As we get set for another exciting weekend of indoor lacrosse action, there are a number of stories to watch. It all starts tonight!
Calgary (4-2) @ Toronto (5-2) 7:30pm. This game will be for the #1 spot overall in the NLL. The Roughnecks are riding a four game winning streak, three of them on the road. They are looking for revenge as the Rock went to Calgary and defeated them in the opener for both teams. This is the first of back to back road games this weekend for the Roughnecks as they will face Minnesota on Saturday night 7pm. A weekend sweep of victories for the Roughnecks will put them at 6-2 at the halfway mark of the season. This is big for one reason. Five of the Roughnecks final eight games are at home. Curtis Dickson is on a roll, can he continue his Superman like efforts this weekend. For Toronto this game is vital as they are coming off a 13-12 OT loss to the Swarm. The Rock hold a 1.5 game lead over the Hawks & Bandits. A loss by the Rock and either the Hawks or Bandits can be within a half game of first in the east. Look for the Rock to come out quick on there home floor. Captain Colin Doyle along with Billings, Leblanc, Biernes, Manning and Sanderson all look to lead the offense. Jesse Gamble (T) has been on fire for the Rock in leading the transition game. Goaltender Nick Rose has been outstanding so far this season. This is a game you do not want to miss as this will be some fantastic action tonight. The Rock are on a bye next week. Calgary travels to Washington next week.
Washington (4-3) @ Edmonton (1-4) 9pm Last season this matchup was a sleeper as both teams struggled to get the final spot in the playoffs. This season the Stealth have already matched the number of wins from 2012 and sit only a half game from the top spot in the west. Athan Iannucci, Lewis Ratcliff and Rhys Duch have shown why they are very dangerous on the floor. Goaltender Tyler Richards has also been on his game of late in leading this new Stealth team. The Rush may be 1-4, but all four of there loses have been by a total of 7 goals. The biggest margin of defeat was by 3 to Calgary. This is not your 2012 Rush team from last season. They have been in every game this year and once they get clicking on all cylinders this team will be a tough one to beat. This is the final match-up between the teams in the regular season as the series is tied at one game apiece. Look for Mark Matthews, Ryan Ward and Curtis Knight to spark the offense. Rush then travel to Colorado for a matchup Saturday night.
Washington hosts Calgary next week, and Edmonton will have another back to back weekend vs the Swarm
Calgary (4-2) @ Minnesota (2-3) 7pm Calgary will be coming off a Friday night game in Toronto as they come into the Hive. Will they have the legs to go back to back and face a fast Swarm?? Minnesota sits only a game and a half out so they will be firing on all cylinders knowing this game can bring them closer to the top of the west. Rookies Shayne Jackson, Kiel Matisz, Brock Sorenson, and Alex Crepinsek have shown they can play in the NLL and continue to play at a high level. Ryan Benesch leads the team in goals, assists and points, so look for Ryan to run on a possibly tired Calgary team.
Next Week the Swarm have a home-home series with the Rush
Edmonton (1-4) @ Colorado (2-3) 9pm Edmonton comes to town after facing the Stealth on Friday night. Will they have enough in the tank to face a emerging Mammoth team? The Mammoth after struggling at the start of the season may be back on track. They first want to avenge last weeks 13-6 thumping by the Stealth. Colorado will be rested and on their home floor. Look for Grant Jr, Prout, Hawksbee, and Pollock to fill the net along with 2012 Rookie of the Year Adam Jones. Goaltender Matt Roik looks to get back on track as he defends his crease this week, This will be an exciting game as well seeing the Rush have lost 4 games by a total of 7 goals.
Next Week the Rush have a second consecutive weekend of back to back games, this time both against the Swarm. Colorado will travel to Philly to face the Wings on Sunday
Buffalo (3-3) @ Rochester (3-3) This is a rematch from last weeks game were the Knighthawks beat the Bandits 15-7 in Buffalo, returning the favor from when the Bandits ruined the banner ceremony night for the Hawks by winning on their floor. The Hawks return home at 3-3 after winning both games last weekend by a total count of 35-17. Dangerous Dan Dawson was exactly that last weekend. Dawson had 11 total points prior to last weekend; at the end of the two games he now has 27 points. Cody Jamieson leads the Hawks in scoring, and goaltender Matt Vinc is getting back to the form that led the Knighthawks to the title in 2012. The Bandits also 3-3 will now go into Rochester to face a hot Hawk team. They will be doing this again without John Tavares who was placed on the IR effective Feb 2nd. Buffalo needs Steenhuis, Williams, Wilson, and Wiles to step up big this weekend. Steenhuis & Wiles are averaging two point a game thru six games and have ten goals total between them. Aaron Wilson and Dhane Smith (10/9 goals) respectively lead the team.. Earlier this week the Bandits went and signed Scotty Komer to back up Anthony Cosmo, thus releasing Kurtis Wagar( according to NLL transaction wire) we know Wagar went to Buffalo on Monday for an MRI, and believe the injury was severe enough to end Wagars season. A Hawk win gives them a four game winning streak, a loss and they need to regroup before the Wings come to town for revenge. A Bandit win, and they go into a bye week at 4-3 and hope Tavares returns for the 28th, a loss and they will have 11 days to answer questions.
Next week Rochester is home as they host the Wings. Buffalo is off til Feb 28th Thursday as they go to Toronto, then March 1st Wings are back to face them in the season tiebreaker.
All these questions and more to be answered this week! Who said lacrosse isn’t exciting! And think…We have 9 more weeks just of the regular season!
