Edmonton secures first-ever playoff berth

Edmonton, AB-- The Edmonton Rush needed to win Saturday, coupled with a Colorado Mammoth loss, to secure a playoff berth for the first time in franchise history.

They got both as the Rush edged the Minnesota Swarm 16-14 in National Lacrosse League action at Rexall Place Saturday night and Washington iced the Mammoth 12-9.

It was lucky sevens for Edmonton as the Rush earned their franchise-best seventh win of the season and Rush forward Ryan Ward fired seven points and surpassed the 400-point mark in his career in the win against his former team.

The Rush improved to 7-4 on the season in the high-scoring affair that featured the most goals scored by Edmonton in a game this year and the most combined (30) in a game.

Minnesota (5-6), who played their second game in as many nights after a 17-13 win over Calgary Friday night, combined for 31 goals total in the two Alberta stops.

Ward, Dean Hill (3G, 2A), Ryan Powell (2G, 3A) and Corey Small (2G, 2A) paced the Rush attack, while Brodie Merrill (1G, 3A and 17 loose balls), Scott Stewart (1G, 2A), Gavin Prout (2G), Jimmy Quinlan, Brett Mydske and Derek Suddons also scored as the club bested their franchise mark for most wins in a season.

Aaron Wilson (3G, 6A) had a huge night for the Swarm with nine points and former Rush Callum Crawford (3G, 4A) had seven.

Matt Disher (7-3) earned the win in net, while Nick Patterson and Kevin Croswell minded the Minny net.

"We rebounded well with our intensity level," said Rush head coach/GM Derek Keenan. "Early in the game we came out quite strong. We took tempo to them and it paid off. Then it turned into a back and forth exchanging goals. Fortunate thing is, pretty well every time they got to within two, we were able to score and keep the three goal bulge.

"It's a win, but, I'm not overall pleased with it. Defensively, we have to be a lot better than that," he added. "It's nice to get that seventh (win). That's the franchise best with five games to go and even to get higher."

"It was exciting. It was back and forth and intense and rough," said Ward. "I liked our effort tonight and that's what counted for us.

"I tried not to put too much pressure on myself and just take my chances when they came," he said on facing his former teammates. "I'm happy and now we'll focus on next week."

"He was great," Keenan said of Ward. "He was probably extra jacked up, but I think most importantly, we had a plan offensively and he lead that group in how we wanted to play. I'm sure he feels pretty good."

Minnesota opened the scoring just 63-seconds into the first quarter as former Rusher Crawford found twine, however the Rush answered back 10-seconds later when Merrill fired a shot past Patterson to tie the score 1-1

Edmonton then continued the run as Quinlan took a long feed from Stewart and converted it alone in front at 2:10 and Prout's five-hole blast 16-seconds later added to the lead.

Powell then got the Rush power-play rolling at 4:55 as he increased the lead to 4-1 and Powell then added to the lead on a sweet crease crash at 7:48, before Hill completed the six-goal run with his quick shot just outside the crease to put Edmonton up 6-1.

Minnesota then fired two goals late in the quarter to make the score 6-3 before Suddons earned his first goal in two seasons when his shot towards the Minnesota open net was impeded by a thrown stick and the Rush lead 7-3 going into the second quarter.

The teams traded goals early in the second as Andrew Watt notched one for Minny before Ward answered back for Edmonton at 2:16 with his 20th on the season and first against his former club as the Rush doubled the score 8-4.

The Swarm then scored three of the next four goals, including two power-play tallies with Edmonton's Brett Mydske serving a cross-checking major, before Ward notched his second of the game and 400th career point with his quick shot off a crease drive at 8:51 to give the Rush a 10-7 lead.

The high scoring continued in the third quarter as Minnesota's Crawford fired his second of the game just 14-seconds in, before Small answered back just over one minute later on a sidewinder to make the score 11-8.

Minnesota continued to battle as Greer grabbed his second of the game at 2:25 to close within two goals, while Stewart converted a nice feed from Ward in close at 5:27 as Edmonton went up 12-9.

The teams continued to trade goals as Crawford nabbed his hat-trick goal at 6:03 before Hill then fired his third of the game at 7:56 as Edmonton lead 13-10 and the scoring continued as Pollock netted his second of the night 12:49 into the quarter and Mydske then showed some finish for Edmonton as he sniped 35-seconds later.

Minnesota's Greer tallied his third of the game and Prout responded for Edmonton before the third frame ended with the Rush up 15-12.

The Swarm continued their fast play into each quarter as Pollock grabbed his third goal 1:28 into the fourth quarter and then Small answered back on a delayed penalty at 3:54 before Minny's Wilson fired his ninth point of the game, at 10:03, to make the score 16-14.

Edmonton continues the home streak next Friday, April 2 for a 7 p.m. start against the Washington Stealth at Rexall Place.

Rush mush: Edmonton improved to 4-1 at home...Pat Jones made his return to Edmonton's lineup for the first time since Jan. 30 ...Minnesota's power-play went 4-5 and Edmonton 1-3...Chris McElroy, Ian Crashley, Scott Tinning, Dane Stevens and John Lintz did not dress.

Story by Bruce Rakoczy