It’s the biggest slate of games of the National Lacrosse League season as seven matchups take place over Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Calgary, Georgia, and San Diego all get the extra challenge of playing twice over the weekend. Can the Swarm stay the only unbeaten team?

NLL staff members Andy McNamara, Renee Washington, Devan Kaney, and Brian Shanahan deliver their game predictions every week.

Send us your picks @NLL on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook using the specific game hashtags for each match-up below.

2018 Game Picks Standings:

 

 

Devan’s 4-1 weekend gives her a two game lead over Shanny and I, while Renee is quickly closing the gap. Let’s get to the predictions!

 

Georgia Swarm (4-0) at Toronto Rock (3-1) – Friday, 7:30pm ET

 

Andy

Toronto’s last three outings have all been decided by a single goal. The most recent two went the Rock’s way, and the one that didn’t was against this same Swarm crew back on Dec. 28.

It’s the Rock’s only loss of the season and Georgia remains undefeated. This has grown into a terrific rivalry over the past couple of years and I fully expect this battle to come down to the wire once again. However, this time it is Toronto that squeezes out the “W”.

 

Pick: ROCK

 

Shanny

 

Pick: ROCK

 

Renee

It’s a battle of the top teams in the East Division that could definitely go either way. Toronto is obviously looking for redemption after losing by one goal in the final seconds of the game the last time these two teams faced off at Scotiabank Arena on December 28.

 

Rob Hellyer, Tom Schreiber, and Adam Jones play off each other perfectly and the Rock defense has been anchored by strong goaltending by Nick Rose with a .761 save percentage. However, the Swarm seem unbothered by what some may call pressure of being the last undefeated team in the league. The offensive unit led by Lyle Thompson, Miles Thompson, Randy Staats, Shayne Jackson, and Holden Catatonia is executing their plays around the net to create dangerous scoring opportunities. Defensively they have been solid, coming up with big stops and staying organized with Mike Poulin’s consistent play being a big part of that. I pick…the Swarm!

 

Pick: SWARM

 

Devan

The Rock lost their home opener to the Swarm a few weeks back, and it seems they have been searching for redemption ever since – and they’re getting it. The Rock have won every game since their loss to the Swarm, and in pretty epic fashion.

The mighty have to fall at some point, and I think the Rock will be the team to spoil Georgia’s so far undefeated season.

Pick: ROCK

 

Tweet @NLL using #GAvsTOR

 

Calgary Roughnecks (3-2) at San Diego Seals (2-2) – Friday, 10pm ET

 

Andy

Both of these teams gave me losses in our NLL staff game picks! New England stunned the Roughnecks, while San Diego was successful in their home opener versus a tough Knighthawks group.

 

This is the first action of a double-header weekend for each franchise and I can’t see either losing both. It seems nearly impossible to think that Curtis Dickson or Rhys Duch will be held goalless like this past Saturday. I expect a statement game out of those two and the Roughnecks as a whole. Give me the road win.

 

Pick: ROUGHNECKS

 

Shanny

 

Pick: ROUGHNECKS

 

Renee

It’s another rematch for this game! We saw how the last low scoring 9-5 game played out in favor of the Roughnecks. The Seals continue to show to be a strong mix of rookie talent in Austin Staats and Connor Kearnan along with the vets- Garrett Billings, Brodie Merrill, Dan Dawson, and others.

 

The Roughnecks, on the other hand, are coming off a tough loss to New England, where the Black Wolves caught them on their heels early giving up four goals before Dane Dobbie got them on the board. I think they will rebound from that uphill battle. Frank Scigliano will have his hands full in net for the Seals. Rhys Duch and Curtis Dickson will be looking to have a strong offensive game after going scoreless last game, plus the offense should be a lot more organized and dangerous after another week under their belt. I expect Christian Del Bianco to be a wall again ready to play his mentor and former teammate Scigliano.

 

Pick: ROUGHNECKS

 

Devan

As excited as I am to see Austin Staats and Kyle Buchanan try to get balls past Christian Del Bianco, I don’t think Calgary’s goaltender will be enough for the Roughnecks to win in California. Coming off of a goal-less game for Curtis Dickson and Rhys Duch, Calgary clearly has a lot to work on in terms of team chemistry.

 

Pick: SEALS

 

Tweet @NLL using #CGYvsSD

 

Georgia Swarm (? – ?) at New England Black Wolves (2-1) – Saturday, 7pm ET

 

Andy

 

Second road game of the weekend for Georgia, and although they’ll be worn out to a degree from their clash with Toronto, this club is just too good to lose two-in-a-row (assuming my above Rock over Swarm prediction is right!).

