Rush Play in Minny Saturday, February 15
February 13, 2014 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Edmonton Rush News Release
Edmonton, AB---Nik Bilic is well aware that the Edmonton Rush and Minnesota Swarm have had their moments of ill-will.
But Saturday's game between the two teams will be Bilic's first on the Rush side of the argument. Most of the grudge comes from the Rush's 15-3 pasting of the Swarm in the 2012 NLL West Division Final, and there's been other moments of the years including a memorable scrap when the Rush's Trent Smalley and the Swarm's Ryan Cousins duked it out before the game's opening faceoff.
Bilic will see things from the Rush perspective after coming over Minnesota as the bonus prize when the teams flipped first-round picks at the 2013 Draft.
"Definitely there's a bit of a rivalry," said Bilic. "Two years ago in the playoffs they knocked us around pretty good and it's probably still in the back of their minds. It's going to be physical and it's going to be a big game."
Bilic's return is a small piece of a giant puzzle that is Saturday's clash at the Xcel Energy Center.
"I can't be more excited about coming back but it's not about me. It's about keeping the streak alive," said the Rush's rugged defender.
The Rush haven't been too chatty about their undefeated start to the season. In fact, Billic's comment really is one of the lone times they've outwardly spoken about the streak - currently at 6-0 and with the opportunity to become just the third team in NLL history to reach a 7-0 beginning to a season (Buffalo in 1993 and 1996).
While they're admittedly having some thoughts about their successful start, the Rush are also well aware that slips can sink their undefeated ship.
"We're extremely happy to be where we're at but, realizing with how competitive the league is, that can turn around anytime if you're not paying attention to detail and not bringing your 'A' game every time out," said Rush assistant coach Jeff McComb.
"If you start looking ahead or looking around at something else, things can go south on you pretty quickly. Every game you're going into it's going to be a war."
"The difference between winning and losing in this league is razor thing. We might be 6-0 and they're 1-5 but in terms of talent level and coaching, it's an extremely even game and we're going to have to bring our 'A' game to be successful."
While the Rush maintain the NLL's best defense, the last three weekends of their undefeated start have shown a slide on the offensive side of the ball. The Rush averaged 15 goals per game in their first three wins of the season - home-and-home victories over Colorado and a clutch home-turf decision over Calgary - but the last three games have yielded a total of just 25 goals. The Rush slipped past Vancouver 9-8 thanks to a torrid comeback and then needed overtime to dodge Rochester at home 8-7. Last weekend, the Rush again managed just eight goals yet they eked out a two-goal victory in Philadelphia.
The Rush aren't expecting many more blowouts like the ones they mustered at home against Colorado (17-6) and Calgary (15-8), but they would like to start finding the back net with the regularity they did earlier in the campaign.
"There's some little things that have crept into our game that we want to correct," noted McComb. "From an overall perspective we still thought we were getting chances and maybe we've got to shoot a little better.
"From a systems perspective, there's two or three big things we want to correct in terms of making sure we're setting good picks, making sure we're swinging the ball, and making sure we're sharing the ball and not getting into one-on-one situations.
"We're a group that needs to share the ball. We're a group that needs to move the ball and work as a five-man unit."
The Rush return home Friday, February 28 on Crystal Glass Field at Rexall Place against Toronto Rock, tickets are available by calling 780 732-RUSH.
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National Lacrosse League Stories from February 13, 2014
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- Minnesota Swarm Hosts Fourth Annual "Seeing Double" Event - Minnesota Swarm
- Rush Play in Minny Saturday, February 15 - Edmonton Rush
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