Published: Thursday, January 21, 2010
Stealth wary of winless Buffalo
The Washington Stealth expect a stern test from a traditionally powerful Buffalo squad in tonight’s National Lacrosse League game at Comcast Arena.
The face-off is scheduled for 8 p.m.
Buffalo (0-2) comes in looking for its first victory of the season after dropping a pair of games to the Rochester Knighthawks.
The Bandits have been a model of consistency over the years. Led by head coach Darris Kilgour, who is in his eighth season, they have earned seven straight playoff appearances — winning the 2008 NLL championship — and usually rank among the top teams in the league.
This year, they’re off to a slow start, though they played their first two games without a crucial part of their lineup: forward John Tavares.
Tavares, the NLL career leader in goals scored (671), assists (749) and points (1,420), missed both contests with a calf injury. The 41-year-old Tavares, who is in his 19th season with the Bandits, is a team leader and lacrosse legend.
“I don’t think it (the 0-2 start) is a huge worry right now,” Buffalo assistant coach Duane Jacobs said. “I don’t think we’re in any type of a panic mode. ... We’re not really panicking, we realize it’s going to be a tough game this weekend, but we have good leadership.”
Tavares appeared ready to play last week but was a late scratch before a 13-11 loss to the Knighthawks.
“We think John is going to play this weekend, he’s day-to-day right now, but we’re prepared to play without him,” Jacobs said. “He’s going to take as long as it takes to be 100 percent.”
The Stealth (2-0) have found much better fortune to start the season, recording two blowout wins and averaging a league-high 16 goals per game.
Washington’s Jeff Zywicki, a fifth-year forward, leads the NLL with seven goals and is fourth in points with 14 (seven goals, seven assists). Defender Eric Martin leads the team with 26 loose ball pickups.
On defense, the Stealth have used their size and some stellar goaltending to limit opponents to an average of just 7.5 goals per game.
Stealth goalies Matt Roik (.851) and Tyler Richards (.849) rank 1-2 in the league in save percentage.
Washington needs to be sharp tonight against an understandably hungry Bandits squad, Washington coach Chris Hall said.
“I’m wary of every game we play because any team can beat you in this league if you’re not prepared,” Hall said. “We just have to ensure that we’re not complacent after two handy wins at home.”
Buffalo showed improvement following a season-opening 10-5 loss to Rochester. The Bandits kept things close last week and were down only one goal before a late empty-netter provided the final 13-11 margin.
Mark Steenhuis, a ninth-year transition player, leads Buffalo with five goals and rookie defenders Chris Corbeil (6-foot-3, 195 pounds) and Steve Priolo (6-5, 236) have the size to give Washington’s forwards problems.
“If they get John Tavares back, they’re a legit team,” Zywicki said. “So we can’t look past them.”
With Tavares’ health up in the air, Jacobs said it’s going to take a big effort by the Bandits to knock the Stealth from the ranks of the unbeaten. “We have to come up with the best game of our young season,” he said.
The contest is the first of two games for the Stealth this weekend. They play at Calgary on Saturday, their first road game of the year.
The face-off is scheduled for 8 p.m.
Buffalo (0-2) comes in looking for its first victory of the season after dropping a pair of games to the Rochester Knighthawks.
The Bandits have been a model of consistency over the years. Led by head coach Darris Kilgour, who is in his eighth season, they have earned seven straight playoff appearances — winning the 2008 NLL championship — and usually rank among the top teams in the league.
This year, they’re off to a slow start, though they played their first two games without a crucial part of their lineup: forward John Tavares.
Tavares, the NLL career leader in goals scored (671), assists (749) and points (1,420), missed both contests with a calf injury. The 41-year-old Tavares, who is in his 19th season with the Bandits, is a team leader and lacrosse legend.
“I don’t think it (the 0-2 start) is a huge worry right now,” Buffalo assistant coach Duane Jacobs said. “I don’t think we’re in any type of a panic mode. ... We’re not really panicking, we realize it’s going to be a tough game this weekend, but we have good leadership.”
Tavares appeared ready to play last week but was a late scratch before a 13-11 loss to the Knighthawks.
“We think John is going to play this weekend, he’s day-to-day right now, but we’re prepared to play without him,” Jacobs said. “He’s going to take as long as it takes to be 100 percent.”
The Stealth (2-0) have found much better fortune to start the season, recording two blowout wins and averaging a league-high 16 goals per game.
Washington’s Jeff Zywicki, a fifth-year forward, leads the NLL with seven goals and is fourth in points with 14 (seven goals, seven assists). Defender Eric Martin leads the team with 26 loose ball pickups.
On defense, the Stealth have used their size and some stellar goaltending to limit opponents to an average of just 7.5 goals per game.
Stealth goalies Matt Roik (.851) and Tyler Richards (.849) rank 1-2 in the league in save percentage.
Washington needs to be sharp tonight against an understandably hungry Bandits squad, Washington coach Chris Hall said.
“I’m wary of every game we play because any team can beat you in this league if you’re not prepared,” Hall said. “We just have to ensure that we’re not complacent after two handy wins at home.”
Buffalo showed improvement following a season-opening 10-5 loss to Rochester. The Bandits kept things close last week and were down only one goal before a late empty-netter provided the final 13-11 margin.
Mark Steenhuis, a ninth-year transition player, leads Buffalo with five goals and rookie defenders Chris Corbeil (6-foot-3, 195 pounds) and Steve Priolo (6-5, 236) have the size to give Washington’s forwards problems.
“If they get John Tavares back, they’re a legit team,” Zywicki said. “So we can’t look past them.”
With Tavares’ health up in the air, Jacobs said it’s going to take a big effort by the Bandits to knock the Stealth from the ranks of the unbeaten. “We have to come up with the best game of our young season,” he said.
The contest is the first of two games for the Stealth this weekend. They play at Calgary on Saturday, their first road game of the year.
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