Tonight is for all the marbles. Will Calgary win their third title? (2004, 2009)? Or will the Rochester Knighthawks be the first team to three-peat in the league’s 28-year history?
Here is what to look for in tonight’s finale of the 2014 season.
Calgary—For the Roughnecks to accomplish their mission they must play a carbon copy of Game 1. They never allowed the Knighthawks to get into any type of a rhythm, and used a few three-goal runs to keep them at an arms length. Dane Dobbie, Shawn Evans and Curtis Dickson were all vital in that game and must do the same. Mike Poulin was stellar in capturing the victory.
Should the Knighthawks win Game 2 and force the mini-game, Calgary must have a very short memory of the game and concentrate on the next 10 minutes. A carbon copy of Game 1 will bring the Roughnecks the Championship.
Rochester—For the Knighthawks, they must get into a rhythm immediately. They must keep the crowd in the game at all times making it hard for Calgary to hear themselves think. Cody Jamieson, Johnny Powless and Stephen Keogh must come up BIG, especially if “Dangerous Dan” Dawson is not in the lineup.
One thing the Knighthawks must not do is allow Calgary to get on a run. They must turn the tables on them and keep them at arms length. And they MUST NOT do what Edmonton did in the Division Finals and allow them to get on a roll at the end of the second game and carry it over to the mini-game. If the Knighthawks play a solid 60 minutes and control the game, we could see history in the making tonight.
Goalie Matt Vinc must play his game. NO need to come out and try to body check. Yes it was to try to get a spark going, but right now he can spark the team in between the pipes.
Either way this goes, it is sure to be another classic game to bring the 2014 NLL season to a close.
