toronto for second place in the NLL East.
Stephan Leblanc was the hero. His fourth goal of the night in extra time saved the Black Wolves from tumbling into the division basement. Aaron Bold’s 50 saves factored into the important win. How important? Coach Glenn Clark’s club had lost three in a row. A fourth would have aggravated an already-tense situation.
Johnny Powless, acquired from Georgia earlier in the week, scored twice in his debut with the Black Wolves. If he can keep producing from the left side, the offense will be much more threatening.
All About the Kids
Despite the overtime loss that dropped them to 1-10, Vancouver Stealth players stuck around interacting with fans on Stealth Experience Night. They gave their all on the green carpet then thanked those who came to watch. Good for them.
“All of these kids are here to support us,” said captain Matt Beers. “We may have come up on the wrong end of the score sheet but your night gets a lot better when you can do stuff like this. We really want to play hard for the fans and show them that they are important to us. Right now, it’s all about the kids here. It’s what really gives us the drive to keep going.”
Sentiments like that are worthy of admiration regardless of a team’s won-lost record.
Trade Repurcussions
Buffalo will soon reap dividends from a trade made on Sept. 22, 2014.
The Bandits sent Rory Smith, Eric Penney and the 12th slot (Conrad Chapman) in the entry draft to Vancouver for Nick Weiss, that year’s ninth pick (Brandon Goodwin), a second-round 2015 pick (Tony Malcolm) and a 2018 first-rounder.
If Vancouver finishes last overall this season, which appears almost certain now, Buffalo will take Vancouver’s place in the No. 3 slot behind expansion teams San Diego and Philadelphia come September.
Save Percentages
Save percentages of goaltenders who have played more than 300 minutes:
Player |
Team |
Save Percentage |
| Christian Del Bianco | Calgary | .809 |
| Matt Vinc | Rochester | .789 |
| Evan Kirk | Saskatchewan | .783 |
| Dillon Ward | Colorado | .778 |
| Nick Rose | Toronto | .773 |
| Alex Buque | Buffalo | .759 |
| Aaron Bold | New England | .758 |
| Eric Penney | Vancouver | .753 |
| Mike Poulin | Georgia | .752 |
Week 13
Four games are on tap. Georgia and Colorado each play twice. NLL East standings are so tight that last-place Georgia could jump into a tie for first place with Buffalo if it wins both of its games and the Bandits lose their one.
FRIDAY
COLORADO (5-3) at GEORGIA (4-5) 7:35 p.m. ET
Both teams were idle last weekend. This will be the second and last meeting. Colorado won 14-11 in Denver on Dec. 23.
Offense: Colorado fifth (13 goals/game); Georgia sixth (12.11/game).
Defense: Colorado third (11.63/game); Georgia sixth (13.67/game).
Colorado is 3-1 on the road. Georgia is 2-2 at home.
Colorado has never won in Georgia. The last Mammoth road win against the Swarm was 20-13 on Jan. 3, 2015, in Minnesota.
SATURDAY
GEORGIA (4-5 before Friday) at TORONTO (5-4) 7 p.m. ET
Both teams were idle last weekend. This will be the second of three meetings. Georgia won at home 14-13 in overtime Feb. 17. They’ll meet again April 8 in Georgia.
Offense: Toronto first (14.78/game); Georgia sixth (12.11/game).
Defense: Toronto fourth (11.89/game); Georgia sixth (13.67/game).
Georgia is 2-3 on the road. Toronto is 3-2 at home.
The Swarm power play efficiency rate of 37.9 per cent is poorest in the league but it might break loose in Toronto given Rock penalty killing has been atrocious.
The last time Georgia played in Toronto, last May 13, the Swarm won the opening game of the NLL East final 11-8.
A Toronto win this weekend, couple with a Buffalo loss, would move the Rock into a first-place tie with the Bandits.
VANCOUVER (1-10) at SASKATCHEWAN (9-2) 8:30 p.m. ET
Vancouver is coming off a 12-11 home overtime loss to New England. Saskatchewan became the first team to clinch a playoff berth when it beat visiting Calgary 10-6 last Saturday.
Offense: Saskatchewan second (14.55/game); Vancouver ninth (10.27/game).
Defense: Saskatchewan first (10.82/game); Vancouver ninth (15.09/game).
Vancouver is 1-5 on the road. Saskatchewan is 3-1 at home. The No. 1 Rush power play is operating at 75 per cent efficiency.
This will be the third of four meetings. Saskatchewan won 11-9 at home on Feb. 3 and 16-9 on the road on Feb. 10. They’ll square off again on April 13.
The Stealth last won in Saskatoon, 13-11, on Jan. 15, 2016.
BUFFALO (6-4) at COLORADO (5-3 before Friday game) 9 p.m.
Buffalo had won four in a row before losing 17-10 at home to Rochester last Saturday. The Bandits will have a morning shootaround in Denver while Mammoth players are flying home from Atlanta.
Offense: Buffalo third (13.8/game); Colorado fifth (13/game).
Defense: Colorado third (11.63/game); Buffalo seventh (13.7/game).
Buffalo is 3-2 on the road. Colorado is 2-2 at home.
This will be the only meeting this season. The last time they met, Colorado won 12-8 in Buffalo on Dec. 30, 2016. Buffalo’s last win in Denver, by a 16-9 score, was on Jan. 18, 2014.
BYES: ROCHESTER (5-6), NEW ENGLAND (5-4), CALGARY (4-6)
Time Travel
March 5, 2009: Dallas Eliuk and Jim Veltman were inducted into the NLL Hall of Fame in a ceremony in Denver.
March 2, 2012: John Grant Jr. of the Colorado Mammoth became the third player in NLL history to score 500 goals, joining Gary Gait and John Tavares.