This week is a very short schedule.. 3 games and only 5 teams in action. A lot is on the line as we make the push for the 2013 playoffs. Can Edmonton continue the torrid pace on the road? Can Calgary start winning at home and get back to the top of the West? Can the Rock roll and take advantage of a team playing back to back and win at home? Can the Bandits steal a win at home (2-4) against a Rush team that is 5-1 on the road? All this and more to be answered this week.
Saturday Night..
Edmonton Rush (6-5) vs Buffalo Bandits (5-6) right now the Rush are the hottest team in the NLL. Winners of 5 of their last 6 games and an outstanding 5-1 on the road they play twice this weekend on the road to finish their road tour for 2013. They face a struggling Bandit team who are on a three game losing skid. The Bandits have a lot of questions. Main question is, JT could we be seeing the end of a great career? Since his return from the calf injury he doesn’t seem to be the same. Did he push it when he played back to back in his return on Feb 28 & March 1st? Where is Mark Steehuis? Steehuis usually plays a main part in the offense, but thru 11 games he only has 7 goals and 14 assists (avg 1.9 pt a game), well below last years 27G/35A 62pts (3.875 avg a game), then add the release of Luke Wiles and placing him on practice squad and you have a team ripe for the picking. For Edmonton, rookie Mark Matthews is 7 goals away from tying the rookie record for goals (38- John Grant Jr). Matthews may do it this weekend, maybe in this game. But Matthews isn’t the only concern for the opponent. Zack Greer 17G, Ryan Ward 18G, Cory Small 19G are others you need to worry about.. So will the Rush hit 6-1? Can they take advantage of a seasoned but aging Bandit team? I say YES Edmonton wins easy 15-10
Colorado Mammoth (4-7) vs Calgary Roughnecks (6-5) In a game that means everything to both teams. The Mammoth come into Calgary on a two game winning streak, a new goalie at #1 in Tye Belanger, and a seasoned veteran in Casey Powell on the offense. Right now every game for the Mammoth is a playoff game as they are tied with the Swarm for the final spot, so no doubt they want to separate themselves from the tie. The road team has won both meetings. Jan 19 Colorado won 13-12 in OT, then on Jan 25 Calgary win 19-12 in Denver. Calgary is 2-3 at home where they usually dominate. What Calgary team will show up? Will it be a team who can score 19, or a team that lets up 19? I will take Calgary in a close one 11-10, but it wont surprise me if they get beat.
Sunday 3pm
Edmonton Rush (6-5) vs Toronto Rock (8-3). By the time this game comes it could be a matchup of division leaders should the Rush win Saturday night. Young Edmonton team, I don’t see any lag from playing the night before. For Toronto, a team that was hard to beat at home in years past carry a 3-2 record at home. Toronto is coming off a 13-8 win in Philadelphia last week to strengthen there hold in the East to 2.5 games. Yes Toronto is aging somewhat, but they always seem to get it done. Can the Rock defense hold the young and powerful Rush offense? Can they contain Matthews? For Edmonton, can they solve the Nick Rose mystery? With each save Nick’s wall gets stronger and stronger, Rush MUST capitalize on second and third chances as well on special teams. Can the Rush defense contain Colin Doyle, Garrett Billings, Kasey Biernes and company? This will be a great game to watch. Im going with the underdog and say the Rush sweep this weekend winning 13-11 over Toronto.
After this weekend we hit the final month of the regular season…Everyone strapped in? Crash helmets on? Its going to be a wild ride no matter where you are!
