Thunder forward Jeff Klodzen plopped down in a seat in the stands at the Baltimore Arena during Wednesday night's practice and, staring out at his teammates participating in an intrasquad scrimmage, spoke of the magnitude of today's 2 p.m. matchup with the visiting Rochester Knighthawks.
"This is a huge game for us," said Klodzen, who played for the Pittsburgh Bulls for three years before the franchise folded and he joined the Thunder in 1992.
"For most of us, this is the biggest indoor game of our lives. The guys are more excited than they've ever been and that's because they realize they have a chance to make something of the season."
After losing its first two games, the Thunder rebounded by sweeping a home-and-home series from the New York Saints two weeks ago, raising its record to .500 and giving all those associated with the franchise reason for hope.
Bob Martino, who registered three goals and two assists in Baltimore's 9-7 win over the Saints in the Thunder's last outing, on Jan. 28, likes his team's chances against the Major Indoor Lacrosse League's newest franchise, and he assures fans who attend the game or watch its national broadcast on ESPN that he and his teammates will not come out flat like they did in their season-opening loss to Boston.
"If you can't get excited for this game, I don't know what game you can get excited for," said Martino, a native of Canandaigua, N.Y., who earned All-America honors at Washington College. "Personally, I'm treating this like a playoff game."
Skip Lichtfuss shares his team's enthusiasm heading into this afternoon's contest, but the Thunder's second-year coach has tried to keep things in perspective and not let his players put too much pressure on themselves.
"People throw around adjectives and cliches all the time, but to call this game critical is not a fair assessment," said Lichtfuss, who watched his team struggle to a 1-7 record in his first year as coach. "It's an extremely pivotal game for this team.
"We need to beat this team to stay in the hunt for a playoff spot. That's our objective, to get to the playoffs, and right now, the team standing between us and that is Rochester."
Baltimore (2-2) couldn't get around the Knighthawks (2-2) when the teams met for the first time last month in Rochester. The Thunder stormed to a 12-6 third-quarter lead before giving up 10 fourth-quarter goals -- five to All-Pro Paul Gait -- and bowing to the hosts, 16-13.
Lichtfuss hopes it won't happen again.
"It's going to take a 60-minute effort, just that simple," he said. "It's going to be a very competitive game and we have to be consistent for 60 minutes and we have to stay out of the penalty box."
Klodzen agreed: "If we minimize penalties and play them straight up six-on-six, I think we should win. We're a better and more athletic team, and this time we'll have the home crowd behind us."
THUNDER TODAY
Opponent: Rochester Knighthawks
Site: Baltimore Arena
Time: 2 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Outlook: The Thunder (2-2) has won its past two games, and the Knighthawks (2-2) have dropped their past two road games. In the teams' first meeting, Rochester rallied from a 12-6 deficit for a 16-13 victory. Four-time All-Pro Paul Gait and F Chris Driscoll lead the Knighthawks. Thunder G Ted Sawicki, the league's leader in save percentage (78.6), will try to shut down a team that ranks first in the league in on-goal scoring percentage (30.3).