Stealth Claim First With Win Over Roughnecks

The Washington Stealth (7-3) remained atop the West Division with a 12-11 win over the Calgary Roughnecks (5-4) at Pengrowth Saddledome on Friday night.

In a back and forth game that saw several huge shifts in momentum it was Luke Wiles' goal with less than a minute and a half remaining in the game that would prove to be the winner.

Wiles took the ball at the point, moved to the middle of the slot and rifled the ball between Roughnecks goalie Matt King. Wiles, who had three goals and an assist on the night, was quick to give credit to his team's defense.

"I think our D really stepped up and played really well when we needed them," Wiles said.

While the Stealth defense was good, Goaltender Matt Roik was spectacular in making 41 saves on 52 shots.

"Roik played the best game I've seen him play since we played together in junior," said Wiles.

The Stealth opened the scoring less than a minute in on a goal be Jeff Zywicki - his first of two in the frame - and quickly jumped out to a 4-1 lead.

"We were ready and prepared, and they were too. Sometimes a bounce goes your way," said Hall. "Last time we played them at home and we were down 10-1 before we knew it and I don't know if we were playing particularly poorly at the time."

The Roughnecks didn't get on the board until 12 and a half minutes into the first on a Tracey Kelusky blast from the point that beat Roik high on the short side. It was Kelusky's first of four in a row that tied the game up for Calgary. The Roughnecks captain totaled six goals on the evening.

"Tracey's an amazing guy, and he's on a pedestal with some of the greats that have played this game for a reason," said Roughnecks Head Coach Dave Pym. "He will trade all of those points and goals for a win."

The Stealth would go back up by three on a spectacular individual effort by Peter Morgan. Morgan started on Matt King's right doorstep, grabbed his own rebound and took it around to the back of the net. From just behind the back crease line Morgan dived and potted the ball in the left side of the net.

The lead was short lived as the Stealth would score two goals in the last five minutes to head into halftime with a 6-5 lead.

The Stealth quickly increased their lead early in the second half, scoring 35 seconds in and adding two more before the Riggers could mount a reply. Josh Sanderson found Dane Dobbie streaking through the middle of the Stealth defense to get the 'Necks back on track. Calgary would add one more before the end of the quarter to cut the lead to two and set up an intense fourth quarter.

The Stealth's number one ranked penalty kill was huge again, stopping the Roughnecks on five of six opportunities.

"We were down a couple of guys that normally play (shorthanded); it speaks to our depth," said Hall.

With the loss Calgary is now in third place in the division with the Edmonton Rush (6-3) winning tonight. In addition to maintaining first place in the division the Stealth now also hold the playoff tiebreaker over the Roughnecks.