BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Captain Colin Doyle had four goals and four assists -- including a hat trick in the fourth quarter -- as the Toronto Rock hung on to down the Buffalo Bandits 14-12 on Saturday in National Lacrosse League action.
Garrett Billings had two goals and five assists as the Rock (5-1) won their third game in a row, improving on their league-best record.
Scott Evans and Stephan Leblanc both had a pair of goals for Toronto, while Rob Marshall, Blaine Manning, Josh Sanderson and Kasey Beirnes chipped in as well.
Mark Steenhuis and Aaron Wilson both scored three times for Buffalo (3-2), while Shawn Williams had a power-play goal and four assists.
Nick Cotter, Scott Self, Mike Hominuck, David Brock and Dhane Smith all added singles for the Bandits.
Nick Rose made 45 saves to earn the win for the Rock, while Anthony Cosmo stopped 32 shots for Buffalo.
Toronto led 9-8 at the start of the fourth.
Doyle had a short-handed goal from just within Buffalo's restraining line just a minute into the quarter to make it 10-8. The Rock then killed the rest of their penalty to get to even strength.
Sanderson made it 11-8 for the Rock with 11:42 remaining in the fourth.
Steinhuis scored despite having his helmet knocked off by Toronto defenceman Damon Edwards to cut the Rock's lead to 11-9.
Edwards was given a five-minute penalty for illegal cross-checking and was ejected from the game. Williams promptly scored on the ensuing power play.
Doyle had another short-handed goal at the 7:19 mark to extend Toronto's lead. The Rock captain then completed his fourth-quarter hat trick with a goal right on the crease, making it 13-10.
Steinhuis scored on a running shot to keep Buffalo in the game, narrowing the score to 13-11.
Billings quickly replied for Toronto to make it 14-11 with 3:23 to play. That three-goal lead was brief, however, as Self had a short-handed goal for the Bandits to make it 14-12.
The Rock held off a pressing Buffalo attack for the remaining two and a half minutes of play.
Toronto was 4 for 6 on the power play, while the Bandits went 3 for 6.
