Athan Iannucci will be the centre of attention as he takes aim at the National Lacrosse League record for most goals in a season this weekend.

The Philadelphia Wings star from New Westminster, B.C., is seven shy of the 61 that Gary Gait netted in 2003. He averaged 4.5 a game through 12 games, and the Wings are on the road Friday against the Portland LumberJax and Saturday against the Minnesota Swarm.

"I'm going to tell him that I'd like him to break the record in Portland - get about nine - and that would pretty well eliminate the distraction," coach Dave Huntley kidded Wednesday.

Iannucci, a U.S. field star at Hofstra before turning pro, is in his second NLL season. He keeps in shape during his summers by playing for his local team in the amateur Western Lacrosse Association. He was the WLA scoring champion last year. He turns 26 next on Tuesday.

"He is a wonderful player," says Minnesota GM Marty O'Neill. "He's got size and strength and a real desire to get himself into a good shooting position.

"That's what makes him so special."

What Iannucci is doing this season is remarkable given that his future in the sport was uncertain after he underwent back surgery to repair a herniated disc in 2004.

The Wings (8-4) are coming off an 11-9 win over Toronto last Sunday and share first place in the East Division with the Swarm (8-4).

Portland (5-8) will be pumped to play well in its regular-season home finale Friday night, and a win is probable if Matt Disher of Arthur, Ont., turns in as good a game as he did last time out. Rookie Tyler Codron of Port Coquitlam, B.C., has the agility and toughness to handle Iannucci - or at least try - and has been given the assignment.

Minnesota's Ryan Ward was named offensive player of the week on Wednesday for scoring three goals and assisting on four in a 12-9 win over New York last Saturday.

In other games Saturday, Chicago (4-7) is at Toronto (7-6), Buffalo (8-5) is at Rochester (6-7), Colorado (7-5) is at New York (6-6) and Edmonton (4-7) is at Calgary (4-9). On Sunday, Edmonton is at San Jose (7-6).

San Jose's Jeff Zywicki of Nepean, Ont., was named overall player of the week for the third time this season on Wednesday. The 27-year-old righthander had seven goals and seven assists and picked up 18 loose balls in a pair of games last weekend.

Chicago shows up in Toronto on a three-game winning streak.

Shamrox defenceman Scott Self of Peterborough, Ont., is defensive player of the week and teammate Bobby McBride of Claremont, Ont., is rookie of the week for their roles in a 15-14 win over Philadelphia last Saturday. Each scored two goals and gobbled up 10 loose balls, and McBride potted the overtime winner.

"We're going into each game thinking we can win the game rather than hoping we wouldn't get blown out," says Chicago GM-coach Jamie Batley. "That was our mentally earlier in the year, but we've got past that."

Cody Jacobs, an emerging Six Nations star, has come on strong, too.

"We're not going to have anybody in the top 25 in scoring," said Batley. "We have to spread it out, and that's the way we're doing it."

Toronto fired offence coach Greg Van Sickle in the midst of losing to Rochester and Philadelphia last weekend.

"I'm going to take over more of the offensive duties," head coach Glenn Clark said during the weekly NLL coaches' conference call Wednesday. "Terry Bullen will still focus on doing the defensive group."

Rather than replacing Van Sickle, the Rock will leave the post vacant so captain Jim Veltman can step into it when he hangs up his stick next month.

Buffalo and Rochester split two games on the schedule's opening weekend and getting the edge in the season series is vital for both clubs.

"Any time Rochester and Buffalo get together you know it's going to be an intense game," said Knighthawks coach Ed Comeau. "With us trying to make it to the playoffs, we know Buffalo would love to put a dagger to our chances."

"Everyone knows Rochester is not as bad as its record," said assistant Bandits coach Jeff Dowling. "They're defending champions and, if they can get it going, they're probably still the best team in the league."

With American goalie Mike Thompson and Ken Montour of Six Nations both healthy now, head coach Darris Kilgour will have the unenviable task of telling one he won't be playing Saturday. Montour was at the top of the stats in most categories while filling in for Thompson when he was out with a concussion.

"Both guys can be starters and one of them obviously isn't going to start," said Dowling.

Buffalo's Mark Steenhuis is transition player of the week for getting three goals and three assists and picked up eight loose balls in a 12-11 win over Colorado last Saturday.

Colorado coach Bob McMahon has never stepped foot in Madison Square Garden and he'll get his players into the New York sport's shrine early so they can play tourist before clashing with the Titans. With three weeks to go in regular-season play, Colorado is the only club that has clinched a playoff berth.

"Our depth," coach Bob McMahon replied when asked to explain his team's success. "We made a point early of giving everybody an opportunity to play . . . and that has really benefited us down the stretch."

High-scoring Dan Carey of Peterborough is hurting and McMahon said there's a "99 per cent chance he will not play."

Edmonton has won four of its last five in clawing its way towards the franchise's first playoff berth. GM-coach Bob Hamley, the architect of the rebuilding effort since taking over from the fired Paul Day when the Rush fell to 0-6, isn't satisfied.

"Calgary is a very good team," said Hamley. "Their record is not indicative of the staff and the players they have over there."

Roughnecks GM Kurt Silcott admits the reeling Roughnecks are depressed.

"We've got to get some wins and get some confidence," he said.

Edmonton won 11-9 at home over Calgary last weekend after Calgary owner Brad Banister took out a full-page ad in the Edmonton Sun taunting sports fans for being from a "City of Losers."

Rush owner Bruce Urban has now added his bluster to the provincial rivalry by offering to cover the cost of as many as six tickets per order, except the $1-per-ticket service change, placed by Edmonton-region residents for the rematch in Calgary. The offer kicks in for 24 hours beginning at noon Thursday. Banister has been urging Roughnecks fans to buy up Pengrowth Saddledome seats so the Urban ploy can be thwarted.

While Curtis Palidwor of New Westminster, B.C., is the established No. 1 goalie in Edmonton, it's uncertain who the Roughnecks will start Saturday. Pat Campbell has been playing well, but Steve Dietrich is ready to go. It'll be a game-day decision.

San Jose can clinch a home playoff berth by beating a weary Edmonton team on Sunday. Stealth star Zywicki is the NLL's leading point-getter with 80 (43-37), Rochester's John Grant has 79 (40-39) and Iannucci has 76 (54-22).

Ian Crashley, Edmonton's second-year pro from Whitby, Ont., hurt a knee last weekend.

"It's serious enough that he'll miss the rest of the season," said Hamley.

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