NLL Insider

Here’s a recap of today’s NLL media conference call that hyped up this week’s set of games. Just three are on the slate:

Thursday, January 31
San Jose at New York

Saturday, February 2
Portland at Edmonton
Minnesota at San Jose

San Jose (1-2) at New York (1-2) – Thursday, 7:30 PM EST

Both teams are coming into this match after losses last weekend and are hoping to pull their records to .500.

“I think they understand there’s a sense of urgency,” said San Jose President and GM, Johnny Mouradian. “Certainly to be at .500 or to be 1-3 is a big difference.

“But at the same time they have to relax, and they have to stay positive and focused. We have a very dangerous, dangerous offense.”

Led by Jeff Zywicki, Luke Wiles and Colin Doyle, the normally high-powered Stealth offense were held to just six goals in their last game. San Jose lost to Colorado 11-6 last weekend.

“This is going to come down to our offense being able to execute,” added Mouradian. “And our offense has to get off the floor as well to prevent transition. Both New York and Minnesota are very fast.”

The Stealth also play Saturday night when they host the undefeated Minnesota Swarm. But the Stealth are not over-looking New York.

Although New York’s only win of the season was 14-11 over Portland, the Titans have taken positive feedback from their recent losses to Buffalo and Toronto. New York’s led offensively by Casey Powell and Pat Maddalena.

“It would be a good confidence booster. I think that would be the most important thing for the guys,” said New York head coach Adam Mueller, if the team could reach .500 with a win.

“We think we’re better (than our 1-2 record). But you know what, winning games and closing games out is what’s going to make you a good team and (allow) you compete for a playoff spot. That’s the one piece I think we need to do; just learn how to drop the hammer on teams on offense, or tighten up a little bit on defense towards the end of games.”

New York took an 8-3 lead into the half against the Rock last weekend only to lose 14-10.

It’s the Titans’ first home game of the 2008 season.

Portland (0-3) at Edmonton (0-3) – Saturday, 9:30 PM EST

Both Portland and Edmonton come into this game winless on the season.

“We’re both desperate teams definitely coming into this weekend,” said Edmonton head coach Paul Day.

Portland suffered two losses last weekend, first to Colorado by a score of 12-11 and then to Calgary, 13-6. They are led offensively by Dan Dawson, Derek Malawsky and Ryan Powell.

“I think the Colorado game, to be honest, I thought we outplayed them for probably 90% of it,” said Portland’s head coach and GM Derek Keenan. “We kind of let it slip away and relaxed a bit when we were up 9-6. You just can’t do that in this league… But then in the Calgary game we weren’t very good.”

“I think we have the talent and the ability,” added Keenan. “It’s just a matter of them going out there and executing it, and just having fun with it. Yeah, we need to play with urgency and yeah it’s a big game, but you know, it’s still lacrosse and guys need to have fun with it.”

“We’re going to be a little less scripted with our offense… We just need to relax a little bit and play the game.” Keenan added he’s going to change the practice-up on Friday night and may start a couple new players.

Day noted that offensively he also wants his team to play with little less structure. Edmonton lost their game last weekend to Chicago by a score of 17-11. They’re led up-front by Mike Accursi, AJ Shannon and Jimmy Quinlan.

“Five-on-five every game we’ve either tied or won… We’re going to shorten up our offensive door and try to get the guys into a little better flow.

“We definitely want to play with a little more passion, a little more jam,” added Day. He commented that he wants both his goaltenders to be better, and hopes to reduce the transition opportunities they give up.

“We lost by six (goals) to Chicago, and we lost the transition game by six. The Toronto game was similar and the Colorado game was similar. We’ve actually out-chanced other teams in transition… and we haven’t been able to finish.”

The two teams have played one common opponent in Colorado. Edmonton opened their season with a 14-11 loss to the Mammoth, while Portland lost to Colorado 12-11 this past weekend.

This is the live radio game of the week on SIRIUS, Channel 143.

Minnesota (3-0) at San Jose (1-2, play Thursday) – Saturday, 10:30 PM EST

Minnesota has looked great to start the season. They let Rochester climb back in their game last weekend by allowing nine goals in the third-quarter alone, but still managed to pull out an 18-17 OT victory.

“We have our work cut out for us, and they have their work cut out for them as well,” said Stealth’s President and GM Johnny Mouradian.

Mouradian also noted that the Stealth will keep with their system of substituting players in and out of the line-up.

“Talking to Walt and our coaching staff we feel compared to the last couple of years, we have a lot of depth. And so, discussions are to try and share as much of the roster as we can over the first-quarter of the season. Just get everybody in there and take a look,” said Mouradian, noting they got Frank Resetarits, Zach Heffner and Todd Fairlie all in their first games last weekend.

“The key right now is to use our depth and get everybody in there and get them comfortable. And then come out of it with a hard roster that will take us through the season.”

“Every team has their strong ball players on offense and their strong ball players on defense, but it’s that whole middle of the pack that can really help.”

Minnesota’s become known as the team without superstars, but it’s obvious they have guys that can play. Sean Pollock was today named both the NLL Overall Player and Offensive Player of the week after scoring three goals and nine points in Minnesota’s overtime win over Rochester last weekend.

Offensively, Minny’s also led by Andy Secore, Ryan Ward and Craig Point. Nick Patterson has looked great as their undisputed starter in goal.

Swarm head coach Duane Jacobs joined the media call a little bit late so only two questions were asked of him.

The first reporter asked Coach Jacobs to comment on San Jose. Doug Fritts, VP of NLL Communications then poised the question, “If you’re able to win this game and move to 4-0, it would be quite an impressive achievement for this young team…”

“Certainly would be,” responded Jacobs. That wrapped up the call.

This game will aired live in the U.S. on Fox Sportsnet Bay Area, plus shown on DirecTV channel 654 and Dish Network channel 419.

All games are also available on B2 Networks via broadband broadcast on a pay-per-view basis for $7 each. Click on the NLL Insider’s ’Live Games’ link 10 minutes prior to the start of each game to catch all of the action.

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