Minnesota Swarm (1-4 H 1-1 A 0-3)

Washington Stealth (6-0 H 4-0 A 2-0)

Saturday, February 13, 2010 - 7:30 pm CST
Xcel Energy Center
St. Paul, Minnesota

Live Statistics

Minnesota Swarm Game Center

TV/Internet/Radio Coverage:

More Coverage of this game at:

Standings:

Series History:

Personnel:

Minnesota Swarm

Depth Chart

Goaltenders	Defense (Left)	Defense (Right)	Forwards (Left)	Forwards (Right)

Staff

General Manager	Head Coach	Assistant	Assistant

Washington Stealth

Depth Chart

Staff

After a two week engagement that saw your and mine favorite local professional indoor lacrosse team travel to both coasts of the United States, the Minnesota Swarm (1-4) return home to the Xcel Energy Center for a two game homestand. They start the homestand this Saturday night finsihing off a home and home series against the West division leading and undefeated Washington Stealth (6-0). Our Swarm are on a three game losing streak and needless to say but I say needless things, the Swarm have got to start winning now. With only six division games left this season for the Swarm who are only 1-3 in the division, this homestand gives the Swarm the opportunity to even that very crucial division record up if they can beat the Stealth on Saturday night and the Mammoth the following weekend.

Last weekend when the two teams met, tempers had flared. Swarm captain Ryan Cousins fought Eric Martin of the Stealth before the game clock started for the third quarter. Both were thrown out of the game. The fear is that Cousins could be suspended based on a similar incident in 2006 when Cousins fought Edmonton's Trent Smalley before the start of a game in Edmonton. Cousins and the Swarm appealed the one game suspension handed down by the league which allowed Cousins to play against Philadelphia the week after but having lost the appeal, Cousins was forced to sit the following game against Buffalo. No word yet of any disciplinary action as the league tends to keep these things hush hush but keep an eye out for a similar situation this time.

Another powder keg lit last weekend was when the Stealth's Paul Rabil used the butt end of his stick to try to end Ryan Benesch's ability to father children. The Swarm were giving Rabil a lot of attention up to that point and it appeared that Rabil may have had enough and took it out on Benesch. Rabil was tossed from the game but if he does play on Saturday, you may see some retribution from the Swarm.

According to NLL Insider, Head Coach Mike Lines mentioned that Kevin Croswell may get his first start of the season. Nick Patterson had a good performance last weekend but the team has lost three in a row so that Lines' thinking maybe giving Croswell a start may change the team's fortunes. The Stealth will more than likely continue their starting goaltending rotation this weekend as Tyler Richards is expected to get the start in net.

In the same article above, Lines mentions that other than Croswell maybe starting there is not many changes expected in the line up. I could see Andrew Watt back in the line up after missing last week's game but that may be the extent of changes from last week to this week.

If the trends for this season continue, expect a boost in scoring this weekend for the Swarm. The team has averaged thirteen goals in their two home games (1-1) while on the road (0-3) they have averaged only just under eight goals. This maybe the first Swarm season in history where the team actually plays much better at home than on the road during a season. If they want to stay in playoff contention, that boost in home scoring will have to continue.

Zack Greer will turn 24 on Friday night, so we hope to see him start his 24th year of life on fire on Saturday night. As some fans say, "Fear the Greer Reaper". Scott Self will be playing in his 83rd straight NLL game while Richard Morgan is slated to play in his 65th straight NLL game this Saturday. The Stealth have never won in Minnesota going 0-2. The first win for the Swarm against the Stealth at the X was on April 9, 2006 when Jamie Taylor scored his second overtime goal for the Swarm in a 9-8 victory. That was the first ever Swarm overtime game at home. The other win came in last season's home opener when Patterson shut down the Stealth with a strong performance in net leading the Swarm to a 10-7 victory.

There are Swarm fans and players that are reading the Swarm Message Board that may think I have given up on the team especially after I wrote that the Swarm are in the chase for the first pick in next year's draft. As a fan, I can look far into the future, but most of that is in frustration in seeing the team losing. I am moody and paranoid about the Swarm so I tend to let the emotions get the best of me. I don't think much before I write but was is written is written. What I can say is that I have not given up. People may scoff at that like they would if I were to say I was dating someone of the female persuasion but when I say I have not thrown in towel that can be taken to the bank while the other statement is dubious at best.

So when The Hive congregates for Valentine's Day Eve on Saturday, lets all show the team that we all have not given up on them. Believe me, the coaches and players are much more frustrated than us fans but they expect to turn the corner and quickly. What better night than this Saturday. We are building a home field advantage and we can expect the organization is doing all it can to get people back in the seats after the last home game. As I mentioned, we score more at home and just like the home opener against Calgary, the Swarm got to see what the Stealth had last weekend and this weekend should be able to sneak pass the Stealth radar with a few tricks up their striped sleeves.

In this Valentine's Day Eve game, I see the Swarm giving the Stealth a big kiss of death:

Prediction: Minnesota Swarm 13 Washington Stealth 12

Next Games After This Match Up

• Minnesota vs Colorado - Saturday, February 20th, 2010 7:30 pm Central
• Washington vs Calgary - Friday, February 19th, 2010 10:00 pm Central