By Scott Zerr
EdmontonRush.com

The Edmonton Rush are still in the hunt for their first berth into the NLL playoffs.

It's now down to a four-game derby after the Rush split their weekend road series with the league's two newest teams, the New York Titans and the Chicago Shamrox. A sweep would have given the Rush their first winning streak and put them at the .500 mark for the season, but instead at 5-7 the Rush will need to put together their best play of the season in the stretch drive.

In their first matchups against the '07 expansion teams, the Rush fell 11-10 to the Titans but rebounded 24 hours later to slip past the Shamrox 8-6.

The weekend opened with the Rush in New York and things looked good against the Titans with the visitors roaring out to a 5-0 lead in the first quarter. That cushion was built up in part by A.J. Shannon's first goal with the Rush and shorthanded goals by Chris Gill and Jamie Roy that came just seven seconds apart setting a Rush record for the fastest two goals.

But the Rush couldn't maintain their lead as the Titans chipped away leading to a whirlwind of action in the final minute. Gill scored his second of the game to put the Rush up 10-9 with 42 seconds left but the Titans tied it and won it with a pair only seven seconds apart.

Gill, Roy and Dan Stroup each scored twice against the Titans while Mac Allen, Jamey Bowen, Jimmy Quinlan and Shannon had singles. Quinlan and Bowen each added three assists.

The Rush marched into the Chicago looking to redeem themselves and they torched the Shamrox for five straight goals while holding the home side goalless through the second and third quarters. With that, the Rush led 8-2 heading into the fourth, but the Shamrox battled back and made things tight with a four-goal outburst. Edmonton was able to hang on, though, and the Rush picked up a critical two points.

Bowen sparked the Rush attack with a goal and four helpers while Stroup notched the hat trick. Gill and Quinlan each struck for two goals.

With the split, the Rush remain fifth in the West Division one game back of San Jose (6-6) and 1.5 behind Calgary (7-6). The Rush can help their own cause in a big way this weekend when they take on the two teams ahead them - Friday night in a Battle of Alberta showdown at the Saddledome and a Saturday clash with the Stealth at HP Pavilion.

March 31, 2007
April 1, 2007