Clutch Kings: Mo money, mo wins by Zach Manns, feat. Austin Shanks

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.

Zach Manns, Saskatchewan Rush (Photo: Jonathan Tenca)

Since our season-opening edition which was headlined by Dane Dobbie’s unheard of 7-goal fourth-quarter comeback, his OT ender mere minutes later, plus his game-winning goal longevity, well, he’s been passed.

After the NLL’s Week 7, which Dobbie was actually sidelined for (officially moved to Calgary’s IR on Jan. 10), Saskatchewan’s Zach Manns moves into the top spot on our CK’s leaderboard.

Why?

While Manns leads no single clutch-scoring scenario – game-tying, go-ahead or game-winning goals - his combined total of those goals leads the league: 4 GTG, 4 GAG and 1 GWG. Plus, nearly half of those goal have been scored in the fourth or later, which includes a short-handed trying goal and a power-play goal in OT versus Halifax.

Manns, Rush (Photo: Micheline Veluvolu)

Last year, Manns put up an additional 48 points with the Rush after coming over to the team in a blockbuster trade with the Toronto Rock. He finished 50th on our year-end leaderboard last year, already netting more CK’s calculated goals this year versus a season ago. While it appears his increased clutchness comes courtesy of even further elevated play during the current campaign, we were kind of tipped off by Manns’ less obvious production last year. Below is what we included in Manns’ Top 100 rundown prior to the start of the 2024-25 NLL season…

“After being traded from the Toronto Rock to Saskatchewan Rush, Zach Manns was essentially being offered a co-leading man role in Saskatoon, meaning more minutes, looks and responsibility on a roster at the tail-end of a rebuild. Opportunity knocked and Manns more than capitalized, seeing his stats sky rocket with the Rush. His phenomenal 48-point increase is one of the highest we’ve seen from any player in recent years, Manns falling just shy of a 40-goal and 50-assist season. How important is it for Manns to get his name scribbled on the scoresheet in Sask? Very. In games he scored one or none last year, the Rush went just 1-7. When Manns had two or more in 2024, Saskatchewan was 7-3. Get the man the ball, boys!”

Jacob Dunbar, Ottawa Black Bears (Photo: Christian Bender)

As we mentioned on social media this week, 2025’s version of Manns looks likely, at least right now, to be Ottawa’s Jacob Dunbar, who is on pace to better his point total from last year in San Diego by over 50. Yikes.

Like Manns, Dunbar was dealt after never really finding a full-time role with his now previous team. Also like Manns, Dunbar is sitting high on our Week 8 Clutch Kings leaderboard, currently in eleventh place with 2 GTG, 5 GAG and 1 GWG. No one has scored more go-ahead goals than the dangerously clutch Dunbar so far this season. Dunbar has almost as many game-tying, go-ahead and game-winning goals (8) as the entire Black Bears team combined (10). For a franchise that has been criticized for relying on offensive leader Jeff Teat too much for up-front production over the previous three seasons, with Dunbar in Canada’s capital now, that appears to no longer be the case.

Austin Shanks, Saskatchewan Rush

Manns’ Rush teammate Austin Shanks also already sits high on this year’s leaderboard. Right now, Shanks ranks just 31st in the NLL in straight goals (he’s also only played four times), but is fourth here due to his clutch touch. Shanks currently co-leads the league with two game winners, which means more in our Clutch Kings calculations since one was scored in OT (at Albany) and another in the fourth quarter (at Rochester). While location isn’t a piece of criteria we populate our clutch formula with, it’s also worth noting both of Shanks’ winners were scored on the road.

Also, get this…

Manns and Shanks have scored nearly 60% of the Rush’s combined game-tying, go-ahead and game-winning goals so far this season. For those that don’t dig through digits as much as we do, FYI, that’s a lot.

And another also, at 4-1, the Rush are off to their best first-five start since 2018. FYI, that ain’t too bad considering the considerable overhaul the team has gone since then.

Below is this week’s Clutch Kings leaderboard, which includes fives players that finished on our year-end clutch countdown a season ago, and a former CK king: Andrew Kew, Connor Fields, Keegan Bal, Wes Berg, Zed Williams, and that former CK winner, Connor Robinson. Being this consistently clutch is no fluke.

Andrew Kew, Georgia Swarm

NLL Clutch Kings: Week 8

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

1. Zach Manns (3) Saskatchewan, 18.50 (4/4/1)
2. Dane Dobbie (T5) Calgary, 15.50 (6/0/1)
3. Connor Kelly (1) Colorado, 12.50 (3/2/1)
4. Austin Shanks (T31) Saskatchewan, 12.25 (2/1/2)
T5. Holden Cattoni (T8) Philadelphia, 12.00 (3/0/2)
T5. Andrew Kew (T35) Georgia, 12.00 (2/0/2)
7. Rob Hellyer (T25) San Diego, 11.75 (1/5/1)
8. Connor Fields (T13) Rochester, 11.50 (3/2/1)
9. Mitch Jones (T8) Philadelphia, 10.75 (2/3/1)
10. Alex Simmons (T19) Albany, 10.50 (4/1/1)
11. Jacob Dunbar (T13) Ottawa, 10.25 (2/5/1)
12. Ian MacKay (T13) Buffalo, 9.75 (3/3/0)
T13. Lyle Thompson (2) Georgia, 9.50 (5/1/1)
T13. Tye Kurtz (T8) Albany, 9.50 (3/2/0)
T13. Keegan Bal (T19) Vancouver, 9.50 (3/0/2)
T13. Zed Williams (T25) Colorado, 9.50 (0/1/2)
T17. Wes Berg (T8) San Diego, 9.00 (4/2/1)
T17. Adam Poitras (T39) Las Vegas, 9.00 (2/0/1)
19. Dyson Williams (T39) Albany, 8.75 (1/4/0)
T20. Connor Robinson (T19) Colorado, 8.50 (2/2/1)
T20. Clarke Petterson (T39) Halifax, 8.50 (0/2/1)

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