It was the shot block heard ’round the world.
Time was ticking down in Game 2 of the NLL Finals, with the Saskatchewan Rush leading 11-10. Chase Fraser wound up for a shot, and Holden Garlent selflessly launched himself in front of the shot so it would deflect away from Frank Scigliano and his net.
In the background of that play was Mike Messenger, also leaping to block the shot should Garlent miss – but he didn’t. The ball caught him up high before deflecting into the corner as the buzzer sounded to end the game.
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With time winding down, “we all knew they had to put something on net,” said NLL play-by-play announcer Teddy Jenner, who called the game. “Chase Fraser was in a great spot. At that point in time, it’s just sell out and do whatever you can. Next thing you know, you look up and there’s Holden Garlent just flailing and doing anything he can to get any part of his body in front of that shot. Even in the background, you could see Mike Messenger dolphin diving across the net to get himself in front of that shot.”
It was an impressive play and one that encapsulates the sacrifices the Rush defenders have made this season, especially in their two Finals games against the offensively high-powered Bandits. When you’re facing the League’s two highest scorers, Josh Byrne and Dhane Smith, you’re going to have to come up with a whole new plan to limit their shots from getting through.
“There are a lot of teams in the league where you can shut down one or two guys and it’s a real easy night for you. [You can’t do that with their team.] You don’t want to plan for one person and get bit in the butt by the other,” said defender Jake Boudreau during a media availability on Wednesday morning. “Obviously their strategy is probably to block a lot of shots. We have our own strategy and it’s kind of, if you’re standing there and you can block it, then you might as well.”
Teammate Jerrett Smith added, “It’s just the stakes of the games we’re in right now, everyone’s putting their body on the line and doing anything to get the win. It just comes with the territory. That play by Gar just kind of embodies how bad we want it. I think Gar is one of the best defenders in this league and I think he’s a little underrated, so that was a great play that put him in the spotlight.”
Shot blocking isn’t unique to lacrosse; you’ll see similar plays in hockey, not to mention basketball and football, although compact rubber pucks and lacrosse balls likely hurt more than their larger counterparts. If you’ve got a winning mentality – especially this late in the game, when the championship is on your mind – then a bruise here or there isn’t going to matter much. If you win, you might not even feel the pain at all.
“It just speaks volumes to what both these teams are sacrificing at this point of the year because every shot and every play is so important and means so much to them,” Jenner said.
“I’m always shying because you never know when a guy is going to take a shot in a bad spot and get really hurt, but these guys sacrifice themselves for 60 minutes for 23, 24 games. Whatever it takes at this point of the year.”
Matt Hossack currently leads the team in blocked shots with six, caused turnovers with six and loose balls with 37. But as a group, the Rush are very well balanced with their stats – every defender contributes in one form or another, even if – sometimes especially if – you don’t hear their name being spoken often by Jenner on the broadcast.
“Jerrett Smith, Bobby Kidd III, Adam Jay, we don’t say their names much because rarely… are they exposed for making mistakes or turning over the ball, things like that,” Jenner shared. “Those guys are so steady; they have been absolutely phenomenal.”
One player, Jenner and colour analyst Pat Gregoire have discussed is Ryan Barnable. Both are impressed with the job the third-year Rush player has done in the series.
“He was a young man, really bad knee injury when he first came into the NLL,” remembered Jenner. “He is now playing without that brace and he’s playing a lot freer; he feels more confident. He’s often got the task of [defending] Dhane Smith and that’s not an easy job. A lot of times teams want to match size or strength; Barnable might not have the size, but he has the speed and the strength to keep up with Dhane. It’s not often you see Dhane’s stick stripped out of his hands and Barny’s done that a few times this series. The unsung heroes have really stepped up.”
One name you do hear mentioned often is the veteran Messenger, now known for dramatic plays at the end of two playoff games – in addition to his blocked shot attempt, Messenger caused the turnover that led to Matt Hossack’s game-tying goal against Halifax in the Semifinals (Saskatchewan won in overtime). Though Messenger has only two fighting majors in his entire career (since 2017!), he’s one of the toughest players in the league.
Jenner explains: “Mike Messenger never gives up on any play. Yes, he’s an intimidating figure with the beard and the scowl that and just his whole nature of playing the game. But his heart and drive are second to none… He wants to make sure his teammates are treated properly and respected. He plays the game the right way. He knows the edge to play on; he plays very physical at 160 miles an hour every time he’s out there.”
“People want to follow him because… they see ‘if that guy is giving his full-on effort to dive 10 yards to make the play to give us a chance to get to overtime, or that guy’s diving in front of his shots maybe blocking the game-tying goal, then I should be able to get to that level.’ It’s very contagious and how Mike Messenger carries himself on and off the floor is something that I just marvel at because he’s one of those guys that doesn’t say a lot. He has that ‘speak softly, carry a big stick mentality.’ Look at the job he’s done on Josh Byrne in these Finals. He’s really negated any effect that Josh is having in this series. Sure, Josh has seven assists, but he’s only scored twice in the two games and that’s in large part due to Mike Messenger just being in his hip pocket and chasing him around the floor. That gets tiring. It takes a toll on the body and every time Mess is out there, you know he’s gonna slide across, he’s gonna take a pound of flesh every time he’s on the floor.”
Even with Messenger and Garlent throwing themselves in front of shots, when it comes to sacrificing the body for the good of the team, the Bandits may even have the edge on the Rush. Paul Dawson set the regular season record this year with 53 blocked shots – about 33 per cent of the Bandits’ team total of 156. He and Captain Steve Priolo lead in the playoffs too, with 13 blocked shots in five games each. Nick Weiss has 12 and Cam Wyers 11 – another group that isn’t afraid of a few bruises. Every member of the defense (save faceoff man Connor Farrell) has blocked at least one missile this playoff season.
With two defensive juggernauts set to face off in the deciding game, who’s going to take it? Jenner thinks it’s a toss-up.
“Saskatchewan plays a very fast, defensive system and they want to keep you on your back heels. I think where Buffalo really found success was the two-man game, especially Dhane and Bucky and Dhane and Chase. Those guys were getting a lot of really good looks and once you start to get some looks in the pick-and-roll game, you can start to take advantage of extra slides from the other side and find that extra pass. A lot of times Buffalo was able to pick and roll and have a good look for a pick and roll and then find the next option, but it’s when they kinda start packing the ball and start to do it themselves that they get into trouble.”
As Jenner analyzed, “You know, Halifax often used the line ‘we can’t be playing hero ball.’ And that’s not a selfish hero ball, it’s just that we can’t be attacking all the time and trying to make one great play. At the end of the day, if Buffalo just goes out and plays free, if they forget about the stress of being in a game three and go out and realize ‘we are the best offense this league has seen in 5-10 years,’ I think they’re going to be fine. But if they try to slow things down and let Sask dictate the pace, I think they’re going to be in trouble.”
