The 3-2 Saskatchewan Rush and 2-3 Rochester Knighthawks will meet again tonight in National Lacrosse League (NLL) action.
Rush head coach Derek Keenan said this meeting won’t be quite as easy as Saskatchewan’s 16-8 stomping of the Knighthawks Jan. 21.
“They didn’t have much of a line-up that night due to injuries and some other circumstances,” Keenan said. “They’ll definitely have an NLL line-up this weekend.”
Rochester’s offence in the clubs’ first meeting was led by Dan Lomas with three goals, as well as Kyle Jackson and Joe Resetarits who each had three assists.
Resetarits and Jackson also lead the Knighhawks in points through the team’s first five games. Jackson has 20 points so far this season while Resetarits has 18.
Matt Vinc is expected to start in net for Rochester. In five games this season Vinc has gone 2-3 with a .798 save percentage.
For the Rush, leading them past the Knighthawks in the first meeting was Mark Matthews who had 11 points. Robert Church and Ryan Keenan also had six points each in the game.
Getting the start in net for Saskatchewan is Aaron Bold. Since returning from a one-game suspension Bold has gone 3-1 along with a .785 save percentage.
It is unlikely John LaFontaine will have recovered from an injury which kept him out last game, which likely means Matt Hossack will get to play a second straight game.
Since 2013 the Rush have gone 8-0 against the Knighthawks.
Leading the way offensively this season is Mark Matthews. Since 2013 Matthews has averaged nearly five points a game when playing Rochester. He’s scored 16 goals and added 30 assists for 46 points in only eight games. Robert Church has also been an offensive threat, as he’s netted seven goals and 18 assists for 25 points in six games against the Knighthawks.
Opening faceoff for the second and final meeting in the regular season between the two clubs is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
The Rush will be at home again next weekend for Fan Appreciation Night Saturday Feb. 18 when the team welcomes the Colorado Mammoth to SaskTel Centre.
Email: colton.swiderski@jpbg.ca
On Twitter @coltonswiderski
