NLL Power Rankings: Week 20
Every week during the 2022-23 National Lacrosse League season, The Lax Mag will publish updated NLL Power Rankings reflecting the previous week’s performances, as well as incorporating a team’s overall regular season rep, status, and success rate.
Toronto Rock 13-4 (1)
Not only did a bye week not slow the Rock down, Chris Corbeil, who played his long-awaited first game for the franchise after signing with Toronto over the offseason (a severly torn pec kept him sidelined), looked like he fit right in. The team shuts down their regular season on Saturday in Banditland (8pm ET). A 14-win season would be the franchise’s highest W total since 2015. The only active-rostered players still with the team eight years later: Nick Rose & Billy Hostrawser.
Calgary Roughnecks 12-5 (3)
Similar to the Rock, the Roughnecks are built from the back out. This past weekend Calgary got another stellar start from Christian Del Bianco between the pipes, while their high-paced press scored three extremely important goals (Jeff Cornwall, Eli Salama and Shane Simpson). Last week’s win over Vegas (12-7W) was Calgary’s ninth over their last eleven games, a stretch that started immediately after an early-season OT loss to Toronto.
San Diego Seals 12-4 (3)
Their PP was purring (7/8), but a lack of transitional pressure and timely stops allowed the Mammoth to get by the Seals, 15-14. San Diego lost just twice over their first twelve, but have matched that L count during this recent 2-2 stretch. The team ended their 2022 regular season on a sour note (1-6 over final seven). They’ve got two games at home (vs. Vegas Apr. 22 & vs. Colorado Apr. 29) to fix their finish and enter the playoffs on a more positive note.
Colorado Mammoth 9-7 (5)
Last year, no team peaked at a more perfect time than the Colorado Mammoth, and whether by design or dumb luck, they seem to be doing it again a year later. Week 20’s dramatic dub against the first-place Seals has the Mammoth on their first three-game win streak since mid-January.
Buffalo Bandits 12-4 (4)
While there’s been some online-fan panic after their most recent Rock loss and then last week’s stressful OT win over four-win New York, the Bandits are clearly still a strong Cup contender. With two wins to end their regular season (vs. Toronto this Saturday, at Albany on Apr. 29), not only would Buffalo match last year’s 14-4 record, they’d have a far more upbeat finish to their year too (last year they ended on a rough 1-3 run). Getting Tehoka Nanticoke back (on IR since Mar. 18) soon would obviously be beneficial too.
Georgia Swarm 8-8 (6)
Another week, another win for the Georgia Swarm, who are now on a six-game heater and in tie-breaking ownership of the East’s coveted fourth spot. Heck, if they beat Rochester this Saturday (Blue Cross Arena, 7pm ET) and those two teams repeat their results a week later, the Swarm could finish as high as third. The Knighthawks started their season 6-0, the Swarm 0-7 (more on those opposite streaks a few spots below).
Panther City Lacrosse Club 10-7 (7)
Few had them finishing in the West’s Top 4 prior to the start of the season (they were projected to finish last in our NLL Player Poll), but in just their second year, Panther City has clinched a playoff spot and hit double digits in the win column too. A win against Calgary this Friday in Forth Worth (8:30pm ET) would cap off a truly tremendous regular season run, although, this team is clearly not satisfied with just one game in May.
Rochester Knighthawks 9-7 (9)
We’ll see what coming off a bye does for their fortunes, the Knighthawks on an 0-4 run (3-7 over last ten) that has seen them go from first-place potential to still searching for a playoff position. Below, see this year’s best & worst streaks, Rochester (and Georgia) appearing on both lists.
Longest winning streaks
Toronto 8-0 (Jan. 7-Mar. 4)
Rochester 6-0 (Dec. 3-Jan. 20)
Georgia 6-0… (Mar. 18-TBD)
Buffalo 6-0 (Jan. 27-Mar. 10)
San Diego 4-0 (Dec. 3-Jan. 7)
Buffalo 4-0 (Dec. 17-Jan. 14)
Calgary 4-0 (Feb. 4-Feb. 17)
San Diego 4-0 (Mar. 4-Mar. 24)
Longest losing streaks
Albany 0-10 (Jan. 21-Apr. 1)
Georgia 0-7 (Dec. 3-Feb. 18)
Vancouver 0-5 (Jan. 20-Feb. 17)
Saskatchewan 0-5 (Feb. 25-Mar. 25)
New York 0-4 (Dec. 3-Jan. 15)
Vancouver 0-4 (Dec. 3-Jan. 7)
Las Vegas 0-4 (Dec. 9-Jan. 14)
Rochester 0-4… (Mar. 19-TBD)
Halifax Thunderbirds 8-8 (10)
Trailing for the first three periods, the Thunderbirds fourth-quarter comeback against the Rush last weekend (15-11W) showed why their offense is always going to be a problem for the opposition (when they’re clicking). In what is in many ways a must-win match this Saturday at home to the Riptide (6pm ET), Halifax could own sole possession of fourth in the East depending on what Rochester, Georgia and Philadelphia do. In the same NLL Player Poll we mentioned earlier (see #7 PCLC), Halifax was picked to finish third this year, which could still happen.
