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Saskatchewan Rush heading to NLL championship final after dramatic OT win

For the first time since 2018, the Saskatchewan Rush have advanced to the National Lacrosse League championship final. Austin Shanks scored the game-winning goal in overtime Saturday night in Saskatoon, giving the Rush a 10–9 victory over the Halifax Thunderbirds in Game 2 of their best-of-three semifinal.

Rush erase late deficit to sweep Halifax and advance to league final for first time since 2018

Jeffery Tram · CBC News ·
The Saskatchewan Rush host the Vancouver Warriors at Sask Tel Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, February 25, 2023
The Saskatchewan Rush will face the Buffalo Bandits in the NLL championship final beginning on May 16. (Saskatchewan Rush)

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.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jeffery Tram

Reporter

Jeffery is a reporter with CBC Saskatchewan in Regina. He previously worked at CBC Toronto as an associate producer. You can reach him at jeffery.tram@cbc.ca.

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