Rush Double with Mammoth this Weekend
February 13, 2015 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Edmonton Rush News Release
Edmonton, AB---Colorado and Edmonton are two very similar teams when it comes to their position in the NLL's West Division.
Only one game separates them atop the standings, and through the very early portion of the 2015 schedule, it seems the Mammoth and Rush are the clear-cut frontrunners in the Wild West and they soon could leave Vancouver and Calgary in their dust.
But after their rankings and the fact they reside in the Rocky Mountains, there's very little else when it comes to similarities in the two teams that will square off in a home-and-home weekend series beginning Friday night in Denver and then continuing Sunday afternoon on Crystal Glass Field at Rexall Place in Edmonton.
The Rush are:
*the NLL's stingiest team, giving up only 40 goals through four games
*the league's sturdiest defenders, allowing the lowest number of shots
*the lowest-scoring team in the West Division with 52 goals
*the league's top penalty killers at 70.6%
*the league's seventh-best team on the power play at just 38.5%
The Mammoth are:
*the NLL's most-potent offense, averaging 17.5 goals per game
*the league's most dangerous team on the power play at 57.1%
*flexing their marksmanship with a .246 shooting percentage
*the league's second-worst penalty killers at only 50%
*giving up over 13 goals per game, one of the highest ratios in the league
The weekend double-dip could go a long way in solving the complex riddle of the NLL's West Division.
"I like the back-to-back games," said Rush GM/Head Coach Derek Keenan. "It brings on the great rivalries. It's a great rivalry as it is with Colorado and this just adds to it.
"It's a very level playing field. The day off in between allows you to regroup, get some rest, and get your body prepared for the second game."
Because the divisional rivals have such contrasting styles, it's an opportunity for the respective teams' key players to go head-to-head as well. The Mammoth will step to the plate with explosive offense guns in Adam Jones, John Grant Jr., and Drew Westervelt, while the Rush will counter with defensive brick walls Kyle Rubisch, Chris Corbeil, and Aaron Bold.
"We know they are highly skilled offensively and it's going to be a tough task so we've got to stick to our game plan and play our system right to be successful," said Rubisch, the NLL's three-time reigning Defensive Player of the Year.
END OF THE BENCH: Coach Keenan was asked if backup netminder Tyler Carlson might see some action during the doubleheader. Carlson has yet to get between the pipes since coming over in an off-season trade from Minnesota.
"Aaron is our number one guy. He's good in back-to-backs and he's a super fit guy, but we do need to find an opportunity to get Ty some playing time," said Keenan.
Sunday's game is the first of four in a row at home for the Rush but they do have back-to-back games April 3-4 (home-and-home vs. Vancouver) and April 9-10 (home-and-home vs. Calgary).
RIVALRY RUMBLE: Adding more fuel to the Rush/Mammoth rivalry ... the possibility of a renewed tussle between Edmonton's Nik Bilic and Colorado's Dan Ball. The former Minnesota teammates provided fans at Rexall Place a spirited fight last season.
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National Lacrosse League Stories from February 13, 2015
- Minnesota Swarm Fall to Toronto in East Division Showdown - Minnesota Swarm
- Rock Paste Swarm 16-4 - Toronto Rock
- Rush Double with Mammoth this Weekend - Edmonton Rush
- Stealth Hoping to Break Roughnecks 'Hart' as 'The Hitman' Visits LEC - Vancouver Stealth
- Let's Play Two: Knighthawks Have Two-Game Weekend - Rochester Knighthawks
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