NLL Trade Deadline passes quietly

March 18, 2014 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Edmonton Rush News Release


Edmonton, AB--- As thought, the National Lacrosse League's trade deadline was relatively quiet, specifically for General Manager and Head Coach Derek Keenan.

Keenan had stated that it was highly unlikely that the team would be doing anything, but the thought of never say never was there.

Keenan's view is logical. It simply comes down to a pair of age-old adages - why mess with a good thing, and if it ain't broke don't fix it.

"Our chemistry and cohesion is very good right now so it would have to be something I feel would completely take us over the top but at the same time not upset what we have built," Keenan added.

The Edmonton Rush will look to take their incredible record-setting winning streak to 11 games when they take on the Buffalo Bandits on Friday night on Crystal Glass Field at Rexall Place for 7:30 pm start.

The Rush have already set the record for the best-ever start to a National Lacrosse League season, eclipsing the 8-0 mark set in 1993 by the Bandits, and are now just three wins away from establishing a new NLL mark for longest regular-season winning streak. The record of 12 consecutive regular-season wins is held by the 2007 edition of the Rochester Knighthawks.

With last Friday's 15-7 blasting of the Calgary Roughnecks plus Buffalo's win over Colorado the following night, the Rush became the first team to clinch a playoff spot this season, and extended their overall road winning streak to 11 games. The Rush, who now have a 4.5-game lead over Calgary in the NLL's West Division, have won five straight on the road this season, and were victorious in their final six away games last season including a 14-7 verdict in Buffalo.

The Rush continue to boast the league's most dominant defense, having surrendered just 80 goals through 10 games. Rush goalie Aaron Bold leads all NLL netminders with nine wins and an 8.19 goals-against average.

The Rush have met the Bandits just four times in regular-season play and have won three straight against Buffalo. Last season's win came in the Rush's first-ever visit to Buffalo and was orchestrated by a seven-point outing including four goals from injured Rush forward Corey Small. Curtis Knight notched a hat trick in the win while both Jarrett Davis and Ryan Ward registered a goal and four assists. Zack Greer, with two, Chris Corbeil, with a shorthanded marker, Mark Matthews, and Brett Mydske rounded out Edmonton's scoring while Aaron Bold registered 35 saves.

Buffalo has not beaten the Rush since the teams' first met in 2008 when former Rush Mike Accursi along with Mark Steenhuis each accounted for eight points in a 13-8 win in Edmonton.

Edmonton racked up its second win of the year over the arch-rival Roughnecks last Friday, scoring seven goals in the second quarter en route to the 15-7 win. The Rush have now outscored Calgary 30-15 in their two meetings this season.

Zack Greer led the Rush with a first-half hat trick with one coming on the power play, while former Roughneck Cory Conway haunted his former mates, registering five points including a pair of goals coming 1:53 apart (one on the power play). Chris Corbeil, with two unassisted goals, Mark Matthews and Curtis Knight, with two apiece, Ryan Dilks, Jeff Cornwall, Nic Bilic, and Jeremy Thompson added goals to the Rush attack.

Mark Matthews holds down top spot on the Rush in points (44) and assists (25), and is tied for the goal-scoring lead with Curtis Knight at 19. Knight is second on the team with 36 points, Zack Greer is second in goals with 15, and Cory Conway and Jarrett Davis are tied for second in assists with 23.



National Lacrosse League Stories from March 18, 2014


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