THE CANADIAN PRESS
The NLL division finals will feature a distinct contrast in styles.
Two of the best defences in lacrosse will collide in Buffalo when the Bandits take on the Toronto Rock.
"It has developed into the best rivalry in lacrosse," said Rock forward Blaine Manning. "We have a history and we respect each other but it’s no secret that we don’t like each other. Every time we play it’s a tough, physical, in-your-face type of game."
The two most potent pro attacks will be going for goals in Calgary and the Roughnecks are well aware that the Washington Stealth, as reigning champions, won’t meekly relinquish the Champion’s Cup.
"The Washington-Calgary rivalry can be summed up in one word: respect," says Calgary defenceman Mike Carnegie. "The Stealth has probably the most potent offence in the league, great goaltending, and defence to back it up. Knowing how good they can be forces us to bring our A game. Nothing short of a 60-minute effort by all of the Roughnecks is needed."
Goaltenders Mike Thompson of the Bandits, Bob Watson of the Rock, Mike Poulin of the Roughnecks and Tyler Richards of the Stealth are all capable of stealing the show.
Watson played a major part in Toronto’s five championships way back when and is determined to go out a winner in his farewell season.
Calgary fans are still talking about the enormous late-game save made last weekend by Poulin, who trails the other three goalies in save percentage but has shown he can come up big when a game is on the line.
Richards came on strong in the last half of the regular season and everybody remembers how crucial his goaltending was when Washington rallied to beat Toronto in the 2010 Champion’s Cup final.
The seedings: 1. Calgary, 2. Buffalo, 3. Toronto, 4. Washington. A Calgary win means the title will be decided in Calgary, while a Washington win means the title game will be played in the home arena of the Toronto-Buffalo winner.
The matchups:
EAST
(2) Toronto at (1) Buffalo
Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET
2010 playoffs: Toronto rallied at home from 6-0 deficit to defeat Buffalo 13-11 in first round on way to Champion’s Cup final.
2011 regular season: both teams 10-6; Buffalo won two of three meetings.
2011 first round: Buffalo was outshot 52-40 by visiting Boston but won 11-10 thanks to Mike Thompson and four goals from Roger Vyse and three from John Tavares; Toronto outshot Rochester 54-41 and Colin Doyle and Garrett Billings scored three each in a 10-8 win over Rochester.
Home floor factor: Buffalo lost last three regular-season games at home but got back on track at HSBC Arena with the playoff win over Boston; Toronto is 3-5 on the road this year and is without a road win since Feb. 26.
Notes: Buffalo last won the championship in 2008 while Toronto won in 2005 … Watson, Doyle, Manning, Phil Sanderson, Pat Merrill and Tim O’Brien remain from the 2005 championship Rock roster … Buffalo was most penalized team during regular season averaging 24 minutes a game. Toronto’s power play was 18-for-43 on the road … Buffalo’s Brandon Francis was 9-for-9 on faceoffs when the Bandits won in Toronto on April 8 but a suspension keeps him out of this one … Toronto is 9-2 and Buffalo is 4-1 when scoring first this year … The availability of Rock forward Aaron Pascas, who hurt his left ankle last weekend, is defined as "probable" by coach Troy Cordingley … The six-point game that Doyle had against Rochester last weekend upped his career post-season points total to (44-61) 105 in 23 games … Tavares, with seven points against Boston last weekend, has (75-105) 180 points in 32 playoff games. "He’s 42 and he’s still in the top 10 in scoring. It wouldn’t surprise me if he played until he was 50," Cordingley says of Tavares, who had a calf muscle cramp up on him late in the game against Boston. He went to the dressing room to get rubbed down before returning to score the winning goal.
Talking:
Leading Toronto goal scorer Stephan Leblanc on Buffalo goalie Mike Thompson: "I would describe Mike as a good angles goalie who plays the percentages. He focuses on players’ stick positioning, which helps him make great saves."
Buffalo head coach Darris Kilgour on the Rock: "It’s probably the most technical team we’ll be up against so it comes down to execution."
Prediction: Buffalo
WEST
(3) Washington at (1) Calgary
Saturday, 9:30 p.m. ET
2010 playoffs: Calgary upset at home 11-7 by Edmonton in first round; Washington defeated Toronto 15-11 to win Champion’s Cup.
2011 regular season: Calgary 11-5, Washington 8-8; Calgary won two of three meetings.
2011 first round: Mike Poulin first star as Calgary beat visiting Colorado 10-6 despite being outshot 49-43 with Dane Dobbie and Scott Ranger scoring three each; Richards outstanding in second half and Washington, outshooting Minnesota 52-48, gets three from each of Rhys Duch and Lewis Ratcliff.
Home floor factor: Calgary 7-2 at home after first-round win, but Washington is best road team in the league at 6-3 including first-rounder.
Notes: The 87 total goals scored in three regular-season meetings suggest a high-scoring game … Washington’s power play was 19-for-39 on the road — a success rate of nearly 50 per cent — and Calgary averaged 21 minutes in penalties a game during regular season … When scoring first this year, Calgary is 5-1 and Washington is 7-5 … One of the most intriguing contests of the night will be Calgary’s Geoff Snider, who was 19-for-20 on faceoffs against Colorado last Saturday, going against younger brother Bobby Snider at the centre dot in the division final. Bobby was 14-for-24 against the Swarm last time out … The last time these teams met in the playoffs was in the West final in Calgary on May 9, 2009. It was the last game played by the San Jose Stealth before the team was moved from California to Everett, Wash. The Roughnecks blasted the Stealth 17-5. Each team has 11 holdovers from that game and they remember it well … Ratcliff amassed 17 points in three playoff games in helping the ‘Roughnecks win the title in 2004 … Washington head coach Chris Hall was head coach of the Roughnecks when they won it all in ’04.
Talking:
Calgary coach Dave Pym: "We’ve had three tremendous battles with them already this year and they appear to be (firing) on all cylinders. It’s going to be a monumental challenge for us."
Washington coach Chris Hall: "Both teams probably are looking inward a little right now and making sure they’re doing everything they can possibly do to be ready. You let it flow after that."
Prediction: Calgary