With the regular season now in the rearview mirror, the 2009 National Lacrosse League postseason is set to begin Friday May 1st. With two games Friday, one Saturday and one Sunday, it shapes up to be a busy weekend. With that in mind, Laxphilly.com presents its preview of the opening round action.
Friday May 1
Rochester Knighthawks (7-9) at New York Titans (10-6), 7:30 PM at Madison Square Garden
Regular Season: New York won the season series 2-1.
Playoff History: first ever meeting.
Team Leaders:
Rochester: Goals: Shawn Evans (30), Assists: Shawn Williams (67), Points: Williams (93), GAA: Pat O'Toole (10.74).
New York: Goals: Casey Powell (40), Assists: Jordan Hall (56), Points: Powell (85), GAA: Matt Vinc (11.33)
X-Factors: Jamie Rooney scored seven goals in 10 games for the Titans before being dealt to Rochester at the trade deadline. After scoring five goals for the Knighthawks in seven games, will he be looking to show something to his former team? Which former Syracuse star will be on top, NY's Powell or Rochester's Gary Gait.
San Jose Stealth (7-9) at Portland Lumberjax (9-7), 10:30 PM at the Rose Garden
Regular Season: Portland won the season series 2-1.
Playoff History: This will be their second meeting. Portland won 18-16 in the 2008 West SF.
Team Leaders: San Jose: Goals: Colin Doyle (38), Assists: Doyle (73), Points: Doyle (111), GAA: Matt Roik (11.37).
Portland: Goals: Peter Morgan (29), Assists: Ryan Powell (44), Points: Powell (62), GAA: Matt Disher (10.80).
X-Factors: Portland is 0-1 in home playoff games. While Jax keeper Disher played in last season Champion's Cup final, San Jose's Roik has never played in the NLL postseason.
Saturday May 2
Boston Blazers (10-6) at Buffalo Bandits (10-6), 7:30 PM at HSBC Arena
Regular Season: The teams split the season series 1-1, each winning on the road.
Playoff History: First meeting between the current teams. Buffalo was 2-0 against the original Blazers (1992, 1993).
Leaders: Boston: Goals: Daryl Veltman (34), Assists: Dan Dawson (74), Points: Dawson (104), GAA: Anthony Cosmo (10.14).
Buffalo: Goals: Mark Steenhuis and John Tavares (51), Assists: Steenhuis (50), Points: Steenhuis (101), GAA: Ken Montour (9.57).
X-Factors: Dan Dawson is looking to appear in his fourth NLL title game in five seasons (2005, 2007, 2008). Buffalo is looking to win back to back titles and their fifth overall (1992, 1993, 1996, 2008).
Sunday May 3
Colorado Mammoth (7-9) at Calgary Roughnecks (12-4), 5 PM at Pengrowth Saddledome
Regular Season: The teams split their season series 1-1, each winning at home.
Playoff History: This will be their fourth playoff meeting. Calgary has a 2-1 edge, winning the most recent meeting in 2008.
Leaders: Colorado: Goals: Brian Langtry (38), Assists: Gavin Prout (48), Points: Langtry (79), GAA: Andrew Leyshon (10.93).
Calgary: Goals: Dane Dobbie (41), Assists: Josh Sanderson (74), Points: Sanderson (103), GAA: Matt King (10.23).
X-Factors: How well does ex-Roughneck Leyshon know his former teammates? And how much offensive support will he receive from a Mammoth offense that struggled for most of the season?
