NLL Power Rankings: Week 17
Every week during the 2021/22 National Lacrosse League season, The Lax Mag will publish updated NLL Power Rankings reflecting the previous week’s performances, as well as a team’s overall regular season rep, status and success rate.
Buffalo Bandits 12-1 (1)
Last week really couldn’t have gone much better for the Bandits. Matt Vinc shifted into GOTY gear, Dhane Smith was in MVP mode, and their depth at either end of the floor was fantastic as they swept aside Halifax in a pair of 16-11 Ws.
San Diego Seals 9-3 (2)
With Wes Berg placed in protocol, Dane Dobbie stepped up and had easily one of his best games of 2022, but it wasn’t enough to get by a very determined Vancouver. “They outworked us tonight. That was the bottom line. We had our chances, and we couldn’t finish. This is a tough one to drop.” – Seals GM & HC, Pat Merrill (SealsLax.com)
Georgia Swarm 8-6 (5)
In our Preseason Rankings, we said, “Hard to get a handle on how they’ll look in a stacked East Division.” Apparently pretty good. In the month of March, the Swarm have chopped down Halifax, Albany and now Toronto, their W over the Rock done without arguably this year’s best player in the lineup.
Toronto Rock 8-5 (3)
Similar to other losses this year, the Rock got frustrated early by a solid stopper, struggled for real estate in tight, and played most of their offensive game ripping from range. They’ve got an amazing outside attack, but it wasn’t nearly enough to stop Mike Poulin and the surging Swarm.
Halifax Thunderbirds 8-5 (4)
After their second loss to Buffalo over the weekend, Halifax forward Clark Petterson told The Chronicle Herald,” It’s time for us to just score. We have to score, especially on the power play.” Their PP unit is just 4 for 22 during their recent four-game slide and last in the league for the full season (25%). At the other end, the 16 the Bandits blasted them with twice this past weekend are the most goals they’ve given up in a single game this year too.
Panther City Lacrosse Club 6-8 (8)
Five wins in a row. Fluke? F no. Panther City looks as legit as any other post-season plausible team, actually even better than most in the West right now. Nick Damude had arguably his strongest start of the season when he held Colorado’s very capable offense to just six goals this past week. And their offense: the kids won’t quit crushing.
Colorado Mammoth 7-6 (7)
Once flirting for first in the West, the Mammoth are merely a game above .500 and the playoffs are far from guaranteed, especially if they keep dropping divisional games. Colorado’s offense was held to single-digit scoring for the second straight game. More bad news: the Bandits are in Denver this coming Saturday night.
Vancouver Warriors 6-7 (10)
Hosting the West-leading Seals on Friday night, the Warriors had lost four straight and recently learned they’d be without star forward Mitch Jones for much longer than they had hoped. In response, Vancouver dropped San Diego in a stunner, getting one of their most complete offensive efforts all year.
Philadelphia Wings 6-7 (9)
Philadelphia found their first W in almost two months when they beat the Knighthawks on Saturday night. The recently signed Kyle Jackson had an immediate impact too. Jackson’s 6 points were the most he’s produced in a game this season. Philly has to be happy with their late-season (free) find.
Albany FireWolves 6-9 (6)
Their shocking 15-6 loss to New York put a deep dent into their post-season plans. At best, Albany will finish 9-9 if they beat the Warriors, Wings and Riptide to close. Hard to imagine that record will be enough to lock an East-specific spot. A cross-over clinch far more likely, but they’re even behind the West’s wildcard contenders now (based on W%). They’ll need some help.
New York Riptide 4-8 (11)
That was about as good a job as any team has done this season controlling Albany’s usually overpowering press, the Riptide registering a crushing victory over the fading FireWolves on Saturday night. With six games left on their schedule, could they somehow sneak in the playoffs? New York still has some doozies on deck (Buffalo & Halifax), including a massive match at home against the Wings this Saturday.
Calgary Roughnecks 5-7 (12)
In arguably his best game of the year, Christian Del Bianco held the Rush to just 6 goals on 54 shots, while Curtis Dickson, Jesse King and Tyler Pace penetrated the smash-mouth Saskatchewan defense to deliver at the other end. A win over the Warriors at home on Friday, and the Roughnecks swap spots with Vancouver to takeover the three seed in the West.
Saskatchewan Rush 4-10 (13)
Mathematically they’re still in, but realistically Saskatchewan’s post-season hopes were dashed when they dropped a critical encounter against Calgary this past weekend. Sure, the NLL is plagued with parity, but not sure there’s ever been a roster this good not playing in the playoffs.
Rochester Knighthawks 3-10 (14)
As if the undermanned Knighthawks’ roster wasn’t light enough, the team moved Matt Gilray to their IR before hosting the Wings on Saturday. A 6-3 second half almost fixed their first period PIM problems (Wings went 6/8 on the PP) but ultimately was just too much to overcome.