Before Saturday night’s game in Maryland the Bolts had won their last four meetings against the Arrows, and held a series lead of 4-3 this season. The last time the two teams met in Boston, records fell consistently as the Bolts crushed the visitors, 27-17 on July 27. Johnny Allen won his second 99 Restaurant “Player of the Game” that night with five goals and five assists, the highest single-game individual output of the season for Boston. Taki Vohalis also tied an NLL record with seven assists, and Ivan Thompson chipped in four scores and five assists as the Bolts unleashed a 66-shot barrage at Arrow goalies Keith Todman and Greg Thomas.
Maryland rookie Brian Tasker leads all scorers in the series with 12 goals and 23 assists, followed closely by Ivan Thompson’s ten goals and 21 assists. Bill Coghill is the top goal scorer, with 1’7 in seven games, while John Allen tops Bolt goalgetters with 12.
Tasker and Thompson continue to fight it out with the Arrows’ Paul Suggate for the 3-4-5 spots in the NLL scoring race. Suggate has been near the top of the league standings all season long, as has Tasker, but Thompson’s incredible scoring spurt since the end of May has moved him right to the top. In his last 28 games, Ivan has scored 64 goals and 81 assists, and at one time passed Suggate into third place in the NLL. Less than 15 points separate the three players.
Bob McCready returns to Boston tonight in the Maryland goal. McCready, traded with Charlie Marlowe for Jerry McKenna and Bob Shriver on the first of this month, has played well in the Arrows’ net, but he has not been able to play a complete game and is pacing himself at this point. Buff played 37 minutes of the 12-8 Boston victory at the Capital Center August 4, stopping 18 of 23 shots and leading fast breaks in the customary McCready style.
Meanwhile, Jerry McKenna has played well in a Boston uniform, scoring a goal in each of his first four games. McKenna has also been an integral part of the Bolts’ defense against the power play.
Tonight is your last chance to vote for your “Most Striking Bolt” of the 1975 season.
Fill out the ballot in the program, or pick one up at the exits. The winner will be announced at the August 28th game vs. Quebec.