SB Nation Minnesota - NLL Lacrosse: Minnesota Swarm Take Down Colorado Mammoth, Set Stage for Rematch in Playoffshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48959/mn-fave.png2012-04-29T01:38:26-05:00http://minnesota.sbnation.com/rss/stream/27499062012-04-29T01:38:26-05:002012-04-29T01:38:26-05:00NLL Lacrosse: Minnesota Swarm Take Down Colorado Mammoth, Set Stage for Rematch Next Week
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<p>There was little speculation coming into the game last night. The Minnesota Swarm and Colorado Mammoth already knew they would be facing each other next week in Colorado for the first round of the NLL playoffs. That did not stop either team from ratcheting up the intensity a week early, and making it clear that next week's rematch will be one for the history books.</p>
<p>The Swarm took control of this game early, and never looked back. Twice this season, the Swarm had the Mammoth on the ropes only to give up the game late. It would not happen tonight. Tyler Carlson shut the door on the Mammoth, the Swarm defense played well, the offense scored almost at will, chasing All-Star Chris Levis from the net twice in the game, and the offensive transition was superb. There were some soft spots in the Swarm's game, but the strong points carried the day, and brought home a win.</p>
<p>The "muckers," as they call themselves, stepped up again. Joel Henry had a hat trick and a big fight to stand up for his team. Jordan MacIntosh, who spoke to the media in a Swarm colored bow tie, had 14 looseballs, topping the Swarm team record in the process. Jay Card scored on an absolute blast of a shot and an assist. Nic Bilic also had a big fight late in the game. Henry seemed a bit surprised by the fact the media wanted to talk to him, but said the hat trick "felt good, especially since [he] had struggled to score all year."</p>
<p>Coach Joe Sullivan was understandably pleased with the play of his team, but did mention the defensive transition game as being a bit weak, and said the team would work on that this week. Sullivan said he is not leaving Minnesota this week, so he can be around to help with preparations for the opening round of the playoffs. The Swarm have never made it past the opening round, so having the coach around for the entire week will be a welcome bonus for many.</p>
<p>Along with MacIntosh's team record, John Grant, Jr of the Mammoth set the single season scoring record for the NLL with 116 points. His final point game on a nice snipe to the top corner, as MacIntosh called it "typical" for Grant. MacIntosh also noted that Grant was a player he looked up to his entire career, even taking the number 24 because of him. The crowd at the Hive gave Grant, Jr his just rewards with a round of applause.</p>
<p>While Grant, Jr's record is impressive, the game in which he set it was marred by a lack luster effort and a couple of seriously dirty plays. At one point, Tyler Hass of the Swarm blew past Grant, Jr like a sports car passing family sedan. Later in the game, as Joe Cinosky was about to make Grant, Jr look silly again, Grant, Jr reached out and clotheslined Cinosky. It was a move Hulk Hogan would have been proud of, yet the refs saw fit to give Grant, Jr just a two minute minor penalty.</p>
<p>The record is an impressive one, but this is not a game film Grant, Jr is going to want to share with his family in the years to come, which is unfortunate.</p>
<p>Overall, this was one of the most intense, hard fought games in recent memory for the Swarm. 11,292 fans filed in, the largest crowd since 2009, a group the players and coaches were glad to have on their side. Sullivan said the crowd gave the Swarm players a good taste for what Colorado will be like next week. The fans in Denver pack the Pepsi center for every game, and often out draw the NHL's Avalanche.</p>
<p>Next up for both teams is more of the same, as they both head to Denver for round one of the playoffs. The game can be seen at 6:30PM on CBS Sports Network. With the season series at 2-1 in favor of the Mammoth, and the intenisty level higher than it has been all year, you can imagine the next one will be even better. If you aren't on the bandwagon, there are still a few seats open.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/swarm/2012/4/29/2985866/nll-lacrosse-minnesota-swarm-take-down-colorado-mammoth-set-stage-forBryan Reynolds2012-04-28T08:01:01-05:002012-04-28T08:01:01-05:00NLL Lacrosse: Minnesota Swarm Finish Regular Season Against Colorado Mammoth
