Game 2: What to expect in Mile High and Rock City
Colorado Mammoth, Ball Arena, Denver (Photo: Jack Dempsey)
Game 2 in both the National Lacrosse League East and West Conference Finals go down on Saturday night at Hamilton’s First Ontario Centre (Toronto Rock vs. Buffalo Bandits, 7pm ET) and Denver’s Ball Arena (Colorado Mammoth vs. San Diego Seals).
We previewed the East and West before Game 1. Here’s what you can expect in both highly anticipated Game 2s.
East Conference Finals
#1 Buffalo Bandits vs. #2 Toronto Rock
Bandits lead best-of-three series 1-0
Game 1: Toronto 17 at Buffalo 18
Game 2: Saturday, May 21, 2022, 7pm ET at FirstOntario Centre
Game 3: Saturday, May 28, 730pm ET at KeyBank Center (if necessary)
Tom Schreiber, Toronto Rock (Photo: Michael Hetzel)
Scoring
Featuring two of the league’s top-ranked goalies and dynamic defensive units, an 18-17 score was far from what most were expecting in Game 1. That likely wouldn’t have been the case if the division finals were a one and done, where both sides typically play a bit more calculated, cautious and composed. Another straight shootout seems unlikely. Expect both backstops, Matt Vinc & Nick Rose, to have big nights in net.
Special Teams
As enjoyable watching a game played almost fully five on five was (just one two-minute penalty was called in Game 1), in today’s modern game, that’s unlikely to be the case for a second straight, especially between legit rivals like Buffalo and Toronto. There’s too much on the line for it to become a penalty-box party, but here’s how their PIM and PP looked during their three regular-season meetings this year…
Jan. 8: Toronto 6 at Buffalo 12
TOR: 47PIM, 2/8
BUF: 31PIM, 3/8
Feb. 8: Buffalo 10 at Toronto 12
BUF: 15PIM, 2/4
TOR: 13PIM, 2/5
Apr. 30: Toronto 10 at Buffalo 7
TOR: 4PIM, 2/7
BUF: 25PIM, 0/2
Toronto were led by Tom Schreiber’s 11PPG during the regular season, Buffalo by Dhane Smith, who also had 11 to go along with a 21 man-up helpers. As pointed out in our East Conference series preview, both penalty kills are top of the table, with little differing the dynamic defensive units when they’re undermanned.
Dhane Smith, Buffalo Bandits (Photo: Michael Hetzel)
Home-Floor Advantage
As overwhelming as Banditland can be, and it certainly seemed like a difference maker last week, the Rock experienced similar support in their new Hamilton home, the FirstOntario Centre. The Rock have played a total of ten games in Hamilton this year, and have lost there just twice: an injury-plagued roster against Halifax in OT, and a head scratcher against Georgia coming off of a bye week. They averaged over 8K in Hamilton during the regular season, and will likely have their lower bowl loaded for Game 2 (although the area is getting hit by severe thunderstorms today too). They also beat the Bandits in Hamilton back in February. While the move to Hamilton was criticized by many, the support in the stands and positive results on the floor have been a win for the franchise for sure.
West Conference Finals
#1 San Diego Seals vs. #3 Colorado Mammoth
Mammoth lead best-of-three series 1-0
Game 1: Colorado 14 at San Diego 12
Game 2: Saturday, May 21, 2022, 930pm ET at Ball Arena
Game 3: Saturday, May 28, 2022, 10pm ET at Pechanga Arena (if necessary)
Dillon Ward, Colorado Mammoth
Goaltending
During every season’s playoffs, there is always one goalie that really stands out and often finds himself in the Cup Final. Right now, that stopper is looking like Dillon Ward, who has been outstanding over the Mammoth’s first two games, including last weekend’s Game 1 in San Diego. While he doesn’t lead any goaltending stats (the eliminated Dough Jamieson and Zach Higgins do though), his play has clearly propelled Colorado to their perfect start so far. Yes, we’re talking about timely and tasty saves like this…
Frank Scigliano has also showed well for San Diego. Seals Head Coach General Manager Pat Merrill felt the team’s second-half defense is what likely lost them last week’s tight game at home. “We’ve got to make some defensive adjustments,” Merril said. “We weren’t good enough back there. That wasn’t us…We need stops. In a playoff game like that, we need stops.”
Defense
One change to San Diego’s defensive unit could be the addition of rookie Mike McCannell, who the team signed and added to their active roster ahead of Game 1, but sat him to start the series. Since finishing up at Stony Brook, McCannell joined the team immediately and seems fired up to hit the floor. He’s a high-end prospect that will no doubt be an impact NLL player, but has obviously yet to compete in the pros. If he plays today, it would be an incredibly rare post-season rookie roster debut, but one that could pay off too.
Secondary Scoring
After TLM’s breaking-news tweet that Ryan Lee would be sidelined for Game 1, many on social media felt it meant the Mammoth were doomed. A fairly fair assessment when you consider how valuable Lee was to Colorado’s offensive production. Others stepped up, beyond Eli McLaughlin and Connor Robinson, who’ve already been producing at a high-rate all season, and as we reviewed recently, have been two of 2022’s most clutch snipers. While the pair were outstanding, again, others’ stats jumped out in Game 1 too: Zed Williams (5G, 1A), Chris Wardle (4A) and Tyson Gibson (4A). See how all five of Colorado’s forwards have significantly increased their points/game production during the playoffs so far.
Regular Season vs. Playoffs Points/Game
The Seals too got solid secondary support past their Top 3 (Dane Dobbie, Wes Berg and Austin Staats), just not quite as much as the Mammoth. With Lee looking unlikely to see the floor anytime soon, San Diego getting those stops Merrill mentioned last week, especially against Colorado’s less likely shooters & dishers, could prove pivotal in Game 2.