Minnesota Swarm (2-1 H 1-1 A 1-0)

at
Calgary Roughnecks (4-0 H 2-0 A 2-0)

Friday, February 6, 2009 - 8:30 pm CST
Pengrowth Saddledome
Calgary, Alberta

Live Statistics

Minnesota Swarm Game Center

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Regular Season History:

The Swarm last played the Roughnecks in 2007 in Calgary on January 27. The Roughnecks scored four short handed goals to help hold off a late Swarm rally by a score of 15-14.

Rosters:

Regular Season Statistics:

2009 NLL Standings

Former Roughnecks With The Swarm:

• Ryan Sharp

Former Swarm With The Roughnecks:

• Nolan Heavenor
• Michael Kilby

Both teams had the past weekend off to prepare for this battle of West Division supremacy after playing on January 24. The Swarm lost their first game of the season against the Buffalo Bandits by a score of 10-9 at the X. The Roughnecks continued their undefeated season with a 16-13 home victory over the San Jose Stealth.

Ryan Ward (7g 4a) has done well against the Roughnecks scoring five goals and twelve assists in two games with the Swarm including a Swarm single game record ten points in a 15-14 loss on January 27, 2007. Kevin Ross (5g 9a) has nearly averaged five points a game and has exceeded his 2008 totals in just three games compared to nine last year.

Darren Halls is having a breakthrough season as the team's leading face off man (20/40), loose ball snatcher (31) and penalty minute leader (6). His intensity has received quite a bit of interest from league wide NLL experts. One could see him starting to show his promise last season before he missed the last half of the season due to injury, but it looks like the 24 year old is finally ripening the way many thought he would when he was the chosen with the fourth pick in the 2004 NLL Entry Draft by the Arizona Sting.

The Roughnecks have a very balanced offensive attack this year with six players having taken more than 30 shots each. Josh Sanderson (8g 17a) plays the point as well as anyone in the NLL. Tracey Kelusky (5g 15a) and Kaleb Toth (8g 12a) have returned to each of their previous stellar forms after off years last year. Second year player Dane Dobbie (9g 9a) like Ross has already exceeded his first year totals.

The Necks defense has been stout this year led by Andrew McBride (0g 3a). Former Swarm Nolan Heavenor (2g 0a) takes the majority of faceoffs and is one of three major transition threats along with Jeff Moleski (3g 2a) and Jeff Shattler (2g 4a) that comprise one of the league's best transition teams. Former Swarm player Michael Kilby (0g 0a) is on board this year to add some extra physicality along with Kyle Couling (0g 0a).

Pat Campbell (3-0 10.67 GAA .744 Save %) may have finally found a home in Calgary after bouncing around the league. He maybe one of the most entertaining goaltenders in the league as he will be more willing than most to take chances outside of the crease. If Campbell were to falter, Matt King (1-0 8.31 GAA .763 Save %) is an able backup who has thwarted the Swarm throughout his career making 110 saves on 136 shots for a save % of 81.

Behind Buffalo, these two teams are considered by many to be #2 and #3 in the league. Each has a balanced offense, numerous transition threats and solid defense and goaltending this year. I can't find much to separate the two teams so maybe it is homefield advantage, then again, the Swarm generally have played well on the road. If the Swarm can contain the Roughnecks transition game and make their passes a bit more truer than they have been so far this season, the Swarm should be able to prevail.

Prediction - Minnesota 11 Calgary 10

Next Games After This Match Up

• Minnesota (2-1) vs. Colorado (2-2) - Saturday, February 7 7:00 pm CST
• Calgary (4-0) at Colorado (2-2) - Saturday, February 14 8:00 pm CST