Clutch Kings: Oh, so close

The Lax Mag’s Clutch Kings tracks an individual player’s game-tying, go-ahead and game-winning goals, then weighs them based on when they’re scored (first, second, third or fourth quarter, plus OT), but also in what on-floor situation they’re finished (even-strength, power-play or short-handed goals). The Clutch Kings countdown calculates the league’s most money goal scorer all season long, crowning the king at the conclusion of the current NLL campaign. Click here for a more detailed breakdown of Clutch Kings scoring.

Zed Williams, Colorado Mammoth (Photo: Jack Dempsey)

Although the Colorado Mammoth finished last year’s regular season level with the San Diego Seals & Calgary Roughnecks for first overall in the West standings (10-8), tiebreakers booted them to the three seed, while end of season losses to the Saskatchewan Rush and Roughnecks relegated them to dark horse status entering the playoffs.

Fast forward several weeks later, and Colorado were NLL Cup winners. While their victory qualified as one of the league’s greatest comeback performances ever, was there anything in their season that should have tipped us off?

Maybe. Probably.

Of the Mammoth’s 18-regular season games last year, a total of twelve were decided by three goals or fewer. Although one-goal games are obviously considered close, in the world of box lacrosse, a three-goal gap in a game is still within reach and can be overcome in the matter of a few minutes.

Eli McLaughlin, Colorado Mammoth (Photo: Jack Dempsey)

The Mammoth went 7-5 in those three-goal contests, 1-1 in OT. Constantly competing in games that close clearly prepared Colorado well for the playoffs, where they saw more of the same. After upsetting the Roughnecks in the first round, every postseason game after that was decided by three goals or fewer:

16-12W over Calgary (+4)
14-12W over San Diego (+2)
10-11L to San Diego OT (-1)
15-13W over San Diego (+2)
14-15L to Buffalo (-1)
11-8W over Buffalo (+3)
10-8W over Buffalo (+2)

Both last year and again this year, Mammoth forwards are among the most clutch in the sport. In 2022, Colorado power forward Eli McLaughlin was The Lax Mag’s season-ending Clutch King. A season later, teammate Connor Robinson has been at the top of our charts for the last several weeks, Zed Williams also on the leaderboard way below.

While Colorado won’t log as many three-goal games this year, they are still excelling in close contests. The Mammoth are 7-1 in games decided by three or less in 2023, 1-0 in OT.

Dhane Smith, BuffaloBandits

The Buffalo Bandits, who of course last year lost to Colorado in the NLL Finals, also saw an increased percentage of games decided by three or fewer in 2022’s playoffs:

10-5W over Albany (+5)
18-17W over Toronto (+1)
10-9W over Toronto (+1)
15-14W over Colorado (+1)
8-11L to Colorado (-3)
8-10L to Colorado (-2)

This year, no team has more Ws in games decided by three or less than the Bandits, who are an extremely impressive 8-2 in those close contests. Buffalo is also 4-0 in OT games, three of which have happened over the last six weeks.

Buffalo has made the NLL Finals in three of the last five (full) seasons, but failed to claim the Cup in each of those oh-so-close opportunities. This season feels very different than those previous three attempts.

Ryland Rees, Rochester Knighthawks (Photo: Micheline Veluvolu)

What team’s regular season resume is looking most like the Mammoth’s from last year?

Well, while their results have been more, well, uneven than Colorado’s were (more on this year’s best & worst streakers here), the Rochester Knighthawks have played in one more three-or-under games than the Bandits, one shy of the Mammoth’s twelve in 2022. The Knighthawks have two games left to reroute their results (vs. Georgia Apr. 22 and vs. Philadelphia Apr. 29) and potentially spark a similar run like the Mammoth pulled off.

Below, see how teams have done in games decided by three or less, in OT, plus the goal differential in their wins & losses after Week 20. Plus, keep scrolling for our updated Clutch Kings leaderboard, still led by the Mammoth’s Robinson.

