Titans Look To Rebound Against Rock
Published on March 26, 2010 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Orlando Titans News Release
Note: Due to schedule conflicts with Westwood One Broadcasting and the NCAA Basketball Tournament, Saturday's game broadcast between Toronto and Orlando has been moved from ESPN 1080 AM to WAMT 1190 AM.
With more than a third of the National Lacrosse League season yet to be played, it might be a little early to be throwing around the terms like "vital" and "must win."
But for Orlando head coach Ed Comeau and Toronto counterpart Troy Cordingley, Saturday's match-up between the Titans and Rock has a definite post-season feel to it.
"At this point in the season, every game begins to feel like a playoff game," Comeau said. "There are so many teams bunched up in our division, one loss can drop you three for four spots in the standings. This game, particularly after how we played last week, becomes an incredibly important game for us."
One quick glance at the standings confirms that point. At 6-4, the Titans lead the division and would be in line to host the first two rounds of the NLL playoffs. But only 1.5 games separate first place Orlando from fifth place Buffalo (5-6), who would not make the playoffs if the post-season started today.
"The parity is what makes this league so great," Comeau said. "Last year 10-6 was good enough to win the division and it certainly looks lit it may be good enough this year."
Several times this year, it appeared that Orlando was poised to take control of the division, only to suffer devastating losses. Examples include a heart-breaking 12-11, double overtime loss to Boston in a game that Orlando led 11-9 with just 30 seconds remaining.
Then there was an that impressive 16-12 win over Toronto on Feb. 27, only to see the team stumble badly against Buffalo the following week, falling behind 8-2 at the half before losing 12-10.
Orlando would then sweep a back-to-back over Philadelphia and Rochester and have an opportunity to tie Washington for the best record in the league, only to be dominated last week by Calgary.
For Toronto, Saturday's game represents and opportunity break a losing streak and regain first place in the East. The Rock got off to a league-best 6-1 start, only to lose four straight games.
Toronto was idle last week and will be looking for their first win since Feb. 12. "We're not going to approach this game any differently," Cordingley said. "The fact of the matter is that we left a few games slip away from us in past couple of weeks. It's just a matter of us believing in ourselves, believing in our system and playing the way we are capable of."
The game will be a match-up between the NLL's best offense and its best defense. Toronto comes into the game averaging a league-best 12.9 goals per game; while the Titans defense has allowed just 9.6 goals per game.
Orlando will be faced with the task of slowing down the dynamic duo of Colin Doyle (17-49-66) and Garrett Billings (25-36-61), who currently rank two-three in the National Lacrosse League points' race. Add Blaine Manning (24-32-56) and Toronto's offense feature three of the top six point scorers in the league.
The Titans will counter with a defense that has held opposing offenses in check for most of the season. The stellar play of goaltender Matt Vinc and the efforts of defenseman Bill Greer, Rory Smith, Pat Merrill, Matt Zash, Steve Peyser and Greg Peyser have keyed a defensive effort that has not allowed more than 13 goals in any one game and has held opponents to under 10 goals on five different occasions.
"This game has all the elements of a great contest," Comeau said. "The battle for first place, two division rivals, and a couple of teams trying to get the bad taste of out their mouths."
"Coming off of last week's loss, there's no question Orlando did not play like they wanted to," Cordingley added. "I would image we are in for a pretty good battle."
Game time is 7:35 p.m. from Amway Arena. For tickets and information, call 407-601-6516.
TITANS NOTES: The NLL issued a ruling Thursday night suspending defenseman RORY SMITH for one gameSmith's suspension was the result of a hit on Calgary forward Tracey Kelsukythe league ruled the hit was illegal and Smith was issued a game misconduct penaltybecause the it was his 4th game misconduct of the season (the first three were issued on one play in season opener against Philadelphia), he was automatically suspended for one game by rulethe Titanswho believe the hit was legal-- have filed an appeal on Smith's behalf which would make him eligible to play against Toronto this weekendCASEY POWELL's two goals against Calgary last week game him 200 for his NLL career; while RYAN BOYLE's 75th career goal as a Titan moved him past BRENDAN MUNDORF and into 4th place on the franchise's all-time goals scored listPOWELL participated in the Great American Hamburger Cookoff, a fundraiser for the RONALD McDONALD HOUSES in Orlando at Johnny's Fillin' Station on Thursday NightPowell's creation "THE TITAN BURGER" wowed fans enough to take second place in the taste-test contest, losing out by a scant two votes to 106.7 radio personality JAYDE.
National Lacrosse League Stories from March 26, 2010
- Roughnecks fall to Swarm - Calgary Roughnecks
- Washington Stealth Escape Colorado With 15-14 Win in Colorado - Washington Stealth
- Mammoth fall short to Stealth at home - Colorado Mammoth
- Knighthawks Announce Details Of 'Breast Cancer Night' - Rochester Knighthawks
- Titans Look To Rebound Against Rock - Orlando Titans
- Denver Artist Brian Olsen Among Blackout Night Highlights - Colorado Mammoth
- Swarm To Rexall - Edmonton Rush
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