Rush Playoff Season Begins
May 5, 2014 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Edmonton Rush News Release
Edmonton, AB---The 2014 regular season is already in the record books and enters as the greatest campaign in the history of the Edmonton Rush.
But the job isn't done yet. In fact, the Rush are just now beginning the most important part of the year as the chase for the Champion's Cup starts. The Rush, who finished with a league-leading 16-2 record, had a bye in the opening round of the playoffs and will meet the Calgary Roughnecks in the two-game West Division Final starting Saturday, May 10 @ 7 pm @ Scotiabank Saddledome.
The regular season will be remembered for the Rush's record-setting winning streak as they opened with a stunning 14-0 start. And in the midst of that record, the Rush also set a new NLL mark for the longest road winning streak - a stretch that reached 13 consecutive wins dating back to last season.
It's been quite a year with plenty of impressive results.
"One big one was definitely the game in Vancouver. We were down 7-2 and came back to win (9-8). That showed a lot of character and that's become a learned behavior for us. In the past that's not always the way our guys have responded but that's in the past now.
"We also beat Rochester twice, once in overtime and once there in Rochester. They're a veteran team and a very good team. And we won three of four against Calgary and traditionally we haven't had that kind of regular-season success against them.
"Those wins have all showed that we can compete with anybody." The Rush's team-first attitude has been the mantra all season and it's been much more than just a dressing-room rallying cry. It's paid huge dividends on the floor as well.
"Any one of our guys can be the guy on any given night," said Keenan. "All the guys are important and all of them contribute in many different ways. They've all done their jobs with a clear understand of their role and they've all taken a great deal of pride in their role." The Rush have their fair share of stars, but not one who everything focuses around. It's been a huge benefit during the season, and one that should be of even greater benefit in the playoffs. That approach is also multi-faceted for the Rush since it's the same way of doing business on both sides of the ball.
"Teams do focus Mark Matthews, but he's very good at making the other guys around him better," noted Keenan. "And when teams starting focusing on the big guy that leaves the little guy, Curtis Knight, open. And we've got lots of guys who contribute like Robert Church, Cory Conway, Jarrett Davis, and Zack Greer. All that makes us very difficult to play against.
"And on defense, honestly I think we have four or five of the very best in the game. And they are best for our system. They're all athletic, fast, quick, they've got size. They all are able to play the way we want to play.
"Kyle Rubisch is a very special player. Brett Mydske and Ryan Dilks play the game differently but they're very effective. Chris Corbeil is every bit as good defensively as the rest and then he can contribute so well on offense. And Jeff Cornwall is an outstanding defensive player because he's so fast and physical. He's just so explosive, athletic and strong." SUPER SCOUTING: Normally, the Rush would send a coach or two to take in a playoff matchup while the rest of the team enjoys a bye week. But owner Bruce Urban assigned the entire team to Calgary for Saturday's West Semifinal.
"We practiced in Calgary during the day and then the entire team went to the game that night. It was really great of Bruce to step up and do that," said Keenan.
FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS: After spending the entire season on the practice roster, Jarrett Toll suited up last weekend for the regular-season finale against Vancouver and the move paid off.
"He played really well. He got a goal but what really impressed me was that his defense was outstanding," noted Keenan.
Toll has played for both the Rush and the University of Alberta Golden Bears hockey team since coming to Edmonton in 2011.
Tickets are available for the team's first franchise home playoff game, Friday, May 16 at 8:00 pm on Crystal Glass Field at Rexall Place by calling the Rush Office - 780 732-RUSH (7874).
Notes: NLL Two-Game Series Rules and Regulations Teams who win both games shall win the two-game series. In the event of a series split with both teams winning one game, a 10-minute tiebreaker game will be played immediately following the conclusion of Game Two to determine the winner of the playoff series.
The rules for the 10-minute tiebreaker game are as follows:
- All penalties will carry over from the four quarters previously played in Game Two of the series. This will include any accrual rules for major penalties (Rule 38.2) and any penalties for that matter (minors, majors, misconducts, match penalties) that were not able to be served in its entirety prior to the end of the fourth quarter. Players who are ejected during Game Two of the series during the first four quarters of the game, are NOT permitted to play in the 10-minute overtime and five-minute sudden death overtime periods.
- The goalies will change ends at the end of the fourth quarter for the beginning of the 10-minute overtime. Should the game be tied at the end of the overtime, the goalies shall change ends prior to the beginning of the five-minute sudden death overtime.
- Teams shall have one timeout per 10-minute overtime period, and one timeout per five-minute sudden death period. They cannot be carried over (Rule 14).
- There shall be one media timeout under the five minute mark of the 10-minute overtime period.
- Instant replay challenges: In the 10-minute overtime period, teams will have one challenge flag opportunity. Officials shall still initiate reviews less than two minutes in the fourth quarter of the game, will initiate challenges two minutes or less in the 10-minute overtime period, and will initiate reviews in the entire five-minute sudden death period. Head coaches will not be able to challenge any plays in the five-minute sudden death period (Rule 17.8).
- Illegal substitution resulting in a penalty shot during the less than two minutes in the fourth quarter shall remain in tact. Should an illegal substitution occur less than two minutes in the 10-minute overtime period, there will be a penalty shot assessed. Also, should an illegal substitution occur anytime in the five-minute sudden death overtime period, it shall be a penalty shot awarded to the non offending team (Rule 56.8).
- Interval length between the fourth quarter and the 10-minute overtime and the 10-minute overtime and 5 minute sudden death overtime periods, shall be a two-minute interval unless TV requires more or less per rule (Rule 10.1).
The new playoff format was made official this past offseason when the league reached an accord with the Professional Lacrosse Players' Association for a new seven-year Collective Bargaining Agreement through the 2020 NLL season.
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National Lacrosse League Stories from May 5, 2014
- Rush Playoff Season Begins - Edmonton Rush
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
