NLL Power Rankings are back, and things are…not clearing up. There are now some clear breaks in the standings. A top tier has emerged, but the middle of the table remains about as clear as mud. And that’s a good thing. The longer we go with more teams in the playoff mix, the better the season we are having. Rochester snapped their losing streak, Vancouver with a giant win over Buffalo, and Toronto with some big wins in a double dip.
15 Colorado Mammoth (4-8)
Colorado got blown out by Saskatchewan, and they’ve now lost four of their last five. The Mammoth need to win out, including games against Toronto, Buffalo, and Halifax, just to go 10-8 and be in the playoff picture. This weekend they are the TSN Game of the Week against Toronto, and it’s must-win territory on the road for Colorado.
14 Vancouver Warriors (3-8)
The Warriors may still have the worst record in the league, but you can’t be ranked last if you just beat Buffalo. You just can’t. It doesn’t get any easier for the Warriors this week as they travel to Albany this weekend for a date with the Firewolves.
13 Las Vegas Desert Dogs (4-7)
Vegas played on ESPNU this week which is great, but lost to Toronto, which is not. They’ve now lost three of their last four, and are looking like a playoff longshot. They’ve got games left against Vancouver and Colorado and those are now must wins, along with some necessary upsets of top ranked teams, to make a postseason push. It starts when the visit New York this weekend.
12 Rochester Knighthawks (4-6)
The Hawks snapped their six game losing streak with a tried and true formula, just score a whole ton of goals. Thomas McConvey was outstanding with six goals, Connor Fields had 11 assists, and the offense put up 19 on Panther City, although the Hawks once again conceded plenty themselves. PCLC scored 15 goals. A win is still a win. Rochester plays their home end of a home and home with Albany this weekend.
11 Saskatchewan Rush (4-5)
The Rush buried Colorado, 15-7, behind eight points each from Ryan Church and Ryan Keenan. The Rush play six games in March thanks to a make up game against Philly that was postponed in January. This weekend, they visit Banditland.
10 Panther City Lacrosse Club (5-6)
Panther City fell to Rochester this week in a shootout, and somehow Callum Crawford was goallless. Nick Damude was chased early, Cam MacLeod came in and wasn’t much better, and PCLC just couldn’t stop Rochester. Panther City takes on Philly this weekend.
9 Philadelphia Wings (4-6)
The Wings beat Calgary this week and have won two of their last three. The much maligned defense has been better, holding opponents under 10 goals in both of those wins. Zach Higgins is a key part of that; he made 50 saves against Calgary. It was his third game of the year with 50 saves. Philly hosts PCLC this weekend.
8 New York Riptide (5-7)
Welcome back to Earth, Riptide? They’ve lost three straight after a stretch through February were they could do no wrong. They’ve gotten through the worst of the schedule, five of the remaining six games are against teams with losing records. This week they get to try and launch a playoff push when they host Las Vegas.
7 Buffalo Bandits (5-6)
Buffalo with a losing record this late in the season? What has happened to the defending champs? They lost last weekend in Vancouver to the team with the worst record in the NLL. The Bandits can never be counted out; they’re just too talented. But they have now lost three straight. A return to the cozy confines of Banditland for a game against the Rush this weekend is an opportunity to get right.
6 Calgary Roughnecks (5-6)
Calgary saw their three game win streak snapped by Philadelphia on the second half of a home and home. The Roughnecks didn’t look bad in this one, Philly got a gem of a game from Zach Higgins. Calgary visits Georgia this weekend.
5 Halifax Thunderbirds (7-5)
Halifax fell to Georgia despite a valiant comeback effort. The Birds have now lost two of their last three. The schedule the rest of the way is pretty favorable, although this week they have a tough matchup as they travel to San Diego.
4 Georgia Swarm (7-6)
Georgia knocked off Halifax in the TSN game of the week, a massive win for the Swarm as they stay in the hunt for good playoff position. They squeaked out a one goal win, and a scary one at that. Georgia still is dicey closing games out. They led 12-6 with about 10 minutes to go in the game, and gave up a 5-0 run, letting Halifax within two with five minutes to go. The Swarm’s last five games are all at home, starting with this weekend against Calgary.
3 San Diego Seals (8-4)
A busy weekend for the Seals saw them split games, winning against Panther City in a tight one and then losing to Toronto. San Diego has still won six of their last eight. They also had gone under in eight straight games leading up to the Toronto game, so naturally against maybe the best defense in the league, they go over. Go figure. They host Halifax in the best game on the schedule next week.
2 Albany Firewolves (9-2)
Firewolves took it to the Riptide to go to 9-2. They held New York to eight goals, and the Wolves are rolling once again. Winners of three straight, 13+ goals in each game, they host Vancouver this weekend.
1 Toronto Rock (10-2)
Two games, two wins for Toronto. They now sit alone at the top of the power rankings and the standings. They put up 16 on Vegas and beat San Diego in a high scoring affair. The Rock can play whatever type of game you want. Slow? Their defense and goaltending while win them the low scoring game. Fast? Their transition from D to O will steal some goals and opportunities to keep them ahead. The Rock welcome Colorado to town on Saturday.
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