Before I start, I like to dedicate this article to the families and all those injured and those who have lost their lives in the horrific bombing at the Boston Marathon. My family and I along with ILWT sends their thoughts and prayers to everyone affected by this senseless attack.
Well lacrosse fans, we have arrived at the final week of the regular season. Where has the time gone? Seems like only yesterday I was doing an article about the free agent and rookie camp for the Philadelphia Wings, back in early November. Then as the season progressed some teams started out well, and then struggled (some more then others). In early March I said that all playoff berths will be claimed by months end and April will be a seeding month. Well, let me say this…Crow is better with hot sauce!
Below is what will be decided this weekend.
1—Best Overall Record—Home field throughout the Champions Cup as long as the team is still in it.
2—NLL Western Division winner
3—Seeding in the East and West. Only thing confirmed Toronto #1 in East
4—Will there be a cross over? Will the defending champs be watching from home or playing?
5—Will Mark Matthews break John Grant Jr’s rookie goal scoring record (38) Matthews has 37
6—Shawn Evans has won the scoring title…Is the MVP his, or does he need another solid effort this weekend?
We have two spots remaining and three teams fighting for them. Colorado, Buffalo, Rochester.
Colorado Mammoth.. I basically buried the Colorado Mammoth as they went through a turnstile of goaltenders and had to do something immediately or it would be a long season. Enter Tye Belanger, he has been the beam of light for this team by going 4-2 in 8 games (4-1 prior to this past weekend). Then the Mammoth added Casey Powell to their offense and the engine started to run, and with the talent on this team the surge to get into the race started. As we hit the end of March it was apparent that the final two games of the season for the Mammoth, both against the Swarm will play a vital role. Act One was this past weekend with Minnesota prevailing in Colorado and clinching a spot. Act Two is this Saturday night in Minnesota 8pm eastern.
Colorado can clinch with: Win over Minnesota OR a Buffalo loss to Rochester. ELIMINATED: Loss to Minnesota AND a Buffalo win over Rochester.
Buffalo Bandits..This season has been a wild roller coaster ride that even the people who love rollercoaster’s wouldn’t want to be on. Early on Luke Wiles goes unsigned, then signs misses most of camp and never get on track this season. Production way down from Steenhuis and Tavares, Tavares misses a few game with calf injury, and Cosmo gets pulled a few times as his play suffers. And as of this past week was back-up because of injury. With all of that you would think this team is dead in the water, especially after a 21-7 blow-out handed to them by Minnesota. After a big win this past weekend in Washington, the Bandits season has a shot as they host the Knighthawks Saturday night on CBS SPortsNetwork.7:30pm.
Buffalo can clinch with: Win over Rochester. Can clinch a home playoff game with a Win AND a Philadelphia loss to Washington. ELIMINATED: Loss to Rochester
Rochester Knighthawks.. The defending champions are on the brink of elimination!!! After clawing their way back to 6-6, they have lost 2 of last 3. Two wins or a win and a Wings loss would of clinched a spot, but neither happened. The Knighthawks fought their way to a 15-14 win over Calgary to complete part one. On Sunday after the first quarter they were outscored 12-6 in the last three quarters. When the season began people were already saying give them the Cup. This after the Knighthawks obtained Dan Dawson and his brother Paul in a trade with Philadelphia that sent Paul Rabil, Jordan Hall, Joel White, Rob Campbell to the Wings (draft picks are involved as well between the teams). Seems like the Knighthawks still are going through some growing pains from last season. This is what Asst Coach Pat O’Toole said to me last season and they go on to win the Cup. So can we really declare a winner with this trade? I think its even right now, maybe a slight edge to Philly as Rabil is having a good year coming out the front door on offense then he was doing on transition. This will be the fourth meeting of the season between the Knighthawks and the Bandits. Buffalo has won both games in Rochester and the Knighthawks have won the game in Buffalo, so the visiting team has won all the games. Can the Knighthawks do that again, or will Buffalo win at home, forcing Rochester to scoreboard watch?
Rochester can clinch a playoff berth and a home playoff game with a win over Buffalo. Also clinch with a Colorado loss to Minnesota. ELIMINATED: Loss to Buffalo AND a Colorado win over Minnesota.
Teams that have clinched a playoff berth, and what they can clinch this weekend:
Western Division
Edmonton Rush: Clinched a playoff berth.
Can Clinch Best overall record with a win over Calgary. A loss and Toronto claims best record.
Clinch a home play-off game with a Washington loss to Philadelphia.
An Edmonton loss and a Washington win will put Edmonton on the road as a #3 seed in West.
Calgary Roughnecks: Clinched playoff berth.
Can Clinch NLL West with a Win over Edmonton
Can clinch a first round home game with a Minnesota win AND a Washington loss, (if Calgary looses)
Washington Stealth: Clinched a playoff berth.
Can clinch a first round home game with a Win over Philadelphia OR with a Minnesota & Calgary loss
Minnesota Swarm: Clinched a playoff berth. Will open on the road. Question is where? Against a western division team, or will they be the crossover and face Toronto.
Eastern Division
Toronto Rock. Clinched NLL EAST, Claims Best overall record with an Edmonton loss to Calgary. Open playoffs at home on April 28th at 3pm Opponent to be determined
Philadelphia Wings: Clinched playoff berth.
Can clinch first-round home game with a Win and a Rochester loss.
Possible Playoff matchups:
Philadelphia @ Buffalo or Rochester
Buffalo or Rochester @ Philadelphia
Buffalo, Rochester, Colorado or Minnesota @ Toronto
Colorado or Minnesota @ Edmonton
Colorado or Minnesota @ Calgary
Washington @ Edmonton
Edmonton @ Washington
Washington @ Calgary
You got all that? We tried to tell you to strap in and buckle up. I gave you all a warning that it was going to be a crazy ride this season. What a way to end the regular season! Playoffs start next week! Better really buckle up!
