With two games left in the regular season, Major League Lacrosse is heading down the stretch run with plenty of intrigue. Much of that intrigue is due to a change in the playoff format.
Rather than have one “championship weekend,” with the semifinals and championship the same weekend, this will mark the first summer of semifinals a week before the championship and at the higher-seed team. The semifinals are set for August 16 at the site of the top two seeds while the championship will be played on August 23 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw, Georgia.
Looking at the standings, Rochester is first at 9-3 while Denver is second (8-4), New York third (7-5) and Ohio fourth (6-6). Both Boston and Florida are one game behind at 5-7. In the old format, there would be jockeying for playoff position which would affect the playoff matchup, which is important, but not vital. It would be nothing more than jockeying for seeding and whether they get to wear their home or road uniforms.
The new format adds intrigue into these final two games in several ways.
The quest for first place
It is always nice to have the “status” of finishing in first. Here, there isn’t a big difference from the old format because you still play the #4 seed. However, it is at home. You play the “weakest” team in the playoff field… and in the friendly confines of your home facilities. It gives the top seed the advantage it deserves. Being on top after 14 games should lead to more than wearing your home jersey at a neutral site. The new format gives finishing first its well-deserved advantage.
Home field in the semifinals
The biggest difference between this year and last is the race for second place. Denver and New York are currently in those positions. Last year, it wouldn’t have made a difference who finishes second and who finishes third (other than jersey colors to wear at a neutral site), but this year, there will be more eyes on the Rattlers, Outlaws, Lizards and Machine to see who earns that #2 seed and home game in the semifinals.
The fourth seed
The one playoff race that remains in place is the quest for the fourth and final playoff spot, which this year features five teams within two games of each other. Ohio is currently in fourth at 6-6, but the Cannons and Launch are only one game behind. Although it’s a longshot, Chesapeake and Charlotte are still grasping for the slimmest of possibilities at 4-8.
Denver at Chesapeake begins the penultimate weekend of regular season action tonight and this new format gives fans even more of a reason to tune in.
