NLL Insider

Rested? Ready? Rarin’? Good, because so are the National Lacrosse League teams that qualified for the playoffs, which get started this weekend. What’s going to make the difference for your team? Will it be experience? Will it be a lucky streak? Or will the numbers and stats actually bear out and bring us the winners and losers? So many questions surrounding the four games this weekend, which get started with two games Friday night, then one each on Saturday and Sunday. So slap on the gear, stretch out and let’s get this party started.

Rochester at New York, Friday at 7:30 p.m. (EST)

There’s no playoff history between these teams to speak of, but the Titans do hold a 5-3 overall series edge over the Knighthawks, which includes a 2-1 mark this season. When the Titans are rolling, they’re rolling and they come into the playoffs having won 5 of their last 6. MVP candidate Casey Powell is the unquestioned leader for New York, but the squad has three legit finishers in all with Pat Maddalena and Jordan Hall giving the Titans some real nice balance up top. On the back end, the physical defense is anchored by goalie Matt Vinc, whose goals-against average 11.33) and save percentage (.779) isn’t among the league’s best, but considering he’s the only NLL keeper to log more than 900 minutes, he’s a proven force.

“We’re happy with how we finished the first season,” said coach Ed Comeau. “But we know all the counters are set back to zero and we’re in the playoffs now. It’s a one-shot deal.”

The Knighthawks have two proven scorers in Shawn Williams (93 points) and Shawn Evans (79 points), but the offensive production drops dramatically after that as Jason Henhawk’s 38 points is 3rd best on the team. Coach Paul Gait joked that the offense has been consistent because “we’ve been consistently scoring under 10 goals a game.” It is a concern for the team, however, largely because the Birds are just 1-7 on the road this season. “A lot of that has to do with bonding and team chemistry, which we’ve worked on,” he said. “These guys need to feel comfortable this year and have a certain energy level.”

As for the offense, it will do what it does, but the focus for Gait remains on the defense and goalie Pat O’Toole is the key there. He’ll make the saves if the defense in front of him can limit the good looks and from there, Gait’s hoping the transition games of Chris Schiller, Steve Toll and Bobby McBride can not only get the offense going, but keep the ball out of New York’s speedy sticks. Gait does expect his brother Gary Gait to be available for the game.

San Jose at Portland, Friday at 10:30 p.m. (EST)

The only previous playoff matchup between these squads was a Portland victory and the LumberJax took the season series this year, 2-1. But San Jose’s victory came at Portland, something San Jose coach Chris Hall likes, but isn’t putting to much stock in. “It would be nice to have a home game, but the game will be won on the floor, not in the stands,” he said.

San Jose enters having won 3 of its last 4, which includes that 13-8 win at Portland on March 29. The Stealth are one of just three teams to clear the 200-goal pleateau and have scored in double figures in all but one game this season. Of late, though, the Stealth have really caught fire on offense. “Our confidence is good and we’re healthy,” said Hall. “And that’s probably the best thing you can ask for heading into the playoffs.” The obvious leader for this squad is MVP candidate Colin Doyle (111 points) and Rhys Duch (89) is the favorite to win Rookie of the Year honors. Jeff Zywicki (78) rounds out the balanced offense and Cam Sedgwick (63) gives the club even more.

Portland coach Derek Keenan is well aware, as is his defensive corp that includes Richard Morgan, Luke Forget, Pat Jones, David Morgan. “They’re the best offensive talent in the league,” he said. “Of course you’ve got Doyle, but there are 6 or 7 other guys who can score, too. They’re a handful offensively and we need our defense to have the performance of the season.” The size of Portland’s defense is stuff of legend, but Keenan says it’ll be a matchup of strength vs. strength. “Some teams may have a problem matching up with us because of our size, but they’re big too on offense. They have some big guys.”

Questions abound in goal for both squads. Keenan says Matt Disher and his bum knee will be “ready to go.” Hall played both Matt Roik and Tyler Richards in late games this season to make sure both are ready for the playoffs. No decision has been made, at least publically, on who will start against Portland, but both Roik and Richards will be dressed for the game.

