Coach admits idle Rush would rather be playing
Derek Keenan figures his Saskatchewan Rush could use a break.
They’ve got a bye in the first round of the National Lacrosse League playoffs, which means two weeks between games — a prize earned by finishing first in the West Division.
But when Keenan rolls the idea around in his head, he arrives at this conclusion: Rest aside, playing a meaningful game this weekend wouldn’t have been all bad.
“The only advantage for us is we get a rest. To be honest, we’d rather be playing,” said Keenan, the Rush head coach and general manager. “Typically, you come off bye weeks and you’re not too sharp. Then again ... we had (the bye) the last two years, and we won championships.”
The two-time defending champion Rush will take a sideline seat Saturday while the Vancouver Stealth host the Colorado Mammoth in a sudden-death division semifinal. The survivor of that clash — both teams went 9-9 this season — will play the Rush in a short series that starts the following weekend.
And from there, Saskatchewan will aim to defend its two straight NLL titles — though Keenan prefers not to think of it in those terms.
“We talked at the beginning of the season about how we don’t really look at defending anything. We just look at ourselves as one of nine teams trying to win a championship,” he said.
“There’s no added pressure or incentive to try and win three in a row. We’re just another team trying to win.”
Saskatchewan went 12-6 during the regular season, making them one of just two NLL teams with records above .500. In the East Division, Georgia pieced together a league best 13-5 record.
Keenan’s team, which is banged up, didn’t practise this week. They didn’t practise last season, either, during that first-round bye. They made it work.
That second-round series against Vancouver or Colorado will be a two-game affair. If they’re tied at a game apiece after those two contests, they’ll play a 10-minute tiebreaker immediately after the second match to determine which team moves into the league final against the East Division champion.
“I’m happy with our season,” Keenan said when asked to assess his team’s progress.
“I wouldn’t say I’m thrilled with it, because we’ve been a little upand-down, but I think we have our best lacrosse ahead of us, without a doubt. Despite the fact we have some rookies, guys that are new to the playoffs, we have a veteran team that’s been through this before. And we have another level we
Typically, you come off bye weeks and you’re not too sharp.
can play at — a higher level.”
As to Saskatchewan’s immediate future, Keenan said he has no preference when it comes to second-round opponents. During the regular season, Saskatchewan was 2-1 against Vancouver (16-12 win, 13-9 loss, 16-12 win), and 3-1 against Colorado (8-7 win, 12-11 win, 14-11 loss, 10-9 win).
“Vancouver’s playing really well right now, and Colorado gave us a real tussle on Friday without (sniper Zack) Greer in the lineup,” Keenan said of Saskatchewan’s recent 10-9 win.
“I suspect he’ll be back for the playoffs. They’re good teams in different ways. Vancouver is capable of putting up a lot of goals, and Colorado is an excellent defensive team with outstanding goaltending. No matter who it is, it’s going to be a tough matchup for us.”
In the East Division, Georgia gets the bye while Toronto (9-9) and New England (8-10) meet in Saturday’s sudden-death semifinal game.