 

Nice job by the Black Wolves to pull off the upset in Calgary last Saturday and get back above the .500 mark, now at 2-1. The knock on New England in recent years has been consistency, and being unable to build on success. O’Connor, Leblanc and Crawford were dominant in the Roughnecks win so there’s no doubt the talent is there.

I just feel the Swarm rally and reassert their dominance in the East.

 

Pick: SWARM

 

Shanny

 

Pick: SWARM

 

Renee

The Swarm, coming into their second game in less than 24 hours against a tough New England team ready to dethrone them from the top spot in the East…I think this is the game we finally see Georgia lose. New England has been gaining a lot of my respect for what it’s worth.

 

I do think this game will have a playoff feel of two talented offenses. The Black Wolves lone loss so far this season, was at the hands of Georgia in week one. I keep going back to what Head Coach Glenn Clark said about the Black Wolves after the game. They didn’t play as well throughout the entire game, playing reactive and flat at times on offense. Callum Crawford, Stephan Leblanc, Reilly O’Connor have been more dynamic on and off the ball since that scoreless second quarter on December 15. My pick.. New England.

 

Pick: BLACK WOLVES

 

Devan

Ok Swarm fans, don’t hate me. I promise I’m not rooting against Georgia! I just think the mighty have to fall at some point, and I’m guessing it will be this weekend. The Black Wolves record isn’t as good as the Swarm’s, but they have beaten a lot of the stronger teams in the league this season. New England players Stephan Leblanc and Reilly O’Connor are on fire, and of course, Callum Crawford.

 

Pick: BLACK WOLVES

 

Tweet @NLL using #GAvsNE

 

Philadelphia Wings (0-4) at Buffalo Bandits (3-1) – Saturday, 7:30pm ET

 

Andy

Philadelphia faces another difficult East Division foe after falling to Georgia by two goals and Toronto by a single tally the past two weeks. Doug Buchan couldn’t build on his terrific performance against the Rock as he allowed seven goals and goaltending partner Davide DiRuscio let in six.

 

Until things get sorted and consistent in-between the pipes, there’s no way I can be confident that the Wings can handle a rested Bandits unit coming off a bye and having won their last two.

 

Pick: BANDITS

 

Shanny

 

Pick: BANDITS

 

Renee

When the Bandits host the Wings at Banditland, I think this game will pick up right where Week 1 finished off. Philadelphia has been struggling to start and finish games strong. Both teams have improved since the opening week. That is undeniable, but I believe even with Kevin Crowley back in Philly, the growth of the Bandits is still too much for the Wings. The Wings are leading the league in all the wrong categories- penalties. I do think Doug Buchan gets the start in net, the defense settles in sooner and offensively we will see the improvement from week one to Saturday with the Big Cat leading the way.

 

The Bandits, on the other hand, lead the league in goals and assists for a reason. Dhane Smith is working himself back into the offense. We have been seeing consistent play and growing chemistry from Shawn Evans, Josh Byrne, Corey Small, and Thomas Hogarth. Plus the Bandits defense led by leaders Steve Priolo and Matt Vinc is not only on the same page, but as we saw against Rochester two weeks ago, tough to beat. My pick..Buffalo!

 

Pick: BANDITS

 

Devan

The goalie matchup alone makes me think Buffalo is going to win this one. Philly has two guys in Doug Buchan and Davide DiRuscio who are still trying to establish themselves as mainstays in the league going up against Buffalo’s perennial Goaltender of the Year contender Matt Vinc.

 

Pick: BANDITS

 

Tweet @NLL using #PHIvsBUF

 

Rochester Knighthawks (1-2) at Saskatchewan Rush (2-1) – Saturday, 8:30pm ET

 

Andy

Well that didn’t go as planned for the Knighthawks on their San Diego road trip last week! The Seals got by the 2018 East representatives in the Champion’s Cup final 12-10 and sent Rochester sliding to a 1-2 record. Bad news…they head into Saskatoon for a finals rematch and the Rush have looked every bit defending champions in their past pair of contests.

The K-Hawks are going to be just fine this season, and I believe will be in the thick of the division title race at year’s end. It’ll just need to wait until after Saturday night.

