Rush NLL West Division Semi-Final Today at 5:30 Pm
April 26, 2013 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Edmonton Rush News Release
Edmonton, AB---The Edmonton Rush will begin defense of their National Lacrosse League West Division title as they travel to Washington to meet the Stealth in the opening round of the Champion's Cup playoffs.
The Rush earned the division crown in 2012 by taking out Calgary and Minnesota in the West before falling to Rochester in the Champion's Cup final. Edmonton, Washington, and Calgary all ended the 2013 regular season tied for first in the division with 9-7 records, but Calgary moved to the top with the best head-to-head record between the three teams. The Rush fell to third in the division after dropping a heartbreaking 12-11 OT decision to the Roughnecks last Saturday. Had the Rush beat Calgary, they would have earned the No. 1 overall seed throughout the NLL playoffs and hosted a playoff game for the first time in franchise history, but instead Edmonton goes on the road to open the playoffs.
However, the Rush were an impressive 7-1 on the road during the '13 regular season including an 18-10 win at Washington early on in the season - a game in which Rush rookie sensation Mark Matthews connected for nine points and was rewarded with the NLL's Rookie of the Week honor. In fact the Rush are 6-2 in their last eight regular-season meetings with the Stealth highlighted by Matthews' six-goal outburst in a 15-10 for Edmonton in the last encounter between the teams. Matthews, who notched back-to-back goals in the fourth quarter to hit the "ÃËsock trick' plateau, earned the NLL's Offensive Player of the Week award for his that performance coupled with a five-goal outing the next night in Colorado.
In the Rush's huge road victory, Ryan Ward, with a hat trick, and two goals from both Corey Small and Brett Mydske added to the Rush count in Washington, with singles going to Zack Greer, Curtis Knight, Jarrett Toll, Jeff Cornwall, Chris Corbeil, Jarrett Davis, and Jeremy Thompson
In the home win against the Stealth, Ryan Ward picked up a six-point night behind two goals and four assists while Craig Conway had a breakout effort with a goal and three assists. Zack Greer, with a pair, Chris Corbeil with a shorthanded marker, Jeff Cornwall, Corey Small, and Jarrett Davis rounded out the Rush scoring.
The Stealth's only victory in the past two regular seasons against the Rush came at Rexall Place earlier in this campaign as Rhys Duch counted four points in a 12-10 Washington win. Corey Small, with a hat trick, Ryan Ward with two, and singles from Alex Turner, Jimmy Quinlan, Mike Burke, Mark Matthews, and Jarrett Davis accounted for the Rush scoring.
The Rush are 9-12 in all-time regular-season meetings against the Washington/San Jose franchise, while the Stealth clutch to the lone playoff victory in the teams' histories - an overtime thriller that sent Washington to the 2010 Champion's Cup final.
The Rush are one of the NLL's hottest teams, entering the playoffs with seven wins in their last 10 games including a five-game road winning streak. But Edmonton lost its chance to host one of the West Semi-Finals by losing to Calgary last Saturday thanks to Shawn Evans' overtime winner 10 minutes into the extra frame. Corey Small and Alex Turner each scored twice for the Rush to go with singles from Brett Mydske, Curtis Knight, Jarrett Davis, Ryan Ward, Jeremy Thompson, and Zack Greer.
Ryan Ward finished the '13 regular season as the Rush's leading scorer, breaking his own single-season franchise record with 75 points, along with setting new club records for assists in a season (54) and power-play assists (16).
Mark Matthews ended the year fifth in the NLL and as the Rush team leader with 38 goals, along with being second on the team with 69 points. Corey Small finished third in team scoring with 64 points, and was second in assists (36) and tied with Zack Greer for second in goals with 28. Matthews and Cory Conway tied for third on the Rush with 31 assists each.
Washington Rhys Duch led the NLL this season with 45 goals and finished second in points with 100.
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National Lacrosse League Stories from April 26, 2013
- Rush NLL West Division Semi-Final Today at 5:30 Pm - Edmonton Rush
- Mr. Consistent: Rhys Duch Wins NLL Goals Title - Washington Stealth
- Rivals Set to Clash in West Division Semifinal - Colorado Mammoth
- Laverty Back for Playoffs - Rochester Knighthawks
- Minnesota Swarm Head to Toronto for First Round of Playoffs - Minnesota Swarm
- Philadelphia Wings Host Playoff Watch Party at Victory Beer Hall in Xfinity Live - Philadelphia Wings
- Rock Hungry as Playoffs Begin Sunday - Toronto Rock
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