By Craig Rybczynski/Jim Windle
ROCHESTER – The Rochester Knighthawks used a 49-save performance by Matt Vinc and the emotional lift of the return of Cody Jamieson to defeat the Toronto Rock 9-8 Saturday night at the Air Canada Centre.
Vinc was outstanding on a night that included his 6,000th career save. In the first quarter, he stopped a Rock transition opportunity to move into elite company that includes Anthony Cosmo, Bob Watson, Pat O’Toole and Dallas Eliuk.
“It signifies that I am getting older,” said the 34-year-old Vinc with a laugh. “To do it with Rochester, in front of a lot of family members, is definitely special. At the end of the game, it means a lot more that we got the win.”
The Knighthawks used a four-goal run in the second quarter to break open a 3-3 game. Joe Resetarits scored two of those goals, including a spectacular diving shot that eluded Nick Rose, to give the Knighthawks a 7-3 lead. Resetarits would complete the hat trick at 9:53 of the third to restore the four-goal edge. He finished the game with a team-high four points.
“Jackson gave me a nice cross-floor pass and I just put it in,” said Resetarits, describing his third of the night. “He gave me the great look and all I had to do was put it in the net.”
Jackson, who ended the game with three points, scored the eventual game-winner at 6:10 of the fourth as he fired an outside shot that beat Rose on the stick side. The Rochester rookie ended the night with two goals and one assist.
Rochester got off to a hot start as they tallied the game’s first three goals. Jarrett Davis scored just 27 seconds into the contest off a feed from Cody Jamieson, who finished the night with two assists in his return to the lineup. “Jammer” fired a pass across the floor to Josh Currier, who scored just over a minute later. When Brad Gillies scored in transition at 6:33, it was 3-0.
Currier and Jackson were two of four Knighthawks who finished the game with three-point efforts, joining Dan Dawson (0+3) and Dan Lomas (0+3). Dawson was making his return to the team after missing the last two contests. The game also marked the Knighthawks debut for Andrew Suitor and the pro debut for John Rae.
“It was a big win,” said Hasen. “We got a huge emotional boost from the guys coming back tonight, and we rode that right to the end. We hung on, but a win’s a win and we’ll take it.”
