As the number of weeks left in the regular season, the teams, chances, and scenarios increase for the teams to make the 2013 NLL Playoffs. Last week with two wins the Wings would of clinched, instead they dropped both. The Stealth could of clinched, but they lost. Toronto (clinched playoff spot) could have wrapped up home field throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs with two wins, they split giving them nothing right now as well
Wait…. Did I say “home field advantage”?! Edmonton 7-1 (road) 1-4 home, Toronto Road 5-2, Home 4-3. Wings 2-4 Home 3-3 Road. This has been a crazy but exciting season. Now, for the things to look out for in this weekends matchup’s…
Buffalo Bandits (5-8) vs Minnesota Swarm (5-7) Buffalo has lost 5 straight and are on the verge or missing the playoffs. Luke Wiles played last week, that was the highlight for him(0G/0A). Swarm are coming off a huge 20-11 win over the Wings and have a modest two game winning streak. This game is going to be about WHO WANTS IT MORE
Philadelphia Wings (5-7) vs Rochester Knighthawks (5-6) Game on CBS Sports NETWORK. Season series tied 1-1 winner gets tie-breaker, Rochester’s solid effort led to a 12-8 win over the Rock. Wings coming off two weekend defeats. Can Rochester use last weeks game as a turning point in their season as after this game, the remaining four are on the road. For the Wings, Brandon Miller held the Mammoth scoreless the last 30 minutes. Can he carry that into this weekends games? Mundorf returned last weekend, After playing in his first two games of the season, did he shake any rust off, and how will the offense look seeing they back together.
Washington Stealth (7-6) vs Calgary Roughnecks (8-5) Season series tied 1-1, Calgary holds a 1 game lead over the Stealth. A Stealth win along with Colorado beating Edmonton could give us a three way tie for first. Last weeks turning point was a five minute major to Tyler Richards which he had to serve. Calgary then turned a 11-8 deficit to a 13-11 victory. Who will get on a roll, three games left each til Playoffs, Stealth win and they are in. Do they have the Kryptonite to stop Dickson? Can the Stealth soar back to the top of the West? Is Calgary just starting to rev up the engines?
Colorado Mammoth (5-8) vs Edmonton Rush (8-5) Yes Mammoth are 5-8, but winners of 3 of last 4, including last weeks victory when they didn’t score a goal in the econd half. Is this a sign they ran out of gas? Let hope not for their sake. They face Edmonton who was 7-1 on the road, BUT are 1-4 at home. A win by the Mammoth would be HUGE. Final two games after this weekend are against the Minnesota Swarm. Rush come off a bye, and play final three at home. Need a total team effort as they want to hold onto the top spot in the West.. Big story, Mark Matthews has 35 goals so far this season, only 2 behind John Grant Jr for league lead, and 4 goals away from breaking John Grant Jr’s rookie record for goals in a season at 38.
Rochester Knighthawks (5-6) vs Toronto Rock (9-5). A Rock win gives Toronto the NLL East Div regular season title. A Knighthawk win can put them at 7-6 (if they also win Saturday) and will no doubt have teams looking over their shoulders. Look for Toronto to get a big lead and put the game away early and rest some of the stars. For Rochester, win or lose Saturday this team will come out firing and watch for Matt Vinc to start building that brick wall early.
Minnesota Swarm (5-7) vs Philadelphia Wings (5-7)The Swarm could be going for a 7-7 record (if they win Saturday) or could be trying to avoid 5-9. This will be tough for the Swarm. First, they play at 8pm(est) on Saturday, the Wings start at 6pm(est).. So their game will be starting as the Wings get done. Second, When the Swarm finish (about 10:30 est/9:30cst) they have to fly to Philadelphia and also lose 1 hour because of the time zone. So even if they leave immediately after the game they will arrive in the middle of the night. Meanwhile the Wings will be asleep ina comfortable bed, catching a morning flight 1 hour back to Philly. With that, Can the young legs of the Swarm defeat the Wings again, after a battle with Buffalo? Are the Swarm finally starting to make a BUZZ in the league? For the Wings, a chance to clinch or even draw closer to a playoff spot flew out the window as they dropped both games. How will they be after an obvious battle in Rochester? A loss on Saturday, and its possible the Wings could be looking at 5-9 when the buzzer sounds if the Swarm catch them off guard. The flip side, Wings could be 7-7 at the final buzzer on Sunday. Things to look for from the Wings, same as in the Rochester game, How will Miller do in back to back games,? Can the Wings get balanced scoring on the offense this game? Can the defense keep up with the speedy Swarm offense?
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