Sask. Rush clinch 1st in the west at sold out game

A night of chest-pounding, out-of-seat cheering wrapped a high-scoring final home game of the regular season for the Saskatchewan Rush.

The team secured home-floor advantage for the National Lacrosse League west division final, thanks to back-to-back wins over the Colorado Mammoth this weekend.

On Friday, the Rush earned an 11-5 win in Denver.

Then on Saturday, in front of more than 15,000 fans, the Rush rocked the Mammoth 11-8.

The boys in green blew open a 5-5 game at half time with a big third quarter by outscoring the Mammoth 6-2.

Ben McIntosh had three goals and two assists, while Dan Taylor and Mark Matthews also put up five points each for the Rush.

Curtis Knight had a hat trick for Saskatchewan.

“I thought our defence did a great job both nights. Holding a team to five points in lacrosse is amazing, so I think our defence is in fine form,” Knight said.

Fans will have to wait more than a month for another chance to watch the boys play SaskTel Centre.  

The Rush return home on May 21 against an undetermined opponent in the west final.

Rush captain Chris Corbeil said earning a first round bye in the playoffs is huge as the franchise goes for back-to-back titles.

“We knew that was one of our goals heading into this year was to win the west again, and we managed to do that,” said Corbeil.

“Once you get by that first round, which we are now, everything is multiple games series after that, which leaves a little less to chance.”

With two games remaining in the regular season, the team is not looking ahead to the playoffs yet.

The Rush are 12–4, while Buffalo has an 11–5 record in the NLL east.

Corbeil said they’re focused on these next two games and clinching home field advantage throughout the post-season.

“That’s the carrot,” he said.

The team visits Vancouver on Saturday.