March 1 - Jax Fall to Rush 9-7

PORTLAND, March 1, 2008 - All-Star forward Ryan Powell scored five points (1 goal, 4 assists) and fellow All-Star forward Dan Dawson scored four points (1 goal, 3 assists), but it was to no avail as the Portland LumberJax fell to the Edmonton Rush 9-7 Saturday night in front of 7,744 at the Rose Garden Arena. Despite the loss, the Jax (3-6) still remain tied for third place as the Calgary Roughnecks (3-6) fell to the Toronto Rock, 9-7.

The game began with two quick Edmonton scores. Portland got on the board when Powell scored on a fast break off a pass from All-Star defenseman Brodie Merrill (2 goals, 1 assist) with 8:51 left in the first quarter.

After another Edmonton score, forward Peter Morgan scored with 7:45 to play to cut the Edmonton lead to one. Powell and forward Dawson worked the ball deep in Rush territory before setting P. Morgan up for the goal.

Merrill scored ten-seconds into the second quarter tie the game at three. However, the tie was short lived as Edmonton countered with 13:07 left in the half to earn a 4-3 lead.

The defense for both teams settled in, trading possessions for nearly six minutes until forward Matt Holman (2 goals) scored with 7:22 left in the second quarter to tie the game at four. Derek Malawsky and Powell were credited with assists on Holman's third goal of the season.

Tempers flared with 4:47 to play in the half as former Arizona Sting teammates Dawson and Edmonton defenseman Mike Grimes mixed it up, resulting in five penalty minutes for both players.

The Rush closed out the half with an AJ Shannon goal with 1:35 left to take a one goal lead into the break.

Edmonton continued its scoring streak, netting the first two goals of the quarter until Merrill took a pass from forward Spencer Martin (2 assists) and slipped one past Rush goalie Curtis Palidwor with 5:30 left in the third to make it 7-5 in favor of the visiting team. Transition player Tyler Codron was also credited with an assist on the goal.

Portland continues its resurgence as Dawson scored with 4:22 left in the third to trim the Edmonton lead to one.

The Rush came back with a goal with 1:12 left in the third to take an 8-6 lead into the fourth quarter.

Edmonton scored first in the fourth quarter, as Shannon tallied the hat trick to extend the lead to 9-6. Holman would add a late goal to make it 9-7, but the Rush came out victorious for their first win of the season.

Notes: Powell has scored in all 36 career regular season games he's appeared in...Powell has also tallied an assist in 35 straight games...P. Morgan has scored in all 39 career regular season games he's appeared in.