Clutch Kings: Connor Fields is a key fourth-quarter contributor for Rochester

Connor Fields, Rochester Knighthawks

The Lax Mag’s Clutch Kings tracks an individual player’s game-tying, go-ahead and game-winning goals, then weighs them based on when they’re scored (first, second, third or fourth quarter, plus OT), but also in what on-floor situation they’re finished (even-strength, power-play or short-handed goals). The Clutch Kings countdown calculates the league’s most money goal scorer all season long, crowning the king at the conclusion of the current NLL campaign. Click here for a more detailed breakdown of Clutch Kings scoring.

Just like with this week’s NLL Player Rankings, Rochester’s Connor Fields takes over the #1 spot, bumping our opening leader Connor Robinson by just half a CKs point.

While Colorado’s Robinson, Buffalo’s Josh Byrne and Halifax’s Chris Boushy actually have more game-tying, go-ahead and game-winning goals combined, what has Fields at the top of the list is when his goals have been going in.

Fields has scored one GTG, one GAG and two GWGs in the fourth quarter this year, and that includes a critical score-evening finish in the fourth against the Buffalo Bandits last week, a sixth straight win (15-12) to open the season for Fields and the Rochester Knighthawks.

Even more impressive, all of Fields’ game-swinging or winning goals have been buried in even-strength situations.

Holden Cattoni, Thomas Hoggarth and Connor Fields

Other players that are tied with Fields’ two game winners this year, albeit most scored much earlier in games, are: Curtis Dickson (San Diego), Randy Staats (Halifax), Tom Schreiber (Toronto) and Matt Gilray (Rochester). Dickson does have one of the few OT winners so far this season. Albany’s Kieran McArdle and Colorado’s Rhys Duch also iced games during an extra frame in 2023.

While Fields has taken over the lead after Week 8, the most impressive goal-scoring heroics last weekend come courtesy of Las Vegas Desert Dogs captain, Rob Hellyer. Not even placing inside our Top 20ish last week, Hellyer scored two critical goals that helped the expansion Dogs clinch their historic first win.

With Las Vegas down 12-4 heading into the half against the Vancouver Warriors this past Friday night, the Desert Dogs launched an all-time comeback that Hellyer played a pivotal role in. With mere minute remaining in the fourth, Hellyer gave Vegas their first lead of the game with just four minutes to go in the fourth (he actually set up Zack Greer’s tying goal just before that too). Two minutes later, he would score the eventual winner - Vegas stunning Vancouver 15-14.

Rob Hellyer, Las Vegas Desert Dogs

Of Hellyer’s 30 points this year, just six have been goals. He’s clearly going for quality over quantity in that department, because of those six, three have been GTG, in addition to those previously mentioned fourth-frame-go-ahead and game-winning goals too. Those six goals have Hellyer tied for 58th overall in the NLL right now. He ranks fifth in Clutch Kings after his wicked Week 8 performance in Sin City.

This week’s updated leaderboard and scoring system…

NLL Clutch Kings: Week 8

CKs Rank. Player (NLL G Rank), Team, CKs Points (GTG/GAG/GWG)

1. Connor Fields (T2), Rochester, 15.50 (2/2/2)
2. Connor Robinson (T23), Colorado, 15.00 (2/4/1)
3. Josh Byrne (1), Buffalo, 10.75 (4/4/1)
4. Chris Boushy (T6), Halifax, 10.50 (3/4/0)
5. Rob Hellyer (T58), Las Vegas, 10.00 (3/1/1)
6. Joe Resetarits (T16), Philadelphia, 8.75 (0/4/1)
T7. Ryan Smith (T8), Rochester, 8.50 (0/4/1)
T7. Kieran McArdle (T23), Albany, 8.50 (1/1/1)
T9. Will Malcom (T10), Panther City, 8.00 (3/1/1)
T9. Colton Watkinson (T72), Albany, 8.00 (1/1/1)
T9. Curtis Dickson (T2), San Diego, 8.00 (0/0/2)
12. Randy Staats (T23), Halifax, 7.50 (0/1/2)
13. Wes Berg (T37), San Diego, 7.00 (2/0/1)
14. Holden Cattoni (T8), Rochester, 6.75 (2/1/1)
T15. Connor Kelly (T30), Albany, 6.50 (1/3/0)
T15. Zed Williams (T37), Colorado, 6.50 (3/0/1)
T15. Justin Scott (T94), Albany, 6.50 (1/2/0)
T18. Robert Church (T16), Saskatchewan, 6.00 (2/2/0)
T18. Rhys Duch (T81), Colorado, 6.00 (0/0/1)
20. Tom Schreiber (T2), Toronto, 5.50 (0/1/2)

Scoring System

First 3 Quarters (GTG/GAG/GWG)

Even-Strength Goal: 1.00/1.50/2.00
Power-Play Goal: 0.50/0.75/1.00
Short-Handed Goal: 2.00/3.00/4.00

Fourth Quarter (GTG/GAG/GWG)

Even-Strength Goal: 2.00/3.00/4.00
Power-Play Goal: 1.00/1.50/2.00
Short-Handed Goal: 4.00/6.00/8.00

Overtime (GWG)

Even-Strength Goal: 6.00
Power-Play Goal: 3.00
Short-Handed Goal: 12.00