Philadelphia Wings 7-9 (8)
Philadelphia’s lackluster loss to Toronto last weekend (7-12L) didn’t kill their playoff hopes, but did make things much more difficult for them to get by Georgia & Halifax. Mitch Jones scored five of the team’s seven, which is nice for his stat line, but not so much for the rest of their forwards. Wings’ shooters will obviously need to get far more quality looks (they were outshot 64-42 by the Rock), and more importantly, goals if the playoffs are in their future. Even two wins to close won’t guarantee them a postseason berth. They’re gonna need some help.
Saskatchewan Rush 6-10 (11)
At best, the Rush will finish with an identical record to last year’s disappointing 8-10 ending, a year that at least concluded with a sense of optimism. Officially eliminated from the playoffs last weekend, it’s unlikely the vibe is as bullish. With four picks inside the first two rounds of September’s Entry Draft (1 first, 3 seconds), GM Derek Keenan could come away with four players that make their opening-day roster. Reminders: Robert Church signed a two-year deal in June 2021, Mark Matthews a three-year contract a few months earlier, and Kyle Rubisch for a single season this past summer.
Las Vegas Desert Dogs 5-11 (12)
It’s still a bit early to handout end-of-season grades, but Shawn Williams has to be pretty happy with what the team started to build in Year 1. While the Desert Dogs’ first-round picks in 2024 & 2025 are already gone via the Rob Hellyer (probably their MVP this year) deal, Williams does have two first to use this September – their own, which will be pretty high, plus Rochester’s, a potential #10 or better selection.
Vancouver Warriors 4-13 (13)
While we’re on the topic of Entry Draft picks for teams already eliminated from the playoffs, the Warriors also have two takes in this year’s upcoming draft. Their own is a guaranteed Top 5 grab, plus their Wings’ selection (from the Mitch Jones trade) could be as high as #6. When was the last time this franchise had two first-round picks in the same draft? Way back in 2008 when they were known as the Stealth and living in San Jose. In fact, not only did they have two first rounders that year, they actually had three: #2 Paul Rabil, #3 Rhys Duch and #5 Kevin Huntley. The team won the NLL Cup two seasons later, and then made the Final two more times over the next three years.
New York Riptide 4-12 (15)
A few items to keep your eye on over these next two weeks:
1. How high will Jeff Teat’s point total get? Presently at 121, he’s 16 shy of Dhane Smith’s 2016 record (137). His 7.56 points/game average would, at least mathematically right now, put him a point behind equalling Smith. If Teat fails to pass or match 137, based on NLL history (and virtually all other pro leagues), it might cost him an MVP honour. Note: The league awarded Teat an additional assist a number of days after his Week 20 game, bringing him to 122 total points and a 7.63 points/game average that would match Smith’s record of 137 points.
2. Can the Riptide play spoiler this weekend in Halifax? While a loss by the Thunderbirds wouldn’t alone eliminate them, it could make things a helluva lot harder depending on the Swarm’s success in Week 21.
3. How high can the Riptide draft in September? Well, they do own their own pick, and right now are only one win ahead of Albany for fewest Ws in the league. They’re in Vancouver during the last weekend of regular season ball. The Warriors, like the Riptide, have just four wins. Depending on how things play out, New York could be drafting as high as #1, but #2 or #3 is looking more likely.
Albany FireWolves 3-13 (14)
That recent win against Rochester keeps the FireWolves from finishing with one of the worst winning percentages in NLL history, but it’s looking likely they’ll match or even set a new low for the franchise, which has been around since 1987. The 2015 New England Black Wolves at 4-14 (.222) own that all-time low.