Published: Saturday, April 10, 2010
Stealth mission: Play mistake free
Error-free lacrosse.
The phrase has developed into Washington Stealth head coach Chris Hall’s mantra over the past couple weeks even as the team locked up a spot in the National Lacrosse League playoffs.
The subject came to a head in a 14-13 overtime loss to West Division co-leader Edmonton on April 2.
“We’ve been talking about it for a while now, that we need to play more error-free lacrosse and we keep making some fundamental mistakes,” Hall said. “... Late in the game (against Edmonton), we made a couple of defensive errors that cost us the tie and then the overtime winner by Ryan Powell. Those are just things, when it comes down to playoffs and trying to win the championship, that you’ve got to work on improving and that’s our mission.”
Fundamental mistakes also nearly cost the Stealth (9-4 overall) a close game March 26 at Colorado when an illegal substitution led to a penalty shot for the Mammoth. Washington eventually prevailed 15-14 and the Stealth secured a playoff berth the next night with a 12-9 win at home.
There is no room for error tonight as Washington takes on the league’s most staunch defensive unit in Orlando. The Titans, who reached the championship final last year while playing as the New York Titans, counter Washington’s multiple offensive weapons with a combination of the league’s top defense and goaltending.
The Titans (8-4), who are hoping to become the first East Division team to clinch a playoff berth with a win, hold opponents to just 9.50 goals per game. Fifth-year goaltender Matt Vinc leads the league in both goals against average (9.16) and save percentage (.817).
“I’m sure our ‘D’ guys see that (potent Stealth offense) as a real challenge and they’re certainly going to want to show their best foot in that game,” Titans head coach Ed Comeau said. “I think it’s sometimes nice to play some different teams as well. When you see the same teams for a lot of the season, a change of scenery is a nice thing and I think it kind of motivates the guys, you know, it’s new faces and they’ve gotta watch a little bit more tape, study a little harder and I think that certainly elevates the intensity and the focus for a game like this.”
The Stealth will be attacking Orlando’s defenders without the help of second-leading scorer Jeff Zywicki for the second straight contest. Rookie Kory Kowalyk stepped in against Edmonton and scored three goals and one helper after Zywicki, who has scored 28 goals and 40 assists this season, suffered an unspecified lower-body injury prior to the game.
Zywicki’s scratch from tonight’s contest was a cautionary decision, Stealth general manager Doug Locker said. The team doesn’t want to risk losing a high-end player for the playoffs.
“If we rush him back this weekend and he tweaks it again it’s going to be one of those things where he’s going to be sub-100 percent the rest of the way through the playoff run,” Locker said. “We want him as healthy as possible.”
Hall added: “He’s been going through rehab hard all week. Obviously we’re going to be very cautious with him. We don’t want to be going into the playoffs without Jeff, so we’re going to be very careful with it.”
Washington can clinch a home date in the first round of the playoffs with a win and a Calgary loss tonight.
The phrase has developed into Washington Stealth head coach Chris Hall’s mantra over the past couple weeks even as the team locked up a spot in the National Lacrosse League playoffs.
The subject came to a head in a 14-13 overtime loss to West Division co-leader Edmonton on April 2.
“We’ve been talking about it for a while now, that we need to play more error-free lacrosse and we keep making some fundamental mistakes,” Hall said. “... Late in the game (against Edmonton), we made a couple of defensive errors that cost us the tie and then the overtime winner by Ryan Powell. Those are just things, when it comes down to playoffs and trying to win the championship, that you’ve got to work on improving and that’s our mission.”
Fundamental mistakes also nearly cost the Stealth (9-4 overall) a close game March 26 at Colorado when an illegal substitution led to a penalty shot for the Mammoth. Washington eventually prevailed 15-14 and the Stealth secured a playoff berth the next night with a 12-9 win at home.
There is no room for error tonight as Washington takes on the league’s most staunch defensive unit in Orlando. The Titans, who reached the championship final last year while playing as the New York Titans, counter Washington’s multiple offensive weapons with a combination of the league’s top defense and goaltending.
The Titans (8-4), who are hoping to become the first East Division team to clinch a playoff berth with a win, hold opponents to just 9.50 goals per game. Fifth-year goaltender Matt Vinc leads the league in both goals against average (9.16) and save percentage (.817).
“I’m sure our ‘D’ guys see that (potent Stealth offense) as a real challenge and they’re certainly going to want to show their best foot in that game,” Titans head coach Ed Comeau said. “I think it’s sometimes nice to play some different teams as well. When you see the same teams for a lot of the season, a change of scenery is a nice thing and I think it kind of motivates the guys, you know, it’s new faces and they’ve gotta watch a little bit more tape, study a little harder and I think that certainly elevates the intensity and the focus for a game like this.”
The Stealth will be attacking Orlando’s defenders without the help of second-leading scorer Jeff Zywicki for the second straight contest. Rookie Kory Kowalyk stepped in against Edmonton and scored three goals and one helper after Zywicki, who has scored 28 goals and 40 assists this season, suffered an unspecified lower-body injury prior to the game.
Zywicki’s scratch from tonight’s contest was a cautionary decision, Stealth general manager Doug Locker said. The team doesn’t want to risk losing a high-end player for the playoffs.
“If we rush him back this weekend and he tweaks it again it’s going to be one of those things where he’s going to be sub-100 percent the rest of the way through the playoff run,” Locker said. “We want him as healthy as possible.”
Hall added: “He’s been going through rehab hard all week. Obviously we’re going to be very cautious with him. We don’t want to be going into the playoffs without Jeff, so we’re going to be very careful with it.”
Washington can clinch a home date in the first round of the playoffs with a win and a Calgary loss tonight.
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