Looking to rebound after two losses
Home game against Roughnecks offers a chance to rally, writes Kevin Mitchell.
The Saskatchewan Rush don’t have much experience with twogame losing streaks.
That’s where they’re at now, though — two straight losses have dropped their overall National Lacrosse League record to 3-3 as they head into Saturday’s home date with the Calgary Roughnecks.
Here’s some things to know as the Rush attempt to push ahead of the .500 mark during Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. clash.
RARE AND UNUSUAL
The Rush are into their fourth season in Saskatoon after relocating from Edmonton prior to the 2016 campaign, and they’ve lost two games in a row just one other time during that span.
It happened in 2017, when they started the season 0-2 after losses of 18-10 to Georgia and 13-11 to Toronto.
Those same teams — Georgia and Toronto — have inflicted this current skid, as well. Georgia snapped Saskatchewan’s threegame win streak with a 13-10 win on Jan. 27, and Toronto followed up with a 16-13 victory on Feb. 1.
MIDDLE OF THE PACK
The Rush (3-3) and Roughnecks (4-4) are both one game behind the front-running — and expansion — San Diego Seals, who top the NLL’S Western Division with a 4-2 record.
Vancouver (2-6) and Colorado (1-5) trail the front runners.
In the Eastern Division, Toron- to (6-1), Georgia (7-2) and Buffalo (6-2) have all set fast paces.
TEAM SCORING
Mark Matthews, last season’s NLL MVP, leads Saskatchewan with 14 goals, 22 assists and 36 points though six contests. Ben Mcintosh (18-15-33) is next, followed by Jeff Shattler (11-15-26).
Calgary’s top point-getter is Dane Dobie, who’s accumulated 18 goals, 24 assists and 42 points in eight games.
SELLING SEATS
Saskatchewan leads the NLL with an average attendance of 13,651 through two home games — down nearly 1,000 from the 14,639 they amassed last season. Four other teams are averaging more than 10,000 per game: Colorado (11,891), Calgary (11,689), Philadelphia (11,271) and Buffalo (11,226).
Georgia is last in league attendance with 4,524 through four home games.
UP NEXT
Saskatchewan follows Saturday’s contest with a Feb. 16 road game in Vancouver, followed by three straight home contests — Feb. 22 against Colorado, March 2 against Calgary and March 16 against Buffalo.