Rush Hold No Secrets for NLL West Division Final
Published on May 8, 2014 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Edmonton Rush News Release
Derek Keenan, the Edmonton Rush's GM/head coach, has said all year that in a tight nine-team league where parity is ever-evident, it's virtually impossible to keep anything under wraps.
That's only become more magnified in the second round of the NLL Champion's Cup playoffs. There's only four teams left, and fittingly the West Division Final comes down to two teams that know each other very well.
For the third time in franchise history, the Rush will meet the Calgary Roughnecks in the playoffs, and the Rush have two wins in West Semifinal clashes coming in 2010 and 2012. This time, however, it's the West Final, and a two-game series that kick off in Calgary on Saturday night. Although the Roughnecks won the fourth and final meeting of the regular season with an overtime verdict just three weeks ago, the Rush dominated their way to three victories over the Roughnecks this earlier season, including two on the Saddledome turf. In each win, the Rush scored 15 goals and those verdicts paced Edmonton to a league-best 16-2 regular-season record.
But now this is the playoffs and the winner of the two-game series earns their shot at latching onto the Champion's Cup.
"The stakes are higher now and our guys are ready," said Keenan. "We had an opportunity to watch (the Roughnecks) live last week and see how the intensity level and everything on the floor increased. The speed, the intensity, everything was ramped up and it's going to be the same this weekend." Rush owner Bruce Urban footed the bill for his troops to practice in Calgary last weekend and the entire team then watched the Roughnecks stave off elimination in a one-game Semifinal, pulling off a 16-15 close shave against the Colorado Mammoth.
"It was great to get together and experience what the atmosphere is going to be like there and now we all know what to expect," said Rush defenceman Kyle Rubisch. "We know what they're capable of playing them four times this season. They have a really explosive offense and we know they can dictate a game with their athletic defense." Calgary's offense managed just 17 more goals than Edmonton during the regular season but the Roughnecks boast one of the most dangerous scoring units in NLL history with the likes of Shawn Evans, Curtis Dickson, Dane Dobbie and Jeff Shattler. That foursome helped Calgary lead the NLL with 237 goals, but the Rush will counter with the league's stingiest defense, one that surrendered only 157 goals in 18 games. The Edmonton group is highlighted by Rubisch, the two-time defending NLL Top Defensive Player, top scoring rearguard Chris Corbeil, and goaltender Aaron Bold, who lead the league in wins and goals-against average.
With so much equality and so many checks and balance on both sides of the ball, there's going to be little left that separates these teams after two head-on collisions.
"We need to be disciplined in all areas of the game - our defensive scheme, in transition, and on offense, and we have to stay out of the penalty box," said Keenan. "If we can execute what we do well and counter what Calgary does well then we'll have a good opportunity. But if you waver from that and lose your composure, they're so good at jumping on you quickly and getting you in trouble." The rivalry is heated but cooler heads will have the better shot at prevailing.
"Discipline is going to be a huge factor, especially on the road," added Rubisch. "You're going to have to check your emotions because putting Calgary on the power play is dangerous because they have so many weapons to hurt you.
"You're going to have to know when to make your push and when to hold back on certain things."
National Lacrosse League Stories from May 8, 2014
- Rush Hold No Secrets for NLL West Division Final - Edmonton Rush
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