Riggers prepared for ultimate playoff test against Edmonton
Calgary will have to work overtime to advance to the Champion’s Cup
Keep the Gatorade on hand because there’s a lot of lacrosse to be played on Saturday night. At least, there is by the Calgary Roughnecks’ reckoning.
Having lost the opener of the twogame National Lacrosse League West Division final against the Edmonton Rush, the Roughnecks must win the regulation game to send it to a 10-minute mini-game. If they don’t get to the mini-game, the news isn’t good.
“You get the body prepared for 70 minutes, maybe more, who knows,” said Riggers defender Dan MacRae. “But we have to focus first five (minutes) at a time because it can get away from you.”
“Seventy minutes of lacrosse,” smiled Calgary defender Mike Carnegie in anticipation. “It’s like playing overtime. Get it to overtime. We’ll take care of Game 2 and anything can happen in that minigame.”
The Roughnecks and Rush meet Saturday (7:30 p.m.) at the Scotia- bank Saddledome (TSN 3, TSN 4, TSN GO) in what will be the final day of the 2015 season for one of these teams. The winner goes on to play in the Champion’s Cup against either the Toronto Rock or Rochester Knighthawks.
Falling behind early was critical in Friday night’s 10-8 loss, as this is no ordinary opponent that will gladly let you back in it. Thus, No. 1 on the to-do list is get the jump on your opponent.
“The point I’m going to keep stressing is our start, just being mentally ready for it,” said MacRae. “I don’t think it’s going to be a problem for us getting up for this game, being the elimination game, being in our barn. If we can get out front and get an early jump on them, we feel that’s what is going to make us successful.”
Game 1 of the series, the Roughnecks hope, was just a blip.
“I think when you reflect back, emotionally we just weren’t into the game,” Carnegie said. “There was a lull in our game. We were building towards getting into the playoffs and then that great (play- off) game against Colorado. The mentality should still be there, but we didn’t rise to the occasion. I’m hoping Saturday we can rise to the occasion.”
The slow start was one component. Another was the Rush’s tenacity in chasing loose balls.
“It felt like they generate a lot of second opportunities. It felt like they limited our second opportunities,” said transition player Geoff Snider. “We talked about it during the course of the game, we have to step that part up. It’s an effort area that’s easily correctable.”
Just one of the small factors that play a huge role in determining the victor.
“I think that’s consistent in every sport,” said Snider. “Greg Harnett, watch his last game, he must have soaked five or six shots, and with the type of shooters that Edmonton has, getting in front of balls is a big deal. Same in hockey, you look at a guy like Lance Bouma, he soaks shots all the time. It’s those little things that make a difference in playoff lacrosse.
“Everybody comes and works hard, everybody’s intense, everybody’s emotional and fired up. It’s the willingness to control your emotions and to focus on the little aspects of the game that are ulti- mately going to be the difference between winning and losing.”
The Rush defence did a decent job trying to handcuff Calgary floor general Shawn Evans, who had a goal and four assists but didn’t have his customary run of the right side.
In the same vein, Calgary defenders must prevent offensive shooters such as Mark Matthews, Zack Greer and Robert Church ( back from injury) from having free rein in front of goalie Frankie Scigliano.
“Church is good, obviously,” said Carnegie. “But Marty (Dinsdale) had a goal for them last weekend so they’ve had guys come up and play well. We’re not going to key on him or anything like that. If anything, we’ll make it tough on him, coming back after an injury, just like anyone else out there.”
“They’re one of the most balanced attack units in the National Lacrosse League,” added MacRae. “Look for us to make it easier on ourselves by not getting overly extended and chasing guys around.
“We’re that much closer to our goal, so there’s more drive and more motivation for this game than in the past. But we’re tested, we know how to control the highs and the lows.”