Matthews scores game-winner to eliminate Rush from NLL playoff contention

For years, Mark Matthews was a star with the Saskatchewan Rush.

On Saturday, he helped eliminate the Saskatoon-based National Lacrosse League team from playoff contention.

Matthews, who was traded to the Toronto Rock in July, snapped an 11-11 tie with a goal at 5:28 of the fourth quarter to lift the Rock to a 12-11 win over Saskatchewan at SaskTel Centre. The loss dropped the Rush’s record to 8-10 and knocked the team out of the playoff picture.

Matthews — whom Rush general manager Derek Keenan called  “the best player in franchise history” at the time of the trade — had three goals and four assists in the contest.

Tom Schreiber added three goals and five assists for the Rock, which got two goals and three assists from Josh Dawick. Corey Small, Justin Martin, Dan Craig and Dan Lintner also scored for Toronto (15-3).

Mike Triolo scored three times for the Rush, which got two goals each from Robert Church and Nathanial Kozevnikov, and a goal and four assists from Ryan Keenan.

Clark Walter, Jake Boudreau and Jerrett Smith also scored for Saskatchewan.

The Rush entered the contest in a battle with the Panther City Lacrosse Club, New York Riptide and Vancouver Warriors for a playoff spot. All three of those other teams lost on the weekend, but the Rush needed a win over the Rock to have a shot at the post-season.