Clutch Kings: NLL’s all-time, extra-frame finishers
John Grant, Colorado Mammoth (Photo: Larry Palumbo)
In our weekly clutch countdown, Ben McIntosh still has a slim lead over Lyle Thompson, while players like Austin Staats, Robert Church, Tehoka Nanticoke, Patrick Dodds and Kyle Killen made major strides on the Clutch Kings leaderboard after big money performances last week.
Hours after mentioning Jeff Teat hadn’t produced many money goals in our Clutch Kings Rookie Special, the Riptide rook rifled a huge go-ahead and then late game-winning goal against the Toronto Rock. Confirmed: The ROTY & MVP contender is clutch too. Extremely.
First-year forwards Nanticoke & Dodds, both featured prominently in last week’s Clutch Kings countdown, again iced games in dramatic dub-defining performances with fourth-quarter GWers of their own. In fact, Nanticoke is now tied for the league lead with three game-winning goals for the Buffalo Bandits this year.
Last week the 2022 season also saw its eighth game decided in OT when Church finished his fifth of the night during an extra-frame thrilled in the Saskatchewan’s Rush’s much-needed W against the Colorado Mammoth.
Jeff Shattler, Robert Church and Ryan Keenan, Saskatchewan Rush
As we found out in recent weeks, Church has scored more recorded game winners in this league than most, last Saturday’s scorcher the 16th of his very-clutch career. Church’s Week 13 winner was, however, his first-ever finish in OT.
Our GOAT edition of the Clutch Kings has been by far our most popular post of the series. That article started some good debate on social media too, including long-time teammates Lewis Ratcliff & Rhys Duch cheerfully chirping one another for where they ranked. Duch asked, “Would love to see how many of these were actually in OT or last minute?” Well…
Duch actually sits tied for second all-time in recorded OT winners, not so shockingly, John Grant is fairly easily first on that list.
Lewis Ratcliff, Rhys Duch and Brett Bucktooh, Washington Stealth (Photo: Larry Palumbo)
Of the 163 regular season National Lacrosse League games decided in OT since 2005 (the first season the league officially recorded more-detailed individual player stats in games, more on that in GOAT edition), 106 different players have ended a game in an extra frame.
Before we jump into our Week 13 updated Clutch Kings leaderboard, here are the 34 players that have scored two or more times in OT since 2005. And yes, Sean Pollock is there, again. And yes, Sean Pollock was clutch AF.
7
John Grant
4
Rhys Duch, Corey Small, Dan Dawson, Stephan Leblanc, Shawn Evans, John Tavares and Sean Pollock
3
Adam Jones, Callum Crawford, Ryan Benesch and Johnny Powless
2
Aaron Wilson, Ben McIntosh, Blaze Riorden, Brett Hickey, Brodie Merrill, Chase Fraser, Cody Jamieson, Colin Doyle, Curtis Dickson, Gavin Prout, Jamie Taylor, Jordan Hall, Josh Sanderson, Kevin Crowley, Kyle Jackson, Lewis Ratcliff, Luke Wiles, Mitch Jones, Peter Morgan, Ryan Cousins, Sean Morris and Zack Greer
NLL Clutch Kings: Week 13
CKs Rank. Player (NLL G Rank), Team, CKs Points (GTG/GAG/GWG)
1. Ben McIntosh (T7), Philadelphia, 15.50 (1/5/0)
2. Lyle Thompson (T2), Georgia, 15.00 (6/0/2)
3. Austin Staats (T20), San Diego, 14.50 (5/3/1)
4. Robert Church (T7), Saskatchewan, 14.25 (4/2/1)
T5. Connor Kearnan (T5), New York, 14.00 (6/1/1)
T5. Stephan Leblanc (T75), Halifax, 14.00 (1/1/2)
T5. Tehoka Nanticoke (T20), Buffalo, 14.00 (1/2/3)
T8. Blaze Riorden (T45), Philadelphia, 13.25 (2/3/1)
T8. Eli McLaughlin (T20), Colorado, 13.25 (3/2/3)
T10. Josh Byrne (T25), Buffalo, 13.00 (2/5/1)
T10. Patrick Dodds (T39), Panther City, 13.00 (2/0/2)*
T12. Dan Dawson (T51), Toronto, 12.00 (2/1/2)
T12. Ryan Benesch (T7), Albany, 12.00 (1/3/1)
14. Andrew Kew (T13), Albany, 11.50 (3/5/0)
15. Wes Berg (T7), San Diego, 11.25 (2/5/2)
16. Chris Boushy (T36), Halifax, 11.00 (0/2/3)
T17. Brett Hickey (T30), Philadelphia, 10.75 (3/2/1)
T17. Kyle Killen (T17), Vancouver, 10.75 (3/4/0)
T17. Zach Herreweyers (T51), Calgary, 10.75 (2/1/2)
20. Jacob Ruest (T30), Albany, 10.00 (0/3/1)
21. Dan Craig (T25), Toronto, 9.50 (1/3/1)
22. Matt Rambo (T25), Philadelphia, 9.50 (3/1/1)
T23. Jesse King (T51), Calgary, 9.00 (3/2/1)
T23. Reid Reinholdt (T39), Toronto, 9.00 (4/4/0)
T23. Zach Manns (T62), Toronto, 9.00 (2/3/0)
*Rookie
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
4th 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