Minnesota Swarm (2-3 H 1-2 A 1-1)

vs
Boston Blazers (4-3 H 2-2 A 2-1)

Friday, February 20, 2009 - 7:00 pm CST
Xcel Energy Center
St. Paul, Minnesota

Live Statistics

Minnesota Swarm Game Center

TV/Internet/Radio Coverage:

More Coverage of this game at:

Regular Season History:

This is the first ever meeting between the Swarm and the Blazers. The Blazers reappear in Boston this season in the NLL for the first time since 1997. Swarm General Manager Marty O'Neill and Director of Scouting Neil Doddridge, the first ever player signed to play for the Swarm, played for the old Boston Blazers in the 1990's.

Rosters:

Regular Season Statistics:

2009 NLL Standings

Former Blazers With The Swarm:

• Marty O'Neill
• Neil Doddridge

Former Swarm With The Blazers:

• Kyle Ross

The Minnesota Swarm enter Friday's game on a three game losing streak after losing 13-8 to the Colorado Mammoth on February 7, 2009 at the Xcel Energy Center. The Swarm have now started 2-3 in four of their five seasons and ended up making the playoffs off that record in 2006 and 2007. In those two playoff years, the Swarm were able to even their record at 3-3. The Boston Blazers have won four of their last five games after holding the Philadelphia Wings to four goals in a 8-4 victory in Philadelphia on February 13, 2009.

Kevin Buchanan (1g 2a) made his Swarm and NLL debut against Colorado and scored his first goal in the third quarter. His progression throughout the game was on a steady upward curve. He was willing to go to the net which is definitely appreciated and needed for this team to succeed. He is not afraid to take his shots, getting off twelve in his first game. Buchanan may see more time if other lefthanders like Chad Culp (4g 3a) and Dean Hill (2g 9a) don't start to produce consistently. The Swarm are shooting a lot but are next to last with getting shots on goal (.668) and last with shots in goal (.126). Considering the Swarm are getting 73 total shots per game, that only translates to 9 goals per game if they keep up not finishing better.

Ryan Sharp (0g 2a) may only need one goal to break out of his breakaway slump to start this season. He has eleven breakaway chances this year but they are not going in like they were in the past. He is getting good opportunities so eventually he will cash in on them. Andrew Watt (3g 3a) and Kevin Fines (4g 1a); however, have been converting their breakaway chances.

The Swarm will need to start games better having been held to less than two goals in the first quarter in four of five games this year, including being shut out twice. The peculiar item is that the Swarm have done relatively well in third quarters, which has rarely been the case in their history, outscoring the opposition three times and scoring a push.

The Blazers are in their first year but don't appear to be your garden variety expansion team. Three big first draft picks in dispersal and entry drafts leading up to the season have sparked the team to third place in the East. Dan Dawson (13g 28a) was selected in the Arizona dispersal draft and has led his previous teams to the NLL Champions Cup game three of the last four years. Daryl Veltman (12g 18a) was drafted first in the entry draft and is the odds on favorite to win the NLL Rookie of the Year award. Anthony Cosmo (4-2 10.04 GAA .779 Save %) was taken first in the Chicago dispersal draft and after a shaky start to the season has regrouped and become his usual solid self in goal.

Still as an expansion team, the Blazers are building with youth who also appear to be pretty talented. Former Swarm Kyle Ross (1g 2a) is a huge piece of the young and emerging defensive corps in Boston. In the last two games, Ross scored the game winning goal against New York and assisted on the game winner against Philadelphia. Other young and talented defensemen include Mitch Belisle (2g 0a) and Jon Harnett (0g 2a). Matt Lyons (9g 13a), Gary Bining (11g 10a) and Brendan Thenhaus (10g 15a) provide consistent scoring depth.

Expect to see Sean Pollock (4g 6a) back in the line up on Friday and have a breakout game this season. Pollock had played in 35 straight games for the Swarm until the Colorado game when he was not dressed.

Before the season, many may have picked the expansion Blazers to be an opponent's slumpbuster. The Swarm wish that was still true because the Blazers have not played that way. Dawson has proven numerous times that he can win games on his own but the Swarm must contain him somewhat and put the onus on the younger talent around him to come through. Even with Dawson, the Blazers are barely averaging ten goals per game and the three of their four games have been against Philadelphia.

The Swarm will need a strong start, let either Kevin Croswell (1-1 8.84 GAA .827 Save %) or Nick Patterson (1-2 11.26 GAA .759 Save %) battle through any early difficulties and get a boost from their lefthanders on offense. With two weeks to think about the disasterous doubleheader two weekends ago, I am sure Swarm captain Ryan Cousins (1g 2a) will have the Swarm ready and focused to win this last home game for a month and a half.

Prediction: Minnesota Swarm 10 Boston Blazers 9

Minnesota Swarm Promotions:

• The first 5,000 fans will get Swarm Thundersticks
• Postgame Party at Wild Tymes Bar and Grill

Next Games After This Match Up

• Minnesota (2-3) at Philadelphia (2-5) - Saturday, February 21 6:30 pm CST
• Boston (4-3) at Calgary (5-1) - Sunday, February 22 4:00 pm CST