Colorado Mammoth at Edmonton Rush
February 20, 2009 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Edmonton Rush News Release
Edmonton, AB--The Edmonton Rush will look to end a three-game losing skid and pick up their second win of the season against the division-rival Colorado Mammoth in a rare Sunday night matchup in the National Lacrosse League.
This is the second of three meetings this season between the two clubs. The Rush captured their first-ever victory over the Mammoth on Jan. 24 with an 11-9 decision in Denver - a win that snapped a three-season, seven-game winless slump against Colorado. But the Rush have lost three straight since that win including back-to-back decisive defeats to San Jose and Toronto when Edmonton gave up 16 goals in each game.
The Rush are currently last in the NLL's West Division, 3.5 games back of division-leading Calgary. Colorado sits second in the West, just one game back of Calgary.
Ryan Benesch led the way for the Rush in the win over Colorado as he sparked the offence with three goals and five assists. Dan Teat also was a key contributor with three goals and four assists while Andy Secore and Jason Wulder chipped in four points apiece. Chris Levis, playing against his former club, made 43 saves between the pipes for Edmonton.
Prior to that win in Denver, the Rush had stumbled through seven games against the Mammoth. In fact, the Rush have suffered some of their worst setbacks when facing the perennial NLL powerhouse including the most-lopsided loss in team history. Goaltenders Curtis Palidwor and Matt King were bombarded with 54 shots as the Rush were pounded 15-4 last season in Denver.
The Rush lost all three meetings with the Mammoth in 2008, beginning with a 14-11 loss in the season-opener in Denver. Former Mammoth Ben Prepchuk, Mike Accursi and A.J. Shannon each had five points for the Rush in that game. Edmonton was also beaten at home by the Mammoth 13-8 on the tail-end of a home-and-home weekend series with Colorado. Jimmy Quinlan led the Rush attack with five assists while Mike Hominuck chipped in two goals and two assists.
In the Rush's inaugural season of 2006, they were topped 15-10 at Colorado and 13-7 at Rexall Place. A year later, the Mammoth swept both games from the Rush by scores of 16-9 in Edmonton and 16-7 in Denver. Veteran Chris Gill helped the Rush attack in those two games with a three goals and was then dealt to the Mammoth later in the season.
STAR BRIGHT: Edmonton's Dan Teat has been named to the starting six for the West Division at the NLL All-Star Game slated for March 7 at the Pepsi Center in Denver. Teat is tied for third in the league with 17 goals and is ninth in the league with six power-play markers. He is also in 10th spot for points with 33. This is Teat's second All-Star Game selection - his first with the Rush since coming to the team in a trade with Buffalo. Defenseman, Ian Hawksbee has been named to the 2009 Western Division All-Star Team. Hawksbee is 2nd in the Rush in loose balls with 66 and will make his first All-Star Game appearance. The 25-year-old Vancouver, BC resident sits eighth in the league with loose balls.
Statistically Speaking: Ryan Benesch sits second in Rush scoring with 23 points as well as second in goals with nine. Andy Secore is third in points with 20 and is tied for third for goals with Jason Wulder at seven ... Chris Levis is ninth among NLL goaltenders with a .769 save-percentage and he stands 13th in goals-against average at 11.93. Steve Dietrich is tied for 10th in save-percentage at .765 and is 15th in GAA at 12.48 ... The Rush's power play is seventh in the league at 44.8% (17 goals in 38 opportunities) but the unit has surrendered a league-high six shorthanded goals. Edmonton's penalty-killing continues to struggle and is worst in the NLL at 44.4% (15 goals against in 27 opportunities). Colorado's power play is last in the league at 30.8% (eight goals in 26 opportunities) but the Mammoth penalty-killing ranks second at 63.9% (13 goals against in 36 opportunities).
By The Numbers: This will be the Rush's third home game of the season and the club currently sits seventh in attendance with an average of 7,157 ... Edmonton native Jamie Shewchuk sits third in Mammoth scoring with 18 points ... Former Rush Team MVP Curtis Palidwor, who was released in training camp, was signed by Colorado after starting netminder Gee Nash went down with an injury.
Saturday, February 21, 2009 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Rush Practice
Trans Alta Tri-Leisure Centre, Spruce Grove
9:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m. Rush Practice
Trans Alta Tri-Leisure Centre, Spruce Grove
Sunday, February 22, 2009 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Rush Shoot Around
4:40 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Pre-Game Warm Up #1
5:20 p.m. - 5:40 p.m. Pre-Game Warm Up #2
6:00 p.m. Game Time
TOC lines are available from Rexall Place
National Lacrosse League Stories from February 20, 2009
- Toronto Rock lose OT heartbreaker to Bandits - Toronto Rock
- Boston Blazers Mitch Belise and Anthony Cosmo Named to 2009 NLL All-Star Game - Boston Blazers
- Special Offer for Titans Fans - Orlando Titans
- Colorado Mammoth at Edmonton Rush - Edmonton Rush
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