The Vancouver Stealth (2-2) look to stay unbeaten at home this weekend as they face the Edmonton Rush (3-0). This is the first time in franchise history the Rush have started at 3-0. The Rush have two wins over the Mammoth and last week’s decisive 15-8 win over Calgary.
The Stealth are well-known to the Rush especially when it comes to their offensive standouts. In the last two wins by the Stealth over the Rush, Lewis Ratcliff and Rhys Duch have been a thorn in the Rush’s side. Duch has collected 12 points (6 G, 6 A) in the last two wins over Edmonton including last season’s playoff victory.
This Rush team is different than past teams. So far in three games they have scored 45 goals (15 per game) and only allowed 24 (eight per game). In only three games, goaltender Aaron Bold is putting his name in not only for Goaltender of the Year (8.00 GAA), but also a shot at MVP.
The Stealth will face last season’s rookie of the year Mark Matthews, who leads the team with 21 points. The Stealth have been getting some great production so far this season from their rookies: Cody Bremner (5 G, 5 A), Tyler Digby (8 G, 5 A), and Nick Weiss. Weiss played in his first career NLL game last week against the Roughnecks and registered his first career goal.
Duch leads the Stealth with 11 G, 9 A heading into this week’s matchup. This will be the first meeting since the Stealth knocked off Edmonton in round one of the 2013 playoffs, with a thrilling 12-11 victory.
Next weekend the Edmonton Rush start their matchups against the teams in the east. Rochester on Feb. 1, at Philadelphia on the eighth, at Minnesota on the 15th, then home against the Rock on the 28th.
For the Stealth after this week, five of their next six games are on the road. Jan 31 @ Toronto, Feb 1 @ Philadelphia, Feb 8th Colorado, Feb 14 @ Colorado, Feb 15 @ Calgary, March 8 @ Edmonton.
This is sure to be a game you don’t want to miss.