Albany FireWolves

Overall: 3-13
+/-3<: 3-7
OT: 1-1
Win Margin: 1.33
Loss Margin: 4.85

Buffalo Bandits

Overall: 12-4
+/-3<: 8-2
OT: 4-0
Win Margin: 3.08
Loss Margin: 5.00

Calgary Roughnecks

Overall: 12-5
+/-3<: 2-4
OT: 1-1
Win Margin: 5.25
Loss Margin: 2.60

Colorado Mammoth

Overall: 9-7
+/-3<: 7-1
OT: 1-0
Win Margin: 2.78
Loss Margin: 5.57

Georgia Swarm

Overall: 8-8
+/-3<: 2-5
OT: 1-0
Win Margin: 6.38
Loss Margin: 3.88

Halifax Thunderbirds

Overall: 8-8
+/-3<: 3-5
OT: 0-3
Win Margin: 5.38
Loss Margin: 3.75

Las Vegas Desert Dogs

Overall: 5-11
+/-3<: 3-5
OT: 0-0
Win Margin: 3.00
Loss Margin: 4.27

New York Riptide

Overall: 4-12
+/-3<: 3-5
OT: 0-1
Win Margin: 3.50
Loss Margin: 4.58

Panther City Lacrosse Club

Overall: 10-7
+/-3<: 5-4
OT: 0-0
Win Margin: 4.40
Loss Margin: 4.57

Philadelphia Wings

Overall: 7-9
+/-3<: 4-4
OT: 2-1
Win Margin: 3.43
Loss Margin: 4.33

Rochester Knighthawks

Overall: 9-7
+/-3<: 6-5
OT: 1-2
Win Margin: 3.11
Loss Margin: 3.29

San Diego Seals

Overall: 12-4
+/-3<: 6-2
OT: 1-1
Win Margin: 3.75
Loss Margin: 2.75

Saskatchewan Rush

Overall: 6-10
+/-3<: 2-3
OT: 1-2
Win Margin: 5.17
Loss Margin: 4.10

Toronto Rock

Overall: 13-4
+/-3<: 4-3
OT: 1-0
Win Margin: 6.23
Loss Margin: 2.50

Vancouver Warriors

Overall: 4-13
+/-3<: 2-5
OT: 0-1
Win Margin: 4.50
Loss Margin: 5.31

Connor Robinson, Colorado Mammoth (Photo: Jack Dempsey)

NLL Clutch Kings: Week 20

CKs Rank. Player (NLL Gs Rank), Team, CKs Points (GTG/GAG/GWG)

1. Connor Robinson (T22), Colorado, 31.25 (3/7/4)
2. Connor Fields (2), Rochester, 28.50 (8/6/2)
3. Dhane Smith (T22), Buffalo, 24.25 (5/5/3)
4. Joe Resetarits (T13), Philadelphia, 22.25 (3/5/3)
5. Josh Byrne (12), Buffalo, 21.25 (6/5/2)
6. Blaze Riorden (25), Philadelphia, 20.25 (5/4/1)
7. Austin Staats (T26), San Diego, 20.00 (1/6/4)
8. Randy Staats (T31), Halifax, 19.50 (0/7/2)
9. Robert Church (3), Saskatchewan, 19.00 (6/5/1)
10. Will Malcom (T18), Panther City, 17.25 (6/3/2)
11. Ryan Smith (T22), Rochester, 16.50 (3/6/1)
T12. Chris Boushy (T26), Halifax, 15.00 (6/5/0)
T12. Zed Williams (T20), Colorado, 15.00 (5/3/2)
T12. Connor Kelly (T31), Albany, 15.00 (5/3/1)
T15. Lyle Thompson (T6), Georgia, 14.75 (2/4/2)
T15. Jon Phillips ( ), Las Vegas, 14.75 (2/3/2)*
17. Keegan Bal (T18), Vancouver, 14.50 (5/6/0)
T18. Ryan Benesch (T31), Halifax, 14.00 (6/6/0)
T18. Holden Cattoni (T13), Rochester, 14.00 (3/5/1)
T18. Rob Hellyer (T45), Las Vegas, 14.00 (5/1/2)
21. Stephen Keogh (39), Toronto, 13.75 (2/2/3)
T22. Zack Greer (T26), Las Vegas, 12.75 (9/3/0)
T22. Jesse King (10), Calgary, 12.75 (2/4/2)
T24. Clarke Petterson (T36), Halifax, 12.50 (4/0/3)
T24. Jeff Teat (1), New York, 12.50 (2/3/2)

*Rookie

Scoring System

First 3 Quarters (GTG/GAG/GWG)

Even-Strength Goal: 1.00/1.50/2.00
Power-Play Goal: 0.50/0.75/1.00
Short-Handed Goal: 2.00/3.00/4.00

Fourth Quarter (GTG/GAG/GWG)

Even-Strength Goal: 2.00/3.00/4.00
Power-Play Goal: 1.00/1.50/2.00
Short-Handed Goal: 4.00/6.00/8.00

Overtime (GWG)

Even-Strength Goal: 6.00
Power-Play Goal: 3.00
Short-Handed Goal: 12.00