NLL Insider

This post previews this weekend’s up-coming games. There are three games on the slate, all on Saturday.

Week #14 Schedule (All Times Eastern)

Saturday, March 29
Minnesota at Chicago - 8:00 PM
Philadelphia at Rochester - 8:05 PM
San Jose at Edmonton - 9:30 PM

Minnesota at Chicago

Chicago (2-7) is last place in the Eastern Division, but they’re coming off a 12-11 win over Rochester and are getting players back that missed earlier games. The ‘Rox were led last weekend by Jonas Derks (4g, 1a) and Cody Jacobs (3g, 2a)- two forwards who have played just nine games combined this season.

Minnesota (7-3) has enjoyed a stronger start, led by Craig Point (21g), Ryan Ward (20g) and Andy Secore (16g), and they currently sit second in the East. This is the second of four meetings between the two clubs. Minnesota won 13-9 over Chicago back on March 14, in a game in which they led 8-2 at the half. The Swarm haven’t played since then.

“They’re going to come and play hard,” said Minnesota head coach Duane Jacobs of Saturday’s match-up. And you don’t have to look back any further than last week to know any team can win on any given night in the NLL.

“We’re in the heat of a playoff battle with everybody seemingly in the hunt,” said Jacobs. He added Secore isn’t 100% and that the club will continue to start goaltender Nick Patterson in net.

“We played pretty decently in Rochester,” added Chicago head coach and GM Jamie Batley. “We also felt we matched up fairly well a couple weeks ago against Minnesota. Our defense and our goaltender gave us an opportunity to win both of those games. And that’s what’s working for us right now. Our goaltending and defensive is playing better, and we’re getting more goals out of different players.”

Matt Roik is the new tender in Chicago. And he’s looked better than just good, registering a .80 SV% and putting up 92 saves in his last two games, after he sat all season in Philly behind Rob Blasdell. Chicago traded for Roik and Brad Self earlier this season and tried to make additional moves at the deadline, but the ‘Rox did not get the trade value they wanted.

“From our perspective, the only one to really consider trading was Scott Self being that he’s from Arizona and he obviously won’t be with our team at the end of this year, playing somewhere else or back in the draft. That was a consideration for us but we didn’t really get any offers of what we thought he was worth.”

“He’s our best player right now on defense, so we need Scott Self to play great defense and get us some wins. He’s helped our younger players become better players. We really feel his value wasn’t offered so we decided to keep him, keep our chemistry, and we’re willing to finish the rest of the season with him aboard.”

Philadelphia at Rochester

Rochester (4-6), last year’s NLL champions, continue to drop games. They lost their second straight last weekend 12-11 to Chicago and are sixth place in the Eastern Division, two games behind fourth-place Buffalo (7-5).

“The mind-set is one of desperation. Unfortunately the effort we put forth last weekend didn’t show on the scoreboard. This is a must-win for us,” said Rochester assistant coach John Munroe.

“We’re looking forward to playing Rochester. They’re in a tough situation, but they’re still a terrific team,” said Philadelphia head coach Dave Huntley, who’s Philadelphia Wings (7-2) bring the league’s best record into this weekend.

What’s going on with Rochester?

“In every way we dominated that game,” said Munroe of last weekend, noting how Rochester out-shot Chicago 56-46, won 91 gbs to Chicago’s 70, and went 3-6 on the power while holding Chicago’s powerplay to 0-3.

“It’s execution. We’re getting goaltending (from Pat O’Toole), but we’re not getting goaltending at the right time. Last week, we needed three saves and we never got them. Jr., Scotty, Shawny between them had five goals on 57 shots.”

“Right now our best players aren’t being our best players… It’s disappointing for everybody… We’re not playing to our potential. We’re not executing to the level we should be, and the way we could be.”

Rochester did sign 22-year-old Cory Vitarelli this week, but didn’t make any trades at the deadline. Coaches and management in Rochester want their players to know that’s because they have confidence in them.

“That is the message we’re sending to our guys,” said Munroe. “We had that discussion in the weeks leading up to the trade deadline. These are the same horses that got us there last year… Who they are hasn’t changed. It comes down to executing to the level they’re capable of.”

“Four one-goal losses is how many shots, or how many saves, right? If those go our way then we wouldn’t even be having this conversation. We need to execute.”

Philadelphia had looked so explosive this season but ended up on the wrong end of a 20-13 score to New York last weekend.

“We’re playing some pretty high-risk, high-paced lacrosse… Last weekend, we were a little sloppy on some things- correctable things. But when you play as aggressively as we play, that’s going to happen sometimes.”

“I don’t think we’re off track,” added Huntley.

Of note, Philly is 6-0 at home this season but just 1-2 on the road. They’ve been led this season in the goal scoring department by Athan Iannucci (43g), Jake Bergey (22g) and rookie Merrik Thomson (17g). Goaltender Rob Blasdell’s .73 SV% ranks him No. 23 overall in the league in save percentage, when you consider all goaltenders who’ve played this season.

San Jose at Edmonton

The Edmonton Rush were one of the most active teams before this Tuesday’s trade deadline, trying to make moves to improve the club short and long-term.

“I admittedly worked the phones pretty hard,” said new Edmonton GM and head coach Bob Hamley. “I believed we needed to get back in the draft and that’s what it boiled down to… For us moving forward, obviously 2-7 is unacceptable… I think at the end of the day we’re going to be better in the future.”

Hamley has picked up two first-rounders in the 2008 and 2009 NLL Entry Drafts since moving to Edmonton. And he still likes the team’s chance of making playoffs this year.

“I think we did some good things, without giving up the opportunity to make playoffs,” said Hamley. “I still believe that we’re good enough at the back end and defensively that our offense can generate enough that we can get some wins. I’m confident that we can catch Portland and Calgary.”

Edmonton (2-7) does have Calgary (4-8) three more times down the stretch. And Portland (4-7) is just one game up on the club so playoffs is obviously still in reach. In the Western Division standings, San Jose (6-4) is now in a tie for first, after winning four of their last five games.

“I think we’re happy with the direction of our team,” said San Jose head coach Walt Christianson. “A lot of our new younger players, especially our young American players have really learned the game and are playing well for us right now.”

“We can’t become complacent going against a team like Edmonton,” added Christianson. “Bob has done a really good job of making them younger and better. And they’re going to come at us so we’re going to have to be prepared.”

The last time these two met, San Jose won 11-8 in Edmonton on Feb. 23 in a game in which Stealth outscored Edmonton 5-1 in the final frame to win by three. San Jose was led by Colin Doyle (4g, 2a), Luke Wiles (2g, 3a) and Jeff Zywicki (2g). Aaron Bold got the start in that game but was replaced by Anthony Cosmo. Last weekend, Bold replaced Cosmo.

“Aaron Bold is the real deal,” said Christiansons. “He came off the bench and led our comeback at home (last weekend in a 13-12 win over Calgary). I’m happy with our goaltending duo. And I’m happy with our offense.”

“They have it all,” added Hamley. “They’ve got a lot of talent on the floor. Anthony Cosmo’s probably the best goaltender in our game right now. Last game we were up 6-3 when Aaron Bold started for them, but the rest of the game we lost 8-2.”

“We have to play a full 60 minutes. We’ve talked about it. We’re not as talented as San Jose or other teams. We have to have a complete effort and keep mistakes to a minimum. Guys are buying into that and the efforts have been there.”

The Rush will be looking for contributions from their new additions, including Dan Teat, Mike Hominuck and Lindsay Plunkett. Edmonton won their last home game over Rochester 10-9 in OT on Mar. 15. They lost last weekend 14-9 to Toronto.

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