Justin Ivey, NLL Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©
Week One: 1-2
Week Two: 2-1
Week Three: 3-2
Week Four: 4-1
Week Five: 4-1
Season Total: 14-7
Another perfect week ruined by a struggling home team. Last week it was the Colorado Mammoth, and this week it was the Philadelphia Wings falling to the visiting Georgia Swarm. A crowd boosted by LaxCon over the weekend, couldn’t will the hometown team to win in the return of hometown hero Kevin Crowley. To top off their frustrations, an ignorant comment made about Lyle Thompson by the in-game announcer quickly spread fire through the lacrosse world. In the words of Monty Python, he has been sacked. Let’s hope the league takes the opportunity to educate about the origins of this beautiful game. Back to a positive note, I got my first score prediction correct! Saskatchewan did in fact beat Vancouver 14-10 as I predicted. Thank you; I’ll be here all season. There was a possibility the return of Curtis Dickson to Calgary would blow a hole in that game predication, but New England proved me right and the offense looked great. Another challenge awaits this weekend. Seven games spanning from Friday to Sunday. Let’s get it on.
Georgia Swarm (4-0) at Toronto Rock (3-1)
Friday, January 18 at 7:30 PM EST
The Swarm can’t go 18-0, right? They have pretty much looked unflappable. For their first of two games over the weekend, they face a Toronto Rock team that has won two straight one goal games. Toronto’s last loss? A one goal bummer to Georgia at home. The veteran leadership in Toronto is a difference maker and I don’t think they let Lyle Thompson score the game tying and game winning goal late again. Toronto goes on to win their third straight one goal game and avenge the early season loss. They also pull even with Georgia for first in the East.
My Pick: Toronto
Score: Georgia-12, Toronto-13
Calgary Roughnecks (3-2) at San Diego Seals (2-2)
Friday, January 18 at 10:00 PM EST
San Diego was full of energy for their first home game last week and the result mirrored that. Rookie Austin Staats found his groove again and veteran Dan Dawson contributed a hat-trick in a two-goal win over Rochester. Calgary has been no slouch though. Last week they lost to a hot New England team, but now Curtis Dickson had a week with the team rather than playing the day he signed his deal. I expect San Diego to show up, but I think the cohesion that Calgary has shown this season gives them the edge.
My Pick: Calgary
Score: Calgary-12, San Diego-10
Georgia Swarm (?-?) at New England Black Wolves (2-1)
Saturday, January 19 at 7:00 PM EST
The Swarm visit Mohegan Sun Arena the day after playing in Toronto. The NLL is a peculiar league, and sometimes a back to back actually helps. The players are a bit more tired, but they don’t have to re create chemistry after a week off. New England has looked excellent with the emergence of Reilly O’Connor. The offense is fluid without a “number one option”. Sharing is caring and the open guy has been getting the shot rather than the heavy isolation ball we have seen them play in the past with the likes of Shawn Evans and Kevin Crowley. Georgia won the first matchup of the season 16-12 in Georgia. I think Georgia comes out hot, but New England comes from behind to win in the second half. It may be tough to believe, but Georgia loses two games in one weekend. Call me crazy.
My Pick: New England
Score: Georgia-13, New England-16
Philadelphia Wings (0-4) at Buffalo Bandits (3-1)
Saturday, January 19 at 7:30 PM EST
The Eagles lost to the Saints on the 13th, the Wings lost to the Swarm on the 12th, the 76ers…won their weekend game against the Knicks on the 13th. Thank goodness or Philadelphia might have rioted with all those L’s. This week they look for their first win on the year in Buffalo where Shawn Evans runs the show. Last time Buffalo took the floor was two weeks ago and they held Rochester to four goals. FOUR GOALS. Unheard of. Philadelphia will have to wait for their first win. Buffalo takes care of business at home.
My Pick: Buffalo
Score: Philadelphia-9, Buffalo-14
Rochester Knighthawks (1-2) at Saskatchewan Rush (2-1)
Saturday, January 19 at 8:30 PM EST
Last year’s championship rematch. These two teams played a suspenseful three game series last year, and Saskatchewan emerged victorious. The Rush have won two straight since dropping their season opener, and Rochester has dropped two straight since winning their season opener. The Rush seems to be finding their groove again, and Rochester is scrambling a bit. The Saskatchewan good fortune in their two wins is thanks to Ben McIntosh who has notched two straight five-goal games. It will be interesting to see how Rochester responds coming off two straight losses, but I don’t think Saskatchewan is the place they get back on the horse.
My Pick: Saskatchewan
Score: Rochester-11, Saskatchewan-15
San Diego Seals (?-?) at Vancouver Warriors (1-4)
Saturday, January 19 at 10:00 PM EST
The Warriors need a win. Starting goalie Aaron Bold was pulled early last week, and backup Eric Penney almost sparked his team to victory, but instead they dropped their fourth game in a row since winning opening weekend in Calgary. San Diego comes to town for their second game in two nights. This is a great opportunity. Since scoring 17 goals in their first game, the Seals haven’t eclipsed the 12-goal mark, winning one of those and dropping the other two. After a tough game the night before against a physical Calgary team, they will be tired. Vancouver gets win number two!
My Pick: Vancouver
Score: San Diego-10, Vancouver-12
Calgary Roughnecks (?-?) at Colorado Mammoth (0-3)
Sunday, January 20 at 3:00 PM EST
Colorado started last season 3-0, and finished the season 11-7. They had a 5-4 home record. This year they have dropped three straight home games to start on the left foot. Calgary comes to visit Sunday for the second time this season already. On January 6th, they held the Mammoth to only eight goals, a season low. Calgary has a day off in between their two weekend games, so fatigue shouldn’t be much of an issue. Colorado hasn’t really impressed me at all this season. I have a ton of respect for this organization, but Calgary had their number already this year and with Curtis Dickson getting two games in one weekend to re integrate himself into the offense I don’t see this being good for the home crowd.
My Pick: Calgary
Score: Calgary-13, Colorado-11
Justin Ivey, NLL Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©