Minnesota Swarm Begin Back-To-Back with Calgary this Friday

March 31, 2011 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Minnesota Swarm News Release


SAINT PAUL, Minn. - After falling to third place in the West Division last weekend, the Minnesota Swarm (5-6) will have an opportunity to gain ground in the division when it hits the road to take on the first-place Calgary Roughnecks (9-3) this Friday, April 1 at Scotiabank Saddledome. Faceoff is set for 8:30 p.m. CDT.

Both teams will meet again at 6 p.m. on Saturday at Treasure Island Field at Xcel Energy Center to complete a back-to-back.

"We want to go in and win game one of the series," coach Mike Lines said. "Getting the second game back at home is a bonus and ultimately we hope to sweep the series. With our tiebreaker over Washington, moving up to second place in the division is what we are aiming for right now. We'd like to get to first, but obviously we will need some help."

Minnesota still sits one win away from clinching a playoff spot for the fifth time in franchise history. A win on Friday, would also snap a two-game losing streak the Swarm sustained after falling to Edmonton and Buffalo last weekend.

Having won five-straight games, Calgary enters this weekend as one of the league's hottest teams. The Roughnecks have been deadly on offense, and rank second in the league in goals per game at 12.83. Calgary also has three players in the Top 15 in scoring in F Jeff Shattler (25g, 41a), F Dane Dobbie (26g, 34a), and F Scott Ranger (27g, 27a).

"As a team, they blend very well together," Lines said. "Their offense is really clicking and they have a solid defense as well. This series going to be a big challenge for us this weekend."

After posting two goals against Buffalo on Sunday, Minnesota's leading scorer F Ryan Benesch took sole possession of the NLL goal lead with 33. Benesch's 65 points also rank fifth in the league.

Minnesota is 2-7 all-time against Calgary, but won two of three contests last season. The Roughnecks are 4-2 at home this year, while the Swarm has posted a 3-3 record on the road.

Before the Swarm battles Calgary again on Saturday, the National Hockey League's (NHL) Minnesota Wild hosts the Tampa Bay Lightning at 1 p.m. in part of a doubleheader at Xcel Energy Center. Early arriving fans for "Hockey Night at the Hive" will receive thunderstix and fans are encouraged to wear their hockey jerseys to the game, as special guests will be chosen to compete in a hockey themed halftime contest. The turf will come up following the Swarm game for "Cheap-Skate," allowing fans to skate on the ice for a special ticket price of $25.

Download "Blue & Yellow" by Duenday on mnswarm.com, a mixed up variation of the hit "Black & Yellow" by Wiz Khalifa with a Swarm kick.



National Lacrosse League Stories from March 31, 2011


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