Edmonton Rush Game Notes For Boston

Published on March 19, 2010 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Edmonton Rush News Release


Edmonton, AB--The Edmonton Rush will look to post their first four-game winning streak in franchise history and move into first place in the National Lacrosse League's West Division when they take on the Boston Blazers Saturday night.

This will be the first-ever meeting between the two clubs since Boston joined the NLL in 2008.

Edmonton is just one-half game behind West Division-leading Washington and the Rush hold a game in hand on the Stealth. The Rush, who are on their way to a first-ever playoff berth in franchise history, hold a one-game lead on third-place Calgary, and are two games up on fourth-place Minnesota. The Rush have not lost since a setback in Toronto on Feb. 12 and since then have beaten Toronto, Rochester, and Colorado.

A victory over Boston would also extend the Rush's season-long winning streak at Rexall Place to four games as Edmonton is the lone NLL club that is undefeated on home turf this season. The Rush have played the fewest home games of any NLL club to this point in the season with just three of their first nine games contested at Rexall Place. Edmonton is one of just three NLL teams to have a.500 or better record on the road.

Boston is currently tied for third in the NLL's East Division with Rochester, both teams just one-half game back of second-place Toronto and 11/2 games behind division-leading Orlando.

The Rush extended their winning streak to three games with last weekend's 13-9 verdict in Colorado. Ex-Mammoth star Gavin Prout anchored the Rush attack with four goals while Ryan Ward supplied a seven-point effort behind three goals and four assists. Andy Secore had a strong night in a playmaking role as he chipped in five assists. Ryan Powell added two goals with singles going to Ryan McNish, Dane Stevens, Corey Small, and Jimmy Quinlan. Goaltender Matt Disher turned in one of his top outings of the season as he made 45 saves including a stop on a penalty shot.

Thanks to his seven-point game, Ryan Ward moved into 15th place among the league's top goal scorers with 19 and into 20th spot in league scoring with 41 points so far this season. Gavin Prout is just two points back of Ward in team scoring and is tied for 20th in the league with 25 assists. Andy Secore is second on the Rush with 15 goals, one ahead of Prout, and Secore and Brodie Merrill are tied for third in scoring with 29 points.

Dan Dawson, one of the premier offensive stars in the NLL, leads Boston in scoring with 48 points. The Blazers were the only active team at the NLL trade deadline, acquiring former Rush forward Mat Giles from Philadelphia.

Special Guest: Rush strength and conditioning coach Randy Couture, a former UFC world heavyweight and light heavyweight champion, will make his first appearance at a Rush game. Couture is coming off a victory over fellow Hall of Famer Mark Coleman.

Statistically Speaking: Ryan Ward continues to lead the NLL with three shorthanded goals while Gavin Prout and Andy Secore are in the league's top 10 for game-winning goals with two each... Brodie Merrill is ranked second in the NLL with 106 loose balls while Ian Hawksbee is 12th in scoops with 66... Thanks to their overtime win over Rochester two weeks ago, the Rush head into the matchup against Boston with a 7-12 all-time record against opponents from the NLL's East Division... With their offensive breakout last game in Colorado, the Rush cracked the 100-goal plateau for the season, but have still scored the third-fewest goals in the league, ranking only better than Rochester and Colorado. Boston has also scored just 100 goals on the year. Edmonton has, however, surrendered the second-fewest goals in the West Division at 108... Two of the league's top goaltenders will collide in the Rush-Blazers matchup. Boston's Anthony Cosmo is second in the league with a 9.34 goals-against average and stands third in both save-percentage at.800 and saves with 345. Edmonton's Matt Disher leads the NLL with six wins and is fourth in saves with 338.

By The Numbers: Edmonton has the top-ranked home-turf power play on the year, registering at a 63.6% clip at Rexall Place (7-for-11). Overall, the Rush rank eighth on the power play at 37.8% (17-for-45). Boston has the league's worst power play at a lowly 28.1% (16-for-57) and the Blazers have given up six shorthanded goals on the year... The Rush have moved up in penalty-killing, now ranked fifth at 58.3% (20 goals in 48 shorthanded situations) and they have notched six shorthanded goals on the season. Boston's penalty-killing is fourth in the league at 61.4% (22 goals in 57 shorthanded situations)... Despite not making any deals at the trade deadline, the Rush did make some moves this week. The club released Justin Norbraten, moved John Lintz to the active roster, and signed defender Luke Forget. Lintz was originally the Rush's 34th overall pick in the 2007 NLL Entry Draft but was released and signed by Calgary before rejoining Edmonton this season. Forget set career bests last season with Portland collecting 10 points and 89 loose balls.

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