PLAYOFF CRUNCH
Roughnecks still in NLL chase
There are a number of elements, both tangible and intangible, that go into the making of a National Lacrosse League playoff team.
Special teams, at this time of year, loom as large as any.
“Special teams is something that this team has prided (itself) on the last couple of years,” pointed out Calgary Roughnecks forward Dane Dobbie. “If you have a top power play and a top penalty kill in the league and guys who can run the ball, you usually have a pretty successful lacrosse team.”
The Roughnecks have been pretty successful the last few weekends, and it couldn’t come at a more opportune time. With three games left in the schedule, Calgary, 6-9, remains a half-game behind Vancouver for the coveted final West Division playoff berth. The teams have a date on April 15 in Langley.
But every weekend is crucial in the Necks’ post-season quest, most urgently Saturday’s tilt against the Buffalo Bandits at the Scotiabank Saddledome. The game, a 7 p.m. start, pits two desperate squads: Buffalo, 5-8, sits a game and a half behind third-place New England in the East.
“I’ve watched numerous games this week and I don’t think their record does them justice,” head coach Curt Malawsky said of the Bandits. “When I watch video, I see the team that went to the Champions Cup ( last year) and that’s the team we need to prepare for.” Dobbie agreed.
“Two games ago we said this is a playoff game, do or die, and we’ve been living with that attitude ever since,” Dobbie said. “Going into this weekend, it’s Game 3 of the playoffs for our team and we must win. We can’t look past Buffalo, they’re a very good team.”
Dobbie has held the hot hand on the Calgary power play this season, scoring 16 times — two behind league leader Robert Church of the Saskatchewan Rush.
“I’ve been lucky to play the same position on the power play for nine of my years here,” Dobbie said. “I play in that shooter’s position, we have a lot of plays drawn up, and fortunately a lot of them go to me. Kudos to the other guys for setting them up.
“There’s nothing better than scoring on the power play and not letting the other team get momentum by killing it off.”
Thanks to some inspired play of late with the man-advantage (62 per cent over three games in March), Calgary’s power play is up to 54 per cent.
“I think Dobes has shot the ball exceptionally well and our top three guys have been real good,” Malawsky said. “Shatts (Jeff Shattler) and Digger (Tyler Digby) digging out loose balls for multiple possessions have been key as well.”
On the penalty kill, Calgary is 50 per cent with nine short-handed goals. The Riggers are second only to New England in times a man down, though the penchant for penalties has shifted noticeably in the second half of the season.
“When we’re talking about penalty kill, obviously we want to be prepared and do a good job,” defender Scott Carnegie said. “But more importantly, not taking penalties. Focusing on being disciplined and reading the situation in a game. If we’ve had a few power plays in a row, generally you’re due for a penalty. That’s kind of how it works.
“I think (early in the season) we had more penalty minutes than a few teams combined. That may be why we struggled for a month and a half. It has to be in the back of your mind, something you may have got away with a few years ago is probably not going to happen anymore.”
“As we go down the stretch, everything is magnified,” Malawsky added. “A bad penalty could potentially knock you out of the run to the playoffs. I think our guys understand they have to be very disciplined and kudos to them to have that mental discipline. They’ve done an excellent job of staying the course and not getting distracted.”
Simply put, it will be a critical factor in determining whether these Calgary Roughnecks are playoff-bound in 2017.
“We seem to play better when we’re in desperation mode,” Carnegie said. “We look at it, before the game even starts, we need this game and we have to play desperate and we’ve shown that the last two games.”
Two games ago we said this is a playoff game, do or die, and we’ve been living with that attitude ever since.