Minnesota Swarm (9-5 H 6-1 A 3-4)

at
Chicago Shamrox (5-9 H 3-4 A 2-5)

The One Win is Good but Two Wins are Better Edition of Minnesota Swarm Lacrosse

Saturday, April 26, 2008 - 7:00pm CST
Sears Centre
Hoffman Estates, Illinois

Live Statistics

Minnesota Swarm Game Center

TV/Internet/Radio Coverage: None

Webcast: B2 Networks $7.00 per game

More Coverage of this game at:

Swarm v. Shamrox History:

This weekend is the beginning of a home and home series between the two teams to finish the regular season. These two teams have already played each other twice this season with the home team winning each time. On March 14 at the X, the Swarm jumped out to a 7-0 lead and held on to win 13-9. Craig Point (25g 32a) led the Swarm with four goals and two assists. The second game was at the Sears Centre, where the Shamrox scored ten straight goals after being down 5-1 after the first quarter to win 15-10. Andy Secore (26g 42a) led the Swarm with two goals and five assists.

Rosters:

Regular Season Statistics:

2008 NLL Standings

Former Shamrox With The Swarm:

Former Swarm With The Shamrox:

• Brock Boyle (0g 5a)
• Darryl Gibson (0g 0a)

Jon Sullivan - Consecutive Game Streak - 48

The Minnesota Swarm clinched their third straight playoff spot last weekend even though they lost to the Rochester Knighthawks (8-7) by a score of 11-8 on April 19. Sean Pollock (21g 32a) led the Swarm with one goal and three assists. Both Secore and Dan Marohl (5g 9a) each scored two goals.

The Chicago Shamrox's playoff hopes ended last weekend as they were swept on the road. The sweep began in New York on April 18, when the Titans (9-6) doubled up the Shamrox 14-7. The next night, the Shamrox traveled to Buffalo to play the Bandits. The game was close throughout but the Bandits (9-6) finally pulled away with a 13-9 victory.

It is very possible that the Swarm may have already clinched a home playoff game with a win the night before but the #1 seed would still be up for grabs as both the Swarm and the Bandits would still be in contention and both finish the season on Saturday. I think that means don't expect to see much if any changes from the night before unless something drastic and maybe uncontrollable happens on Friday. If there is a bit of a spread late in the game, maybe Kevin Croswell (0-1 14.74 GAA .750 Save %) gets some work but I wouldn't expect him to start.

The Swarm seem to have settled on a defensive line up to go to battle with in the playoffs. The defense now has quite a bit of depth with a nice mixture of both stay at home defenders and players that can run the fast break. Darren Halls (2g 1a) may still be activated off the injured reserve but as the month of April has progressed it looks less and less likely with the emergence of both Colin Achenbach (1g 1a) and Nick "The Vanilla Gorilla" Inch (0g 1a). Lets also remember, the Swarm still have Justin Norbraten (0g 5a), Andrew Biers (2g 1a), Ian Rubel (0g 0a) and Chris Courtney (1g 1a) for added depth on defense and only Norbraten has dressed for even one for a game in April.

This will be it for the Shamrox, their last game this season. With the team supposedly up for sale and attendance probably not as high as desired and expected, their is much uncertainty off the floor about the team. On the floor, the Shamrox have developed a nice nucleus which has ruined many a night for the bigwigs of the East in the second half of the season. I don't expect them to pack it in. They easily could have done it when they were 1-7 but they did not so why expect them do it now. With that out of the way, the Swarm are still the better team and they have much more to play for in the immediate future. Not to mention, the last time they visited Chicago, they disappointed in front of a large group of Swarm fans who travelled on the first official Swarm Road Trip. The sweep is accomplished and the Swarm will clinch the number #1 seed throughout the playoffs at just past 9:00 pm Central Saturday night.

Prediction: Minnesota Swarm 13 Chicago Shamrox 10