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Saturday, January 22, 2011 - 7:30 pm CST
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| West | W | L | GB | +/- | East | W | L | GB | +/- | |
| Calgary | 2 | 1 | - | 2 | Toronto | 3 | 0 | - | 10 | |
| Minnesota | 1 | 1 | 0.5 | 7 | Boston | 2 | 1 | 1.0 | 6 | |
| Colorado | 1 | 1 | 0.5 | 0 | Buffalo | 1 | 1 | 1.5 | 2 | |
| Washington | 1 | 2 | 1.0 | -9 | Rochester | 1 | 1 | 1.5 | -2 | |
| Edmonton | 0 | 2 | 1.5 | -9 | Philadelphia | 0 | 2 | 2.5 | -7 |
| Minnesota | Overall | Home | Road | Home (2010) | Road (2010) |
| vs Edmonton | 2-2 | 1-1 | 1-1 | 0-1 | 0-1 |
| Total | 2-2 | 1-1 | 1-1 | 0-1 | 0-1 |
Last year, the Rush swept the season series, winning 16-14 in Edmonton and 13-12 in overtime on a Brodie Merrill goal at The Hive.
| Numerical Roster | Picture Roster | Stats |
| Goaltenders | Defense (Left) | Defense (Right) | ||
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| Transition (Left) | Transition (Right) | Forwards (Left) | Forwards (Right) | |
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| General Manager | Head Coach | Assistant | Assistant |
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| Roster | Picture Roster | Stats |
| Goaltenders | Defense (Left) | Defense (Right) | |
| 1-Matt Disher | 88-Ian Hawksbee | 43-Rory Glaves | |
| 00-Brandon Atherton | 7-Derek Suddons | 2-Brett Mydske | |
| 19-Bill Greer | 12-Pat Jones | ||
| 10-Bruce Murray | 33-John LaFontaine | ||
| 30-David Morgan | |||
| Transition (Left) | Transition (Right) | Forward (Left) | Forward (Right) |
| 17-Brodie Merrill | 8-Scott Stewart | 21-Andy Secore | 44-Ryan Ward |
| 81-Jimmy Quinlan | 96-Bobby McBride | 73-Dean Hill | 9-Gavin Prout |
| 15-Corey Small | 4-Scott Tinning | ||
| 20-Dane Stevens | 66-Alex Kedoh Hill |
| Head Coach/GM | Assistant Coach | Assistant Coach |
| Derek Keenan | Todd Lorenz | Jeremy Tallevi |
The last time we saw your and mine favorite professional indoor lacrosse team, the Minnesota Swarm, they had just done something not seen by the residents of Swarmville for a very, very, very, very long time ... win!!! And we know hell has frozen over since, just walk outside this week in Minnesota to feel it. Eight straight losses dating back to last year are in the rear view mirror after Ryan Benesch made the Stealth his (rhymes with stitch) female canine with a single game team record seven goals. Only problem is that they won on the internet, can they do the same this Saturday as they host the Edmonton Rush Live at The Hive in front of Swarm Naton on Saturday, January 22nd at 7:30 pm CST?
It's Heroes Night this Saturday as the Swarm are recognizing the every day people who make living here safe and secure. Last week, the Swarm had big heroes who smashed the shackles of losing and opened up great expectations of what the rest of the year should be for the Swarm. Benesch got the biggest haeadlines and deservedly so and we hope he conitunes as he has to try out new equipment this weekend after his sticks vanished stealthily after the game. Callum Crawford and Mat Giles each have had strong back to back games and Aaron Wilson joined in the fun last weekend with two gaols and three assists. Zack Greer continues to contribute much more this year and brings some extra unexpected intensity.
Look out for Sean Pollock this weekend as he needs two points to tie and three to become the Swarm's All-Time Scoring Leader passing Ryan Ward, who will be in the eneny camp on Satuday night for the Rush. It's been a tough start for Pollock with only four assists but there just are as many chances for Polly to score with eight forwards in the lineup so he has to make it count when the opportunity arises.
Nick Patterson did quite well with 50 saves last weekend, his fifth 50 save game with the Swarm. He will go up against his Swarm mentor, Matt Disher, who ruled the Swarm net with Patterson from 2005 - 2007.
The Rush made the playoffs for the first time in team history last year. They one upped the Swarm with a playoff win in the first round. They made very few changes over the offseason figuring why not mess with a perceived good thing. They were not given much of a scheduling break with their first three on the road against the top three in this week's IL Indoor.com Power Rankings. They have already lost to Toronto and Boston where their offense was limited to seven goals in each game. Ward along with Gavin Prout lead the offense but rookie Alex Kedoh Hill maybe someone to watch as he got 2 goals and 2 assists in his first NLL game last weekend in Boston.
Merrill returns for a second season with the Rush leading their defense and his transition killed us in the end with the OT winner for the Rush last year at The Hive. Zack Greer's older brother Bill is now with the Rush after being taken in the Titan Dispersal Draft. Andy Secore, Scott Stewart and Dean Hill are former Swarm in the Rush lineup along with Ward and Disher.
Who will the Brawl Firm of Rory Smith & Andrew Suitor take out tonight at The Hive? Possible Rush Victims maybe 88-Ian Hawksbee, 10-Bruce Murray, 9-Gavin Prout and 81-Jimmy Quinlan. Murray is a big but squat defender. Prout is known to lose his temper at times and Smith maybe defending him. Both Hawksbee and especially Quinlan like to talk and agitate.
Last week, Richard Morgan would have played his brother Peter of the Stealth if Peter wasn't a scratch. This week, Richard's taller brother, David at 6; 10", is with the Rush.
The Swarm win this game or any game if they play like they did last weekend. There is no reason they can't do this but they haven't shown they can play like that consistently. Nonetheless, I just don't think the Rush are fast enough to keep up with the Swarm offense. Merrill can take over games but we have enough transition to offset him with Watt, Sharp, etc. With another solid Patterson showing in net look for a big home win ... finally at The Hive.
