On Saturday the Durham TurfDogs will take on the Toronto Shooting Stars in the most anticipated Canadian Lacrosse game of the year. This Final Four matchup will feature several of the game’s top players as well as some of the toughest guys in the league; a lethal combination that would make any lacrosse fan salivate.
Toronto has lost four of their last five games and have looked shaky since losing their starting goalie Angus Dineley to the National Lacrosse League’s Philadelphia Wings. Ironically, Durham has been on fire since acquiring netminder Kevin Croswell; the same man that Dineley replaced in Philly. Goaltending will most likely be the difference in this game and Gary Muzzin needs to have a solid start for Toronto to be successful in this semi final game.
Toronto has some of the best offensive players in the league but they’ve been inconsistent throughout the year. One night (1st team all-star) Mack O’Brien will be on fire, the next night Brad Levick and then we’ll see Aaron Grayson light it up the following game. These three superstars are rarely all on at once which has hurt Toronto at times this season. If the big three all show up to play on Saturday, the TurfDogs could be in trouble.
These teams started the year with a home and home series that saw the visiting team win each game by a goal. The rubber match took place on March 4th in a game that Toronto took 11-7 and it was also the last time these two met. Toronto jumped out to an early 5-1 lead in that game and Durham was forced to play catch up for the rest of the night. They came to within a goal late in the third quarter but Toronto scored three in row after that to put the game to bed.
Durham boasts the hardest shooter in the league in Shane Scott who is coming off a four goal game in the quarter finals last weekend. Scott had 47 points (31 goals, 16 assists) in the regular season and it was a shock that he was snubbed from the CLax all-star teams that were released earlier this week. The only Durham player to make the list was captain Mitch Dumont who hasn’t racked up the points (1g 15a) but has been strong at both ends of the floor, especially in the defensive zone.
We’ve been treated to some great games this season but Saturday’s Final Four matchup should take the cake. Toronto is ranked 2nd and Durham 5th but these teams finished just two parts apart in the standings and are very evenly matched. This game can be heard live at 4pm on The Lacrosse Radio Network; the link can be found on the top right of the In Lacrosse We Trust homepage.
