NLL Power Rankings: Week 7
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.
Buffalo Bandits 4-1 (2)
Sure, Josh Byrne shot the lights out (6 goals) & Matt Vinc was strong between the pipes (47 saves), but Buffalo’s potent press (which often impressively includes Byrne) was a major difference maker on Saturday in Banditland (11-9 over Georgia). The result allowed last week’s #2 to slide into the top spot ahead of Friday’s massive match against the…
Rochester Knighthawks 5-0 (3)
Playing what seemed like an entire first half a man (or even men) up against the struggling Riptide, the Knighthawks’ 4PPG proved pivotal in their 11-8 win on Sunday afternoon. While breakout backstop Rylan Hartley looked incredible in key moments in the game, Rochester’s defense allowing just 41 shots against, with captain Dan Coates sidelined, is pretty impressive too.
San Diego Seals 4-1 (1)
The Seals have had a somewhat stacked schedule to start and finally saw their streak snapped by a very ready Roughnecks squad this past Saturday at the Saddledome (10-14L). Chris Origlieri was again called on in relief, giving up just 9 goals over 55 minutes. Our previous season-long #1 gets a bye this weekend before a big one at Ball Arena against the Mammoth, the team that sent them packing in last year’s playoffs.
Toronto Rock 3-2 (6)
Nick Rose was MVP-level good in the Rock’s goal during the team’s one-sided score at home to Halifax (18-7). Ditto for Tom Schreiber’s shooting (5 goals), Brad Kri’s checking & hustle (5 CTOs, 14LB), Mitch de Snoo’s astute, accurate and aggressive play at either end (3 goals, 7LB, 2CTO), and Challen Rogers, well, everywhere (2 PSG, 10LB, 3BLK), again.
Colorado Mammoth 3-1 (7)
The Mammoth’s OT win over the Rush this past Friday felt like a performance we saw from this group during last year’s playoffs: great goaltending (Dillon Ward), timely scoring (Connor Robinson, Zed Williams and obviously the all-time clutch, Rhys Duch), and a responsible yet relentless approach in their own end (Warren Jeffrey, Robert Hope, Jordan Gilles, etc.). Their power-play struggled (1/4) and they got little offensive production from their capable press (Rush experienced the same), but when their positional play is as precise as it was, those extras don’t matter as much.
Calgary Roughnecks 3-2 (8)
Calgary quieted Curtis Dickson (kinda) and the previously unbeaten San Diego Seals (14-10), taking a lead 30 seconds in and never looking back. Christian Del Bianco was again superb stopping quality chances (40 saves), their offensive leaders led, they got strong secondary-scoring support, plus Shane Simpson and that press is just stupid scary right now.
Saskatchewan Rush 2-2 (5)
The Rush had more shots, more loose balls, more caused turnovers, fewer team turnovers, more face-off wins, more blocked shots, and even a slightly more effective power-play than the Mammoth in Friday night’s OT loss in Denver. It’s their second straight extra-frame loss to one of last year’s West Conference Finalists. They’re two goals away from being 4-0 right now.
Halifax Thunderbirds 3-3 (4)
Two divisional games. Two disappointing losses. It’s obviously not the way the Thunderbirds were hoping last week went. After his tiniest point total of the season (2A vs. Albany), the Thunderbirds sat Randy Staats due to load management, their previously potent offense finishing with their lowest total yet in their 7-18 loss to the Rock without him.
A hot topic in the NBA in recent season, for those unaware, “Loading management is about lowering the threshold of load on a player so that he's able to recover and decrease the risk of injury or chronic fatigue.” - Dr. Marcus Elliott, Founder & Director of the Peak Performance Project (ESPN.com)
Albany FireWolves 2-2 (10)
His stopper stats might not be quite as strong as other top tendies across the league presently, but Doug Jamieson’s performances so far this year have been every bit as important to his team’s success in comparison to his creased-based competitors. Defensively Greg Downing has easily been one of this year’s top pure defenders, Colton Watkinson keeps scoring back breakers in transition, plus their offense continues to get it done with a new hero stepping up every game.
Panther City Lacrosse Club 3-3 (12)
A massive second-half performance against the Wings garnered Panther City by far their biggest win of the season (12-10). Nick Damude has gained league-wide respect as a #1 netminder this year, Will Malcom has been magic up front, and in the back, Matt Hossack keeps seeing his NLL stock rise a top defensive defender.
Philadelphia Wings 2-2 (11)
Over the last two seasons, on paper the Wings look like they should be legit threats in the East, but continue to come up short right when they appear to be elevating their game. It happened again this past weekend, a second half collapse allowing Panther City to better them in their own barn (10-12). Things don’t get any easier for Philly, who host the Rock on Saturday afternoon (1pm ET). The team is excited about the mid-week addition of Taite Cattoni, one of seven players on their roster who won a Mann Cup with the Peterborough Lakers this past summer.
Georgia Swarm 0-4 (13)
Rookie goalie Brett Dobson gave Georgia a strong start and Lyle Thompson had arguably his best game of the season, but the Swarm came up short in their impressive almost-upset effort against the Bandits last week (9-11). It’s their worst start in franchise history, and although still early, they’ll need a win soon if they hope to partake in the East’s super-competitive playoff race.
New York Riptide 0-4 (11)
No offense to either team, but Sunday’s contest between the Riptide & Knighthawks was the most difficult to watch game of the season so far. The never-ending penalty calls killed any and all flow the game was capable of having, plus the ringing fire alarms that delayed the second half didn’t help matters. For a flailing Riptide roster looking for consistency and of course their first W, they could not have asked for a more miserable playing environment than what they got on Sunday.
Vancouver Warriors 1-4 (14)
It got a bit wild in the second half, but the Warriors held on to earn their first win of 2023 courtesy of a high-scoring victory over the Desert Dogs on Saturday night (19-16). Their 19 goals, all but one scored even strength (which is kind of crazy for the modern NLL), are the most the team has produced in a single game since April of 2019. Keegan Bal had 5 goals in both of those games. It’s the result & effort the team needed during a difficult week.
Las Vegas Desert Dogs 0-4 (15)
There were some bright spots for sure, including Rob Hellyer’s 11-point performance, but Vegas was left still searching for the franchise’s first-ever win after dropping a shoot-out in Vancouver (16-19). They’ll get the Warriors again in their next one, this time at home on Friday night (10:30pm ET).