Two Final Road Tests Await

Published on April 7, 2009 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Portland Lumberjax News Release


PORTLAND, April 7, 2009 - The Portland LumberJax enter the 15th week of the 2009 National Lacrosse League season with a game-and-a-half lead over the San Jose Stealth, Colorado Mammoth and Minnesota Swarm for second place in the West Division. This weekend the Jax (7-6) will be concluding their third straight back-to-back weekend.

On Friday, Portland travels to Calgary to meet the Roughnecks at 6:30 p.m. PST at the Pengrowth Saddledome. Then, the Jax travel to Minnesota on Saturday to meet the Swarm at 5 p.m. PST at the Xcel Energy Center. Portland has won two of its last four games.

The Jax are coming off a hard fought, 13-12 overtime win over the Colorado Mammoth. Making his NLL debut, goalie Matt Flindell stumped the Mammoth offense. The Victoria, British Columbia native stopped 49 of the 61 shots he faced to earn the win.

Forward Peter Jacobs (1 goal, 2 assists) scored the game winner off a rebound shot in the extra quarter. For his career, Jacobs has two game winning goals. The other came last March when Portland beat Colorado, 16-15 at the Rose Garden.

Forward Dan Stroup also tallied a season-high three assists in the win and transition player Tyler Codron scooped up eight loose balls. With 74 loose balls on the season, Codron has already set a career-high.

Defenseman Richard Morgan played like a man possessed. Morgan set season-high's in goals (2), assists (2) and points (4). The 6'8" phenom also set a tone for the physicality of the game, accruing 11 penalty minutes in the winning effort.

By beating Colorado, Portland holds the head-to-head advantage if the two teams are tied in the standings. The Jax also own the head-to-head with San Jose.

Since Portland only plays Calgary and Minnesota twice, there is no head-to-head advantage if the teams split their games this season. So, the division win-loss percentage would be the determining factor if the teams are tied in the standings. Portland is 5-5 in the division. Minnesota is only 3-5 in the West Division while Calgary boasts a 7-1 record within the division.

Minnesota (6-8) previously beat Portland, 11-7, in early January. Stroup and forward Peter Morgan scored two goals apiece for Portland in the losing effort. The Swarm were led by Kevin Ross, who scored three goals and added two assists.

This will also be the first meeting between Portland and Calgary (10-3) this year. Saturday's game will serve as a rematch of last season's West Division Championship Game, which Portland won, 16-12 in Calgary. P. Morgan and forward Ryan Powell scored four goals each as Portland won in Calgary for the first time ever.

Two final road tests await the Jax before the NLL Playoffs. With a home playoff game on the line, it's up to the Jax to make themselves at home this weekend.

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National Lacrosse League Stories from April 7, 2009


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