Roughnecks need to put brakes on this losing skid
NLL club has dropped three in a row and is in danger of missing the playoffs
The lacrosse world has often been his oyster.
So it's a different view these days for Josh Sanderson, the head coach of the Calgary Roughnecks.
The team he's either starred for on the floor or coached off it has missed the National Lacrosse League playoffs just once since 2003.
And he certainly doesn't want to skip a second post-season in this, his first year as head coach, though the team is unfortunately trending in that direction.
“It's not a good world right now,” said Sanderson, whose Roughnecks have lost three straight to sit outside the NLL playoff picture. “I don't like being 5-8 at all and neither do our guys. So we're gonna fight like heck and claw like heck to get back in there, because we want to give ourselves a chance. So yeah, I don't like one bit where we're at.
“And we're not gonna make excuses for why we're there. We dug ourselves in there. We're gonna dig ourselves out, but it's gotta start Friday night.”
That's when his Roughnecks take on the visiting Albany Firewolves (10-4) on Westjet Field at Scotiabank Saddledome (7 p.m., TSN+).
A snap of the skid gets the Riggers back into the race for one of eight playoff places, while a loss would be detrimental to their chances of making the big dance.
“We're definitely taking it as a must-win, for sure,” Sanderson said. “Our backs are against the wall.”
In particular, back-to-back-toback 11-9, 13-12 and 7-6 losses to the Philadelphia Wings, the Georgia Swarm and the San Diego Seals, respectively, have spiralled them south into 12th spot in the 15-team loop. And with only five games remaining — including a home-andhome series against the Saskatchewan Rush (5-6) to start April — time has become the enemy as much as the opponents they face.
They need to figure out how to be on the winning side of the scoreboard, especially in the one-goal affairs that have decided their season so far.
“I think a few games could have went our way and our effort deserved it to go that way,” Sanderson said. “But, you know, it's a one-goal league and you've got to find a way to get on top of those. And so if we just clean up the odd thing, I think that's the best way to look at it.
“I'd like to be shooting the ball better and getting a few more shots to the net. I think we've left a few on the table because we go in spurts when we're not scoring. Not so much in Georgia, but the Philly game, we went in long spurts without scoring. And then last week, we go in long spurts and we're not scoring. So you've gotta find a way, when you're not feeling it, to get one or two, and then when you get hot, you can reel off a few more.”
The coach figures wins in all five remaining contests should be enough to guarantee the Riggers slip into a playoff slot.
Four victories would likely make them a bubble bunch.
But anything less out of Friday's fight against the Firewolves, the following set with the Saskatchewan squad and two finishing contests versus the host Buffalo Bandits and visiting Panther City Lacrosse Club is most likely a miss where playoffs are concerned.
“Our concentration is to get this one first,” Sanderson said. “It's dig in against a good team at home. Then you got a bye week to get everybody healthy for an important April, obviously.
“But looking past Albany would be foolish. They've got 10 wins. They're young, they're energetic, they're athletic, they're full of p--- and vinegar, so to speak. Good goalie. Good transition. They're a handful, like a bad rash there.
“And they're coming off two losses. So they're not going to take us lately. They're fighting for first place still.”
The Roughnecks, meanwhile, want just one of the last few berths in the post-season battle.
Right now, those are occupied by the Rochester Knighthawks (6-6) in seventh spot and Panther City (6-7) in eighth. The Rush are in the mix, as well, having won four of their last six games.
And the New York Riptide (68) and the Wings (5-7) also stand between the Riggers and another playoff appearance for Sanderson.
“We got what we deserve so far,” added Sanderson. “We've got to clean it upon our end. We've just got to earn our breaks a bit better.
“We've just got to concentrate on us.”