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<img alt="A team that has found itself as the season ground on, the Swarm look to finish strong against the Mammoth. " src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/z-h6pIqzkdTCT3wm4_qpA2G6As4=/1x0:1098x731/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/assets/1087194/DSC_0064.JPG" />
<figcaption>A team that has found itself as the season ground on, the Swarm look to finish strong against the Mammoth. </figcaption>
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<p>The Swarm wrap up the season in style as they play on national television and size up their first round playoff opponent. </p> <p>The Minnesota Swarm are set to finish up an all too brief NLL regular season as they face a familiar opponent in the Colorado Mammoth. With the playoffs already set, it may be easy to see this as a throw away game for both teams. You can bet it will be anything but. The Swarm are hungry to avenge two losses to the Mammoth, both in games they were leading or tied at the half. </p>
<p>The team made the promise to themselves to finish the season at 9-7, are riding a three game winning streak, and finishing the season up at home. This all adds up to what should be a highly motivated Swarm team, ready to give the fans at the Hive a great send off. </p>
<p>The Mammoth bring in John Grant, Jr, the league's leading scorer. Asked how you shut down Grant, Jr. both Swarm captain Andrew Suitor and defenseman Joe Cinosky said, "You can't." Both Suitor and Cinosky mentioned keeping sticks on Grant, Jr. and getting in his shooting lanes, but that containing him seemed to be more likely than shutting him down. </p>
<p>On the back end, the Mammoth have Chris Levis, an all-star goalie who doesn't give up goals easy. Ryan Benesch said the secret is to get to Levis early, and then keep the pressure on, and "get him moving from side to side and try to wear him out as the game goes on." Benesch did mention that Levis is only an issue once you get past the Mammoth defense, no small task at all. </p>
<p>All three Swarm players were confident in the Swarm's game plan going into the final game of the season. Benesch said "every game we come in the same way. We have our scouting reports and our videos, and the coaches do a good job of making sure we know who we're playing, and who to match up on, and how to win." Asked how they win, Benesch said, "I can't tell you that, you'll have to wait and see."</p>
<p>The players that were at the Captain's practice at the Xcel Energy Center this week looked loose, focused, and in good spirits. Suitor and a handful of other players played a cross rink game of lacrosse using tiny nets and mini lacrosse sticks, while Cinosky and Rookie of the Week Jay Card took shots at the other end of the floor. At one point, Card took a bounce shot on the empty net, and the ball bounced so hard, it hit a light at the top of the building. </p>
<p>The Swarm desperately want to end the season riding high, and a win over the second team in the West, a team they will face again next week to open the playoffs, would go a long way toward that goal. They promised themselves they would finish 9-7, and the only way to fulfill that promise to themselves is to beat a team that has given them fits all year. To do so, the Swarm will need to find a way to continue their second half dominance of late, and get themselves off to a good start at the beginning, something they have struggled with. </p>
<p>Right now, though, the team looks to be hitting on all cylinders. The defense is playing well, the transition game is finding some success, the offense is scoring in bunches, and the goaltending has found a groove. These are all very good things going into the playoffs, and the players know it. </p>
<p>The only way the fans at the X will see this team again at home, is if the Swarm can make it to the NLL Championship game against a lower overall seed from the east. Not an easy path, but if they keep going like they are, there is no reason to think they can't do it. </p>
<p>The game tonight can be watch on national television, live, on CBS Sports Network at 6:30PM. Or, you know, you could get off your couch and come watch the game at the X. Like you have anything better to do?</p>
<p><i>Side note - If you want to catch some field lacrosse, Joe Cinosky coaches the men's club team over at the University of Minnesota. They are <a href="http://mcla.us/teams/minnesota/2012/schedule.html">playing for their league championship</a> today at 1:30PM at Woodbury High School. </i></p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/swarm/2012/4/28/2983009/nll-lacrosse-minnesota-swarm-finish-regular-season-against-coloradoBryan Reynolds