The Calgary Roughnecks have won four of their last seven games and are in a National Lacrosse League playoff position for the first time this season.
The Roughnecks hung to defeat the West Division-leading Edmonton Rush 9-8 Friday night in Calgary. The win moved Calgary (5-10) a half-game ahead of the Vancouver Stealth (4-9) into the fourth and final playoff spot.
Curtis Dickson led the way for the Roughnecks with four goals and one assist, scoring the game-winner while shorthanded with 2:55 to play in the fourth quarter.
Ed McIntosh made it a one-goal game again with 2:29 left but that's as close as the Rush could get. Edmonton (9-5) fought back from an 8-3 deficit with four unanswered goals in the first eight minutes of the fourth quarter. Dickson's fourth of the game and league-leading 43rd of the season at 12:05 stopped the bleeding for Calgary.
Shawn Evans scored three goals and added an assist for the Roughnecks to increase his season totals to 39 goals and 70 assists. He leads the NLL in scoring with 109 points in 15 games.
Edmonton outshot the Roughnecks 49-42.
Veteran Roughnecks defenceman Jeff Moleski of Prince George missed his third straight game since going down with an injury in a game against the Toronto Rock, March 28 in Calgary. The 33-year-old Moleski was moved off the injured reserve list earlier this week and was returned to the active roster on Wednesday but did not dress for Friday's game.
He could see action tonight in Edmonton in a rematch of the Battle of Alberta.
The Roughnecks went 0-6 to start the season, losing two of their first six in overtime.
In other NLL action Friday in Toronto, the Rock doubled the Stealth 14-7.
Brett Hickey broke a Rock team record for goals in a game with seven and also picked up four assists. Three Rock players had six-point nights including Kevin Crowley (3g, 3a), Kevin Ross (2g, 4a) and Josh Sanderson (6a). Tyler Digby (2g)and Corey Small (1g, 2a) led the Stealth.
The Stealth continues its road trip tonight in Uncasville, Conn., against the New England Black Wolves.