Boston at Buffalo, Saturday at 7:30 p.m. (EST)

Buffalo’s 223 goals-scored is tops in the league, but Boston’s 168 goals-against is second-best in the league, by one goal. Something’s gotta give. The teams met just twice this season, and those games were in the final three weeks of the season, so as Boston coach Tom Ryan puts it: “We’re familiar with each other.” Buffalo won the first matchup, in Boston, but the Blazers closed the regular season with an overtime win in Buffalo.

“We were very fortunate to walk away with that win,” said Ryan. “The guys are not overconfident about it, because they know it could have gone either way. So we’re keeping our focus on playing well and having a consistent effort.” One area of Boston’s game that’s been super consistent is the play of Anthony Cosmo in goal. His .781 save percentage is 4th-best in the NLL, and his 10.14 goals-against is No. 3. The defense will be tested, for sure, with the likes of John Tavares, Mark Steenhuis and Mike Accursi throwing shots on cage. “They’ve been the focal points and they’ve done a lot of damage,” said Ryan. “We just want to get our matchups and not give them anything easy.”

Boston’s offense is led by another MVP candidate in Dan Dawson (104 points), but rookie Daryl Veltman (77) has been a consistent performer and will give Duch a run for some votes in Rookie of the Year voting. Brenden Thenhaus, Matt Lyons and Gary Bining bring more offense, and the unit also has been given a lift by the return of the injured Sean Morris, who scored the OT winner in Buffalo.

Buffalo coach Darris Kilgour isn’t too worried about his team losing 3 of its last 5, and has told the team that “history starts today. It doesn’t matter what happened two weeks ago. We did have some letdowns in the second half of the season, but we just need to maintain our discipline and it’s a mental thing. That’s something we can fix.” Buffalo led that last game vs. Boston 10-5 in the third quarter, but those mental lapses cost his team. “I give all the credit to Boston. They played 60 minutes and we played 45. We need 60 minutes out of everybody, not just Mike, Mark and John.”

One thing’s for sure: the goalies are gonna see shots. Boston led the league with 1,117 shots and Buffalo’s 1,073 shots are No. 2 in the league.

Colorado at Calgary, Sunday at 5 p.m. (EST)

Calgary holds a 2-1 all-time playoff series lead over the Mammoth, but the teams split their season series this year, giving Colorado a 10-8 lead in that matchup. Still, it’s a different season and while Calgary pretty much cruised to its West Division title in winning 4 of its last 5, the Mammoth battled through a myriad of injuries to secure the No. 4 playoff seed in the West. And, unfortunately for the Mammoth, the week off wasn’t enough to rest some key injuries.

Colorado coach Bob McMahon says the injuries to Ray Guze and Rich Catton might keep them out this weekend, but goalie Andrew Leyshon “is healthy and starting this weekend.” If Colorado has any advantage, it will be the urgency of playoff lacrosse it had to play for the final three weeks of the season just to get into the playoffs. A pair of overtime games and a one-goal victory put the Mammoth in pressure situations that just may translate to the postseason. “We played the full 60 minutes in those games,” said McMahon.

Brian Langtry (79) and Gavin Prout (74) give Colorado the offense, and energy, up front and the return of Dan Carey is a huge plus, but there’s still some sorting out to do in the defensive end as McMahon and his staff yet again are dealing with the injuries and how they will impact the lineup.

In Calgary, the league’s top power play, by far, converts 60-percent of its chances but if Colorado can find the right defensive lineup, the Roughies will be dealing with a kill-unit that No. 2 in the league at 59 percent. “There are no easy games in this league,” Calgary assistant Dave Pym said. “They’ve been playing playoff lacrosse for three weeks and our boys are champing at the bit to get going.”

Josh Sanderson (103) is one of four Roughnecks with more than 76 points, working with Tracey Kelusky (84), Kaleb Toth (80) and Dane Dobbie (76) to produce one of the smoothest offensive units the league has seen in seasons. A transition game led by Jeff Shattler, pumped by some as the best defender this season, is the leader for an underrated defensive unit that will likely have Matt King starting in goal. Yet if the Necks do go with Pat Campbell in goal, they won’t skip a beat.

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