Justin Ivey, NLL Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©
Weeks 1-9: 25-19
Week Ten: 4-2
Week Eleven: 2-1
Week Twelve: 4-0
Week Thirteen: 3-1
Week Fourteen: 4-2
Week Fifteen: 4-3
Week Sixteen: 2-2
Week Seventeen: 4-1
Week Eighteen: 1-5
Week Nineteen: 3-2
Season Total: 56-38
Wow. New England could not win on the road. And now they must visit Buffalo again in the first round. I thought a lot of these late season games would be close, but Calgary blew out Saskatchewan and Philadelphia surprised everyone with a five-goal victory in Georgia. Rochester beat Vancouver by 12, San Diego beat Colorado by five, and the Bandits beat the Black Wolves by six. No close games! Final week of the regular season. Playoff teams are set but there are still four games this weekend!
Toronto Rock (11-6) at Vancouver Warriors (5-12)
Friday, April 26 at 10:00 PM EST
Toronto has grabbed the three seed in the East. Vancouver is out of the playoffs. Vancouver lost big in Rochester last weekend, but now hosts a Rock team that is only 3-5 on the road. The Warriors home record sits at 3-5 as well. With everything set, it will be interesting to see if the Rock rest anyone ahead of the playoffs, but even if that is to happen, I think the Rock walk away victorious.
My Pick: Toronto
Score: Toronto-14, Vancouver-9
New England Black Wolves (8-9) at Rochester Knighthawks (6-11)
Saturday, April 27 at 7:30 PM EST
New England is dismal this year on the road with a current 1-7 record. Rochester has gone 4-4 at home and this game will be the last this current team has in Rochester. Next year they move to Halifax and an expansion franchise moves into the arena. Last week they looked great against Vancouver winning by 12. The Black Wolves lost on the road to Buffalo and are looking ahead to playing in Buffalo again in the first round. They need a road win to boost morale and I think they get it.
My Pick: New England
Score: New England-13, Rochester-11
Colorado Mammoth (6-11) at Saskatchewan Rush (10-7)
Saturday, April 27 at 8:30 PM EST
The Rush can clinch the one seed in the West with a win against the struggling Mammoth. After losing big to Calgary last week in Calgary they feel the importance of home turf where they are currently 6-2. They should improve that with an easy win this week.
My Pick: Saskatchewan
Score: Colorado-11, Saskatchewan-15
Buffalo Bandits (13-4) at San Diego Seals (10-7)
Saturday, April 27 at 10:00 PM EST
Buffalo already has clinched the best record in the NLL this season. If the Rush win, San Diego is the #2 team in the West with a win or loss but can be #1 with a Rush loss and a win over the Bandits. This could be a finals preview. Both teams have had great seasons. Buffalo just seems so focused and I think they win on the road. Remember, the Seals are without Staats.
My Pick: Buffalo
Score: Buffalo-15, San Diego-13