Game Preview - Halifax vs Albany
Published on January 12, 2023 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Halifax Thunderbirds News Release
Back on Track
The Thunderbirds and FireWolves met for the first time this season at MVP Arena in Week 6.
The pair of East Division foes went back and forth for most of the contest, but the Thunderbirds were able to use the second and fourth quarters to pull away from the FireWolves.
The teams were knotted at 9-9 heading into the final 15 minutes of the game, and after Nick Chaykowsky put Albany ahead in the early stages of the fourth with a transition goal, Halifax answered in a massive way, scoring five of the final six goals of the game to bounce back on the road against a tough opponent.
Randy Staats led the way with two goals and 10 points on the night, with Eric Fannell and Chris Boushy each chipping in four goals apiece. Goaltender Warren Hill also made 41 saves to earn his second victory of the season.
SCOUTING THE THUNDERBIRDS
The Thunderbirds continue to have their family-style offence take precedence to open the year. The biggest names on the roster are getting their points on a nightly basis, but the support players have been a huge piece of the puzzle.
Fannell and Boushy scored eight of the team's 14 goals in the last game. The early story of the season has been the re-emergence of Staats, who is on pace for the best season of his career after missing the last year due to injury. He currently leads the National Lacrosse League in points with 33 through four outings.
Ryan Benesch, Cody Jamieson, and Clarke Petterson all sit at 24 points, with each averaging six points a game. Boushy also leads the team in goals with 13 through his first four outings.
Jake Withers continues to be a story for Halifax. He won 27 of 29 draws (93.1 percent) last weekend against Albany. He currently sits at a ridiculous 80 percent for the season. Withers' draw dominance paired with the high offensive efficiency gives the Thunderbirds a chance in any game.
Hill also had a bounce-back performance in net. He was able to boost his stats with a strong performance, making some big saves down the stretch to help the team make a run late. He currently owns a 12.24 goals-against average and a .750 save percentage.
SCOUTING THE FIREWOLVES
Despite the absence of Doug Jamieson in net last weekend, Justin Geddie was extremely impressive in his second career start. He was able to make 52 saves - unfortunately for him in a losing effort.
Through the team's first three games, Connor Kelly is the leader in scoring, with 16 points over that span. Tanner Thomson (3 G, 8 A) and Ethan Walker (5 G, 6 A) round out the top three for the FireWolves.
The team likes to turn loose ball pickups into quick transition opportunities. The FireWolves tried to catch the Thunderbirds before they could get settled defensively. That will likely be where they can cause issues for Halifax and try to produce offensive chances.
Geddie could be back in the cage for this contest, but if Doug Jamieson is activated from the Physically Unable to Play list, it's hard to imagine the former Goalie of the Year not getting the nod.
BROADCAST INFO
Fans can catch the Thunderbirds in action at home on TSN for the Game of the Week. Fans in the United States can also see the game on ESPN+
National Lacrosse League Stories from January 12, 2023
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- Game Preview - Halifax vs Albany - Halifax Thunderbirds
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