Titans Face Tough Test In Toronto

Published on February 25, 2010 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Orlando Titans News Release


ORLANDO, Fla. (Feb. 26) - Coming off one the toughest losses in franchise history, the Orlando Titans (3-2) hit the road this weekend to take on Eastern Division leaders Toronto (6-3).

After last week's heart-breaking, double overtime loss to Boston, the Titans fell to third place in the highly-competitive East, where just 1.5 games separates first place Toronto from fourth place Boston (4-4).

The Toronto game will pit arguably the best offensive team in the league against arguably the best defensive team in the NLL. The Rock come into the game averaging a league-best 13.3 goals-per-game (120 G, 8 Games), while the Titans are allowing the fewest goals per game (9.2).

"Offensively, Toronto will be a handful," Titans coach Ed Comeau says. "It's a tough place to play and they will be looking to get back on track after a couple of tough losses. Defensively, we are going to need our best effort of the season."

The Titans will have to focus on stopping four outstanding forwards on the Rock's roster. Blaine Manning (23), Garrett Billings (21) and Stephan Leblanc (18) account for three of the top six goal scorers in the NLL. As if the ability of those three were not enough to worry about, the Rock offense still runs through veteran forward Colin Doyle, who leads the league with 42 assists. Doyle is also a major threat to put the ball in the back of the net as he is fourth on team in goals with 14.

Even though the Titans played without star defender Jarett Park (shoulder) last week, Orlando's defense still played well in last week's 12-11 loss. With the game going into double overtime, the team essentially played five plus quarters of action and allowed just nine goals in the first 59:30 of the game.

But the Titans players were not pleased with the efforts that allowed two goals in the final 30 seconds of regulation. "As a team, we just can't allow that to happen," forward Pat Maddalena said. "We had a few small mental breakdowns at the end of the game on both ends of the floor that cost us a win. We obviously need to correct those mistakes, as the road doesn't get any easier this week at Toronto."

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Although the defense continues to play well, Orlando will probably need more offensive production in order to defeat the Rock. Behind the play of Jordan Hall (9 goals-20 assists-29 points) and team captain Casey Powell (13-12-25), the Titans are currently averaging 11.6 goals per game.

Game time is 7:30 p.m. from the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.

TITANS NOTES: Transition star JARETT PARK is still listed as questionable for Saturday's game with a shoulder injury...among full-time starters in the NLL, goalie MATT VINC still leads the league in saves per game (40) and is second in goals allowed per game (8.77)...the upcoming game features perhaps two of the NLL's best goalies, as Toronto's BOB WATSON is first the in league in goals against average at 8.57...Titans third-year forward JORDAN HALL is averaging six points per game (8 goals, 10 assists) in his last three games...in terms of winning percentage, the TITANS could move into no worse than a first place tie in the East with a win over Toronto--regardless of the outcome of Rochester's (5-3) game with Edmonton...in picking up one, five-minute penalty for fighting against Boston, rugged Titans defenseman RORY SMITH has already established a new team record for the most penalty minutes in a single season with 65...nearly 50% (48 of 97) of MIKE McLELLAN's career goals have come with the Titans on a power play...the TITANS hold a 3-2 series edge over the Rock but have lost the last two games of the series...the same two teams meet again in AMWAY ARENA on Mar. 27...Orlando returns home on Mar. 12 against Philadelphia...single game tickets are available by calling 407-601-6516.

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National Lacrosse League Stories from February 25, 2010


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