Minnesota Swarm (3-5 H 1-2 A 2-3)

New England Black Wolves (2-5 H 2-3 A 0-2)

Saturday, March 14, 2015 - 7:00 pm CST
Ho-Chunk Nation Field at The Hive
St. Paul, Minnesota

Last Update: March 14, 2015 9:35 am Central

Live Statistics

TV/Internet/Radio Coverage:

• Universal Sports TV on February 19th at 1:00 pm Central
• Channel 45 on April 11th at 4:00 pm Central

More Coverage of this game at:

Series History:

These two teams met for the first time ever on January 24th at Mohegan Sun Arena where the Swarm probably played their overall best game of the year in a 19-13 victory which gave the Black Wolves their first loss of the season. Shayne Jackson scored a career high four goals to go along with three assists while Callum Crawford had three goals anf five assists. Zach Higgins had his first start of the season making 41 saves. The two teams play twice more after Saturday night to decide the season series with the next game on Sunday, March 29th at Mohegan Sun Arena. A win on Saturday will clinch at least a tie in the season series.

Last Weekend:

The Swarm had the past weekend off but in their prior game they lost 21-15 in Vancouver to the Stealth on February 28th. Logan Schuss led the Swarm with 3 goals and 5 assists while Shane MacDonald earned his first NLL hat trick along with an assist. The Swarm were with only one regular goaltender as Brodie MacDonald missed the game for the birth of his child. Corbyn Tao dressed in goaltending gear but even with the floodgates opened, the Swarm did not use him. Callum Crawford missed the game due to an ankle injury suffered in Toronto on February 14th. With the loss, the Swarm have lost three straight games.

The Black Wolves have had two full weekends off having last played February 22nd at home against Colorado losing 14-12. Kevin Crowley had five goals and three assists but the Black Wolves fell behind by four after the first quarter and just couldn't catch up the rest of the way. The Black Wolves have lost five straight entering this contest.

Notes:

• Hawaiian Night at The Hive - The first 3,000 fans will receive a Hawaiian Lei (Blue or Yellow)!
• The Swarm relieved Bobby Keast of his assistant head coach position on Friday. He had been the defensive coordinator since 2012 for the Swarm and with the way the defense has been of late, he may have been seen as the quickest change the team could make to try to change things up while still in the playoff race. David Earl said yesterday that Head Coach Joe Sullivan would address the team at Friday night's practice about Keast. We know Andrew Suitor was surprised and disappointed in the move per his twitter account. Sullivan will take over defensive coordinator duties temporarily as the Swarm tweet that they are looking for a replacement for Keast.
• The Swarm have four games in the month of March and probably need three wins to stay in the playoff race. The month of March has been historically bad in team history with them going only 12-26 and their best record in the month is 2-2 in 2006 & 2013. If they go at least 3-1 in March, that would put them at 6-6 with five of their last six games at The Hive.
• Brodie MacDonald did miss the last game due to the birth of his child but reports are mixed as to how much notice he may have given to the Swarm and with the Swarm's lackluster effort to acquire an actual goaltender to backup Zach Higgins in Vancouver. Depending on who you talk to either the Swarm were completely ambushed by MacDonald the night before the game leaving them little time to recover or they knew well before the game that the possibility that MacDonald may miss this game. If MacDonald misled the Swarm and after what I am piecing together from here and there, I tend to doubt it, but if he did then don't be surprised to see MacDonald get limited time or maybe even let go. But like I said, after reviewing what I have found out it looks more like the Swarm management dropped the ball on last game's goaltending fiasco.
• No word yet if Callum Crawford will return but I would guess with nearly a month off that will he will be back in the line up after twisting his ankle against Toronto on February 14th. In the three losses, the Swarm have only 28 goals (4, 9 & 15) but the only complete game that Crawford played in the losing streak was the loss to Toronto at The Hive on February 13th when they only scored four goals.
• David Earl said yesterday at the Costco Meet and Greet in Maplewood that he will be evaluated by the team doctor prior to tonight's game as to whether he will be activated to play. He feels ready to go, showed off great range of motion with his shoulder at the event so he expects to be activated but there is no guarantee from Coach Sullivan. If Earl is activated, Ian Crawford is the most likely to be deactivated.
• The Swarm have averaged 8 goals for and 14 goals against in their three home games this season.
• The Swarm have 1,989 regular season goals and could reach 2,000 on Friday night.
• Former Swarm with the Black Wolves - Kevin Buchanan and Evan Kirk
• The Black Wolves are winless on the road having gone 0-2.

Prediction: Minnesota Swarm 14 New England Black Wolves 12

Huge divisional matchup for the Minnesota Swarm as they return home after a month's absence against the New England Black Wolves to start the doubleheader weekend which ends Sunday night in Colorado. The team is looking forward to the probable but not yet confirmed return of Callum Crawford and David Earl. With the firing of Bobby Keast occuring yesterday, the team is on notice to bring it strong starting tonight. Against a team that is struggling also in the Black Wolves, I see the Swarm have a great opportunity to right the ship and the shake up mentioned above, I see an reinspired team win for the Swarm on Saturday night.

Faceoffs:

Personnel:

Minnesota Swarm

Runners

Goaltending

Staff

Depth Chart

New England Black Wolves

Runners

Goaltending

Staff

Depth Chart

Next Games After This Match Up

• Minnesota at Colorado - Sunday, March 15th, 2015 8:00 pm Central
• New England at Calgary - Friday, March 20th, 2015 9:00 pm Central