The Saskatchewan Rush are set to face the Toronto Rock in the National Lacrosse League playoffs, with a single-elimination quarterfinal game scheduled for Saturday at 7 p.m. at SaskTel Centre. The third-seeded Rush will host the sixth-seeded Rock in a rematch of last Saturday's thrilling regular-season finale, which the Rush won 10-9 in overtime.
Path to the Playoffs
The Rush secured their playoff spot by reaching six wins faster than any previous season, fueling a nine-game winning streak that spanned two months. However, they stumbled late in the season, losing five of their last seven games. Despite this, the team finished with a 12-6 record, including a strong 7-2 mark at home.
The Rock, meanwhile, ended the regular season with an 11-7 record, going 6-3 at home and 5-4 on the road. Both teams have shown resilience, setting the stage for an intense postseason battle.
Key Players to Watch
Rush forward Ryan Keenan leads the team with 95 points this season, while Robert Church tops the goal-scoring charts with 37 goals in 18 games. On the Rock side, veteran Mark Matthews and rookie CJ Kirst share the team lead with 71 points each. Kirst, selected first overall in the 2025 NLL Draft, also leads the Rock with 34 goals.
In transition, Jake Boudreau has been a key contributor for the Rush with 22 points, while defenceman Ryan Barnable adds 13 points. Goaltender Frank Scigliano has been solid, posting a 12-5 record with 161 goals allowed on 765 shots. For the Rock, Sam English leads transition players with 28 points, and Latrell Harris anchors the defence with 14 points. Goaltender Nick Rose holds a 7-3 record, allowing 93 goals on 501 shots.
Recent Playoff History
The Rush missed the playoffs for three consecutive seasons from 2022 to 2024 but returned strong in 2025, defeating the Georgia Swarm 13-9 in a quarterfinal and then beating the Halifax Thunderbirds in a best-of-three semifinal. They ultimately lost to the Buffalo Bandits in the NLL finals in Game 3.
The Rock have faced playoff disappointment in recent years, with the Bandits eliminating them in the semifinals in 2022, 2023, and 2024. They did not qualify for the postseason in 2025.
The winner of Saturday's game will advance to a best-of-three series semifinal. With both teams hungry for a championship, fans can expect a high-stakes showdown at SaskTel Centre.
