New York Titans Look For Revenge In Minnesota Saturday
Published on April 2, 2008 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Orlando Titans News Release
New York, NY -- The New York Titans (6-5) of the National Lacrosse League look to move into fourth place in the East as they take on the second place Minnesota Swarm (7-4) at the Xcel Energy Center this Saturday at 8pm ET for the second time this season.
Although the Swarm are in second place in the East, the Titans are only one game behind them. In the NLL, the top four teams in both the East and West conferences earn playoffs spots. The Titans are currently in fifth place in the East, one half game behind the 7-5 Buffalo Bandits. If the Titans win against Minnesota and the Bandits lose to Colorado on Saturday, the Titans will take over the fourth place spot. But it's still anyone's game in the East. Even Philadelphia's spot at the top of the rankings has become precarious, after losing two games in a row the past two weeks and earning a 7-3 record.
Coming off a bye-week this past weekend, the Titans are well rested after a huge 20-13 win over first place Philadelphia on Saturday, March 22. At the time, the Titans were only the second team in the league to have beaten the Wings.
This is the second time the Titans face the Swarm this season. The first time was on February 8, which was the very end of the Titans four-game losing streak. The Titans dropped that game to the Swarm 16-9. Since the loss to the Swarm on Feb 8, the Titans have played six games and won five.
It's safe to say the Swarm will see a whole different Titans team on Saturday.
"It was a while ago but our guys remember it," Titans head coach Adam Mueller said about the loss on February 8 on a media call Wednesday. "[Minnesota] has had our number. They are an experienced group and very talented. But we've been playing good ball and controlling the tempo a bit better ever since that game. In fact we won the game we played the next day."
Against the teams they have played twice this season, the Titans have beaten every team they were defeated by in the first half of the schedule. The Buffalo Bandits served the Titans their first loss of the season on January 19. When the Titans met up with Buffalo for the second time at home at the Garden on February 10th, they notched their first home win and their first ever win against the Bandits. On January 26, the Titans suffered a 14-10 loss to the Toronto Rock. But when the Titans returned to the Air Canada Center on March 14, they exacted revenge, beating the Rock with the same score that did them in earlier in the season: 14-10. Finally, the Titans fell to their east coast rivals the Philadelphia Wings on February 29th but answered back with a vengeance on March 22 when they beat the Wings 20-13.
Minnesota is the last team the Titans face who they dealt them a loss earlier this season.
"Our players know what this game means to us and as long as we play the way we have been playing - controlling tempo and playing efficiently - we believe we have a chance to win," Mueller said. "I do think the motivation to beat a team that has beaten us is there."
Entering the game on Saturday, the Titans lead the league in power play goals with 44 and are fifth in the league in penalty killing percentage with 60.27 %. Titans starting goalie Matt Vinc is second in league in total saves with 394, right behind Minnesota goaltender Nick Patterson and Titans captain Casey Powell is sixth in the league in points with 63 off of 25 goals and 38 assists.
The Titans return to the Garden on Saturday, April 12 at 8pm, when they take on the Colorado Mammoth. The team plays three weekends in a row at the Garden with home games on the 12th, the 18th and the 26th.
"If we can win this weekend it will be huge for us, it will get us to a point we've wanted to be in all season," Mueller added. "And getting to play at the Garden three times in April will be nice for us."
Titans 2008 Season and Group Tickets are now available by calling 888-8TITANS or contact the Titans at tickets@nytitans.com. The Titans' April Three Game Pack starts as low as $45 for the Titans final three home games at the World's Most Famous Arena. Log onto www.nytitans.com for information on the Titans 2008 season schedule.
National Lacrosse League Stories from April 2, 2008
- Shamrox' Player Cody Jacobs Named NLL Offensive Player and Overall Player of the Week - Chicago Shamrox
- Rush Duo Named in NLL's Weekly Honours - Edmonton Rush
- Champion's Cup Playoff Dates Announced - Edmonton Rush
- New York Titans Look For Revenge In Minnesota Saturday - Orlando Titans
- MacLeod earns first NLL weekly honor - Rochester Knighthawks
- Chicago's Jacobs named Player of Week - NLL
- Chicago's Jacobs named Player of Week - NLL
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.
