Portland Seeks Second Win In Minnesota

February 9, 2008 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Portland Lumberjax News Release


PORTLAND, February 9, 2008 - Fresh off scoring a season-high 12 goals, the Portland LumberJax (1-4) travel to Minnesota to meet the East Division leading Swarm (5-0) at 1 p.m. at the Xcel Energy Center on Sunday, February 10.

This is the fourth straight road game for the Jax, who are currently 1-2 on the long trip.

The road swing began on Jan. 26, when the Jax fell 13-6 to the Calgary Roughnecks. Derek Malawsky scored two goals and added two assists in the losing effort.

Feb.2 featured the first of three meetings between Portland and the Edmonton Rush. The Jax scored a season-high five first quarter goals en route to an 11-10 victory. The game featured five ties and four lead changes as Malawsky scored a hat trick and buried the game winner with 2:23 left in the game.

On Feb. 7, Portland fell to the Colorado Mammoth 15-12. The Mammoth remained perfect on the season as six Colorado players scored two goals or more for the balanced scoring attack.

Jax goalie Dallas Eliuk stopped 17 of the 18 shots he faced as the National Lacrosse League ironman became the first player in league history to play in 200 career regular season games. The milestone validates the stellar career of the NLL's all-time saves leader (6,240).

After only putting a Jax career-low two shots on goal against Edmonton, forward Ryan Powell had eight shots on net against Colorado, scoring on four of them. Powell's four goals tied him with fellow forward Peter Morgan for the franchise lead in goals scored (43). He's also the franchise leader in assists (68) and points scored (111).

Powell has also scored at least one point in all 32 regular season games he's appeared in with Portland in addition to tallying an assist in 31 straight regular season games.

On the cusp of a three game home stand that will keep Portland in the Rose City for the remainder of the month, the Jax have one final road game before returning to the friendly confines of the Rose Garden Arena.

The series history between Portland and Minnesota is quite brief. The teams have met only three times, with the Swarm holding a 2-1 edge over the Jax. On 3/17/06, Minnesota won the first ever meeting between the two clubs 14-12 at the Rose Garden.

Not even a month later, Portland sought vengeance in a 13-8 win over Minnesota on 4/15/06 at the Xcel Energy Center.

The Swarm won last year's meeting 11-8 at the Rose Garden in the third battle between the two clubs on 2/2/07.



National Lacrosse League Stories from February 9, 2008


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