Week 15 is completed and another team has claimed their ticket for the playoffs, while the first team has been eliminated from playoff contention. The East still has the Black Wolves fighting for the last spot, but they need a lot of help. We also have Toronto and Rochester fighting for the top spot in the East. The final spot in the west looks like it will come down to the final week of the season, while the top spot in west could be decided this weekend
NLL Power Rankings Week 15
LW
(1)….1—Toronto Rock* (12-4) The Rock seem to be back on track. After starting 9-0, the Rock has gone 3-4. Last weekend they jumped back on track with a 14-7 win over the Stealth to keep a slim 1 game lead over the Knighthawks. Brett Hickey led the way with 7G/4A, Kevin Crowley in his second game with the Rock had 3G/3A. Rock host New England Friday 7:30pm
(3)….2—Rochester Knighthawks* (10-4) Since having their 5 game winning streak snapped back on March 28th (Edmonton 16-3), the Knighthawks have won three in a row and have outscored the opposition 35-14. Stephen Keogh (4G), Dan Dawson (1G/5A) led the attack, while Matt Vinc stopped 29/34 shots. Rochester will play twice this weekend. Friday night at Colorado Saturday 9pm, then travel to Vancouver for a Saturday 10pm faceoff.
(2)….3—Edmonton Rush* (10-5) Earned a split this weekend against division rival Calgary. Friday night the fell 9-8 in Calgary, but redeemed themselves Saturday with an 11-9 win to hold onto the top spot in the west. Both Ben McIntosh and Mark Matthews had five goals apiece for Edmonton. Aaron Bold seemed to play the same game both nights as he stopped 33/42 shots each night. Rush magic number is 1 to clinch the west. A Colorado loss on Friday or an Edmonton win will lock up the #1 seed in the west and a first round bye. Edmonton hosts Colorado Saturday 9pm
(4)….4—Colorado Mammoth* (8-7) What looked like it be a tough game was anything but. Colorado fell to Rochester 14-5. Adam Jones led the scoring for the Mammoth with 2 goals. Mammoth look to have the #2 seed locked up in west, they can still get a 1 seed but must win out and Edmonton must loose out. Mammoth are in action twice this weekend. Friday night they host Rochester 9pm, then travel to Edmonton for a Saturday 9pm matchup.
(5)….5—Buffalo Bandits (8-7) Big win on the road as they swat the Swarm 12-9. The win reduces the magic number to clinch the final playoff spot in the east to 2. Any combination of Bandit wins and Black wolves losses equaling 2 will give Buffalo the spot. Ryan Benesch (4G/3A) and Dhane Smith (2G/5A) led the Bandit attack. Bandits are off this week before playing twice on April 25-26.
(7)….6—Vancouver Stealth (5-10) Stealth came into this past weekend with a five game losing streak, and it quickly went to six after a 14-7 loss to Toronto. Sunday they rebounded to defeat a struggling Black Wolves team 11-9. Eric Penney stopped 90/111 shots in the two games. Stealth hold a slim half game lead over Calgary. These two teams face off on May 2nd, the last game of regular season. This week Vancouver will host Rochester Saturday 10pm.
(8)….7—Calgary Roughnecks (5-11) In one day, out the next. That’s how quick the playoff race switches. Calgary took the final spot away from Vancouver for 1 day after defeating Edmonton 9-8 on Friday, but gave it back after falling 11-9 to Edmonton the next night. Calgary trails Vancouver by a half game for the final spot in the west, and they face each other the last game of the season. This week they visit the Swarm Saturday 8pm..
(6)….8—Minnesota Swarm (5-10) Was officially eliminated from playoff contention after falling 12-9 to the Bandits. Shayne Jackson scored 5 of the 9 goals for the Swarm. Swarm will host Calgary Saturday night 8pm.
(9)….9—New England Black Wolves (4-9) Fell for the ninth time in eleven game, this time to Vancouver 11-9. New England is still mathematically in playoff contention, but need help. New England plays Toronto(2), Buffalo(2) and Rochester (1). If they go 4-1 (must win both Buffalo games), the Bandits have to go 0-3 for New England to make the playoffs. A Buffalo win, and the Black Wolves must go 5-0 to get in. New England travels to face former teammate Kevin Crowley and the Rock Friday 7:30pm
