What’s that Buffalo? You hate all those byes? Well good news, you’re getting a double dip this weekend. Eight games on the calendar in Week 12, two of them feature the Bandits. A Valentine’s Day date with Toronto will most certainly have sparks flying, but not the romantic kind. Three games Friday, four more Saturday, and a final game Sunday. Double dips for Buffalo, Las Vegas, Saskatchewan, and Calgary. It’s a jammed slate, and it’s getting to be that time where we start looking at playoff pictures. Here’s the rundown.
FRIDAY:
Who: Buffalo Bandits (6-0) vs Toronto Rock (3-5)
Where: Paramount Fine Foods Centre, Toronto
When: 7:00pm EST
The Spread: Buffalo favored by 2.5 (+110), game total set at 23.5
Who: Saskatchewan Rush (6-2) vs Calgary Roughnecks (5-3)
Where: WestJet Field at ScotiaBank Saddledome, Calgary
When: 9:30pm EST
The Spread: Saskatchewan favored by 1.5 (+100), game total set at 23.5
Who: Vancouver Warriors (4-5) vs Las Vegas Desert Dogs (2-6)
Where: Lee’s Family Forum, Las Vegas
When: 10:30pm EST
The Spread: Vancouver favored by 1.5 (-130), game total set at 21.5
SATURDAY
Who: Philadelphia Wings (5-4) vs Halifax Thunderbirds (4-4)
Where: ScotiaBank Centre, Halifax
When: 6:00pm EST
The Spread: Halifax favored by 1.5 (-120), game total set at 26.5
Who: Ottawa Black Bears (4-4) vs Albany FireWolves (2-7)
Where: MVP Arena, Albany
When: 7:00pm EST
The Spread: Albany favored by 1.5 (+110), game total set at 21.5
Who: San Diego Seals (4-5) vs Buffalo Bandits (6-0)
Where: KeyBank Center, Buffalo
When: 7:30pm, EST
The Spread: Not available, pending outcome of Buffalo vs Toronto
Who: Rochester Knighthawks (4-6) vs Saskatchewan Rush (6-2)
Where: SaskTel Centre, Saskatchewan
When: 8:00pm EST
The Spread: Not available, pending outcome of Saskatchewan vs Calgary
SUNDAY
Who: Las Vegas Desert Dogs (2-6) vs Calgary Roughnecks (5-3)
Where: WestJet Field at ScotiaBank Saddledome, Calgary
When: 7:00pm EST
The Spread: Not Available, pending outcome of Saskatchewan vs Calgary
STORIES TO WATCH
Doubleheaders all around
Three clubs have double dips this weekend. Saskatchewan plays Friday and Saturday, first on the road then at home. Calgary plays Friday and Sunday, both games at home. Vegas plays Friday and Sunday, first at home then visiting the Roughnecks. Buffalo visits Toronto on Friday, then returns home to host San Diego on Saturday. It's an interesting dynamic to follow. Saskatchewan and Calgary open the weekend against each other. Calgary’s second game is also Vegas’s second game, so presumably they’re both dealing with similar levels of fatigue, bumps, and bruises. But the Rush have their second game against the visiting Knighthawks. A tired team against a fresh team is always rough. Usually this shows up late in games. If the Rush are clinging to a late lead, look for Rochester to stay aggressive and try and pounce on tired legs and steal a win.
Turmoil at the top
The top of the standings all have tough matchups this week. Buffalo has a date with Toronto on the road, and the Rock are certainly a whole lot better than their 3-6 record. Saskatchewan and Calgary, the teams that are second and third in the standings respectively, play each other in Calgary. Philly has to try and avenge last week's loss to Halifax. Colorado, in fourth, gets to sit back and watch the mayhem. Playoff position jockeying starts now. These top of the standings matchups are huge for teams trying to secure a spot in the postseason, even if it is still two months away.
More two league pros
Pat Kavanagh, who won the Tewaaraton last year and is coming off a rookie season in the PLL, signed a two year deal with the San Diego seals. He’s on the PUP List as of now, but his debut is already eagerly anticipated. Brennan O’Neill is leading the Rookie of the Year race. In fact, Brock Haley is the only one of the top five scoring rookies that isn’t a two league pro right now. O’Neill, Dyson Williams, Mike Robinson, and Adam Poitras are all on PLL clubs. Michael Sowers made his NLL debut last week and got good reviews. For players like Haley and Toron Eccelston, it’s fair to wonder whether it’s when, not if, a PLL team gives them a shot. The scoring leaders in the NLL are still predominantly indoor players. Of the top ten scorers right now, only three (Connor Fields, Josh Byrne, and Connor Kelly) are every week players in the PLL. But the amount of young guys, like the aforementioned rookies, is a signal that the era of the two league pro may be arriving in a big way.
Time to make your own luck
There are two teams in the league that are .500 or worse, but have a positive score differential. Halifax and Vancouver. The Warriors visit Vegas this weekend, Halifax hosts the Wings on the second half of a home and home. The Thunderbirds spoiled the debut of Michael Sowers, and the goal of the year from Brennan O’Neill, with a win on the road last week. A win this week would vault them up the standings from eight to firmly in the playoff picture. Vancouver is a spot out of the playoffs as of now, sitting at ninth. A win against Vegas won’t gain any ground on its own, but with some help in front of them, they can climb. Losing records with positive score differentials usually means bad breaks, tough bounces, or inconsistent play. Second half of the season is here, time for these teams to take control of the bounces and their playoff fate.
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