The NALL is a little bit different than it was early this week. Now each team has nine games instead of ten and the playoff picture is different. Boston is in, leaving one spot left, which will be Kentucky or Baltimore.
Kentucky will not be traveling to Boston again this season. They host Boston next week, but it’s the games against Baltimore that are vital. If they win tomorrow then they are at 3-3 and Baltimore will be 3-4, leaving Kentucky with tiebreakers and in a playoff spot for the first time all season. If they lose, they’d have a tough road ahead.
Kentucky loses one of their best offensive players in Mike McClellan who signed in the NLL this week. But if there’s one thing we learned about Baltimore last week was their weakness to outside shots. Travis Bland and Jesse Guerin could see big days.
One other thing we have learned about these teams is how spectacular Patrick Crosby played against them where he faced around 70 shots and made over 50 saves. Does he get the start this week in Baltimore? He looked good in his sole start this season.
Whoever they face, Baltimore needs to take strong and smart shots, if for anything else to just limit transition chances for Kentucky. Last game Matt Hickman and others allowed too many wide shots to happen leading to transition goals for Boston. They need to get the ball into the hands of Dan Deckelbaum and Andrew Wasik.
The defenses for both teams need to stand up. Baltimore left goaltender Ginny Capicchioni out to dry last game and later on, Adam Miller. Capicchioni has had a great season despite the shaky defense, they need to not allow Kentucky open shooting lanes from the point.
For Kentucky, they need to stick to their system and play team defense. Their defenders need to stay on their man and be patient to allow the system to work into place. They can’t leave their goaltender on an island.
This is the biggest game in the young history of the North American Lacrosse League. Both teams should be up for this one, and based on past results, this should be a high flying, high paced game.