 

Pick: RUSH

 

Shanny

 

Pick: RUSH

 

Renee

I know this is a rematch of the 2018 NLL Championship Cup, but Rochester has not been playing like the same team we saw last year. It has taken their offense a little longer to get going in their first three games. Head Coach Mike Hasen talked about the work in progress and getting players used to each other again. Defensively, the Knighthawks have given up 34 goals so far this season, but they’ve scored just 27 in their first three games.

Saskatchewan on the other hand, is at the top of team and individual stats categories having only played three games compared to some teams five. Ben Macintosh has been a scoring machine leading the talented Rush offense. Five different players scored in five minutes, in their 5-0 early lead last weekend. That is the backbone of this talented team and I think they have too many weapons for Rochester right now.

 

Pick: RUSH

 

Devan

This is going to be quite the championship rematch! The Knighthawks are going back to where the Rush won it all…which is why I’m going with Saskatchewan.

Rochester pushed the Rush to their limit last season, but while the Rush have kept a lot of their key players, the Knighthawks lost some major talent like Josh Currier and goaltender Matt Vinc, the latter of which will be their biggest weakness heading into this game versus the Rush.

 

Pick: RUSH

 

Tweet @NLL using #ROCvsSSK

 

San Diego Seals (? – ?) at Vancouver Warriors (1-4) – Saturday, 10pm ET

 

Andy

San Diego rides up the west coast from their comfy confines to Vancouver Saturday for part two of a back-to-back. Much like Philly, the Warriors goaltending lapses are concerning and we’ve seen how dangerous that Seals attack can be. Give me the visitors.

 

Pick: SEALS

 

Shanny

 

Pick: WARRIORS

 

Renee

The Seals need to take advantage of Vancouver’s early-season trend of poor starts to games. The Warriors are 0-4 when trailing after one quarter and have been outscored 19-14 in the opening 15 minutes through the last four games. San Diego has several talented pieces to the puzzle.

 

However, this Warriors team is relentless and does not quit. Jordan McBride and Mitch Jones have been consistently leading their offense the last few games. In net, Aaron Bold will be looking to rebound after giving up four goals on seven shots to open the Warriors game last weekend. They are also returning to Rogers Arena for a crowd antsy to see a win at home, but are going to have to tighten things up defensively with giving up 67 goals in their first five games. I think the offensive powerhouses on the Seals win this one on 90’s night in downtown Vancouver.

 

Pick: SEALS

 

Devan

Vancouver’s starting goalie Aaron Bold lasted less than 5 minutes in the Warriors last game before they swapped him out for Eric Penney. This was after the Rush notched four goals in the first few minutes of the game. Until the Warriors can figure out how to stop the absolutely lethal Seals players like Austin Staats and Kyle Buchanan, they won’t be able to beat them.

 

Pick: SEALS

 

Tweet @NLL using #SDvsVAN

 

Calgary Roughnecks (? – ?) at Colorado Mammoth (0-3) – Sunday, 3pm ET

 

Andy

OK the Mammoth have to win at home at some point right? I’m playing the odds that Colorado’s talent is too good to fall to 0-3 combined with Calgary playing its second road matchup in three days. That equals the Mammoth’s first victory of 2019.

 

Pick: MAMMOTH

 

Shanny

 

Pick: ROUGHNECKS

 

Renee

Sunday marks exactly two Sundays since these two teams last faced off. We know the history of this rivalry. We have the Calgary Roughnecks who are fighting to be at the top of the West Division. On the other side, the Colorado Mammoth are coming off a tough one goal loss to Toronto.

 

The Mammoth are hungry for a win. Last game we saw Calgary hold them to one goal in the first and fourth quarters. The game was still anyone’s at the half. Colorado won in every area of the game, except scoring. This is a tough game to pick, but I could see the Mammoth getting into the win column.

 

Pick: MAMMOTH

 

Devan

It’s the Sunday matinee rematch! Last time these two teams played each other, there wasn’t a score until 6 minutes in. And last time Calgary played, there wasn’t a goal from their two best players, Curtis Dickson and Rhys Duch. Which is why I gotta go with the Colorado Mammoth. If Ryan Benesch can lead the way in scoring and Dillon Ward can hold it down in net, then the Mammoth can get their first win of the season.

 

Pick: MAMMOTH

 

Tweet @NLL using #CGYvsCOL

 

Andy McNamara has been a play-by-play commentator for the NLL on TSN, NLLTV.com, and world lacrosse tournaments since 2011. He’s also a sport talk host and anchor on TSN 1050 sports radio. Follow Andy on twitter @AndyMc81.