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Breaking: League Adopts Unified Standings Format & Updated Playoff Structure for 2023-24 Season

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WK
1
Fri, Dec 1
19:00:00
Saskatchewan
Halifax
Fri, Dec 1
22:00:00
Albany
Las Vegas
Fri, Dec 1
22:00:00
Panther City
Vancouver
Sat, Dec 2
19:00:00
Calgary
Rochester
Sat, Dec 2
19:30:00
Philadelphia
New York
WK
2
Sat, Dec 9
19:00:00
Philadelphia
Toronto
Sat, Dec 9
19:00:00
Buffalo
Albany
Sat, Dec 9
19:30:00
Colorado
Georgia
Sat, Dec 9
20:00:00
Rochester
Saskatchewan
Sat, Dec 9
22:00:00
Calgary
San Diego
Sun, Dec 10
16:00:00
Las Vegas
Panther City
WK
3
Fri, Dec 15
22:00:00
Saskatchewan
Las Vegas
Sat, Dec 16
13:00:00
Albany
Philadelphia
Sat, Dec 16
19:30:00
Halifax
New York
Sat, Dec 16
19:30:00
San Diego
Buffalo
Sat, Dec 16
22:00:00
Georgia
Vancouver
WK
4
Fri, Dec 22
20:00:00
Toronto
Panther City
Fri, Dec 22
21:00:00
Georgia
Colorado
Sat, Dec 23
19:00:00
Vancouver
Rochester
WK
5
Fri, Dec 29
18:30:00
Philadelphia
Halifax
Fri, Dec 29
19:30:00
Georgia
Buffalo
Fri, Dec 29
22:00:00
Rochester
San Diego
Sat, Dec 30
16:00:00
New York
Toronto
Sat, Dec 30
21:00:00
Las Vegas
Calgary
Sat, Dec 30
21:00:00
Vancouver
Colorado
Sun, Dec 31
20:00:00
Albany
Saskatchewan
WK
6
Sat, Jan 6
19:00:00
Halifax
Albany
Sat, Jan 6
19:30:00
Panther City
Georgia
Sat, Jan 6
19:30:00
Colorado
Buffalo
Sun, Jan 7
15:00:00
New York
Philadelphia
WK
7
Fri, Jan 12
18:30:00
Toronto
Halifax
Fri, Jan 12
22:00:00
San Diego
Las Vegas
Sat, Jan 13
19:00:00
Buffalo
Rochester
Sat, Jan 13
19:00:00
Saskatchewan
Philadelphia
Sat, Jan 13
19:30:00
Panther City
New York
Sat, Jan 13
19:30:00
Albany
Georgia
Sat, Jan 13
21:00:00
San Diego
Colorado
Sat, Jan 13
22:00:00
Calgary
Vancouver
WK
8
Fri, Jan 19
19:30:00
New York
Buffalo
Sat, Jan 20
19:00:00
Georgia
Toronto
Sat, Jan 20
19:00:00
San Diego
Albany
Sat, Jan 20
20:00:00
Vancouver
Saskatchewan
Sat, Jan 20
21:00:00
Calgary
Colorado
WK
9
Fri, Jan 26
22:00:00
Colorado
Vancouver
Sat, Jan 27
18:00:00
Rochester
Halifax
Sat, Jan 27
19:00:00
Buffalo
Toronto
Sat, Jan 27
19:30:00
Georgia
New York
Sat, Jan 27
19:30:00
San Diego
Philadelphia
Sat, Jan 27
22:00:00
Panther City
Las Vegas
WK
10
Fri, Feb 2
19:00:00
Halifax
Philadelphia
Fri, Feb 2
19:30:00
Vancouver
Georgia
Fri, Feb 2
21:00:00
New York
Calgary
Sat, Feb 3
19:00:00
Las Vegas
Albany
Sat, Feb 3
19:30:00
Rochester
Buffalo
Sat, Feb 3
20:00:00
Panther City
Saskatchewan
Sat, Feb 3
21:00:00
Toronto
Calgary
Sun, Feb 4
18:00:00
Colorado
San Diego
WK
11
Fri, Feb 9
18:30:00
Las Vegas
Halifax
Fri, Feb 9
20:00:00
Colorado
Panther City
Sat, Feb 10
19:00:00
Georgia
Rochester
Sat, Feb 10
19:00:00
Calgary
Toronto
Sat, Feb 10
19:30:00
San Diego
New York
Sat, Feb 10
22:00:00
Saskatchewan
Vancouver
WK
12
Fri, Feb 16
18:30:00
Buffalo
Halifax
Fri, Feb 16
22:00:00
Philadelphia
Las Vegas
Sat, Feb 17
19:00:00
Colorado
Albany
Sun, Feb 18
19:00:00
Halifax
Calgary
WK
13
Fri, Feb 23
21:00:00
New York
Colorado
Fri, Feb 23
22:00:00
Georgia
San Diego
Sat, Feb 24
19:00:00
Las Vegas
Rochester
Sat, Feb 24
19:00:00
Vancouver
Toronto
Sat, Feb 24
19:30:00
Albany
Buffalo
Sat, Feb 24
20:00:00
Halifax
Saskatchewan
Sat, Feb 24
21:00:00
Philadelphia
Calgary
Sun, Feb 25
16:00:00
Georgia
Panther City
WK
14
Fri, Mar 1
19:00:00
Georgia
Halifax
Fri, Mar 1
20:00:00
San Diego
Panther City
Fri, Mar 1
22:00:00
Toronto
Las Vegas
Fri, Mar 1
22:00:00
Buffalo
Vancouver
Sat, Mar 2
13:00:00
Calgary
Philadelphia
Sat, Mar 2
19:00:00
New York
Albany
Sat, Mar 2
21:00:00
Saskatchewan
Colorado
Sat, Mar 2
22:00:00
Toronto
San Diego
Sun, Mar 3
16:00:00
Rochester
Panther City
WK
15
Fri, Mar 8
19:00:00
Vancouver
Albany
Fri, Mar 8
19:30:00
Calgary
Georgia
Fri, Mar 8
19:30:00
Saskatchewan
Buffalo
Sat, Mar 9
17:00:00
Colorado
Toronto
Sat, Mar 9
19:00:00
Albany
Rochester
Sat, Mar 9
19:30:00
Las Vegas
New York
Sat, Mar 9
22:00:00
Halifax
San Diego
Sun, Mar 10
15:00:00
Panther City
Philadelphia
WK
16
Fri, Mar 15
18:30:00
Panther City
Halifax
Fri, Mar 15
21:00:00
San Diego
Calgary
Fri, Mar 15
22:00:00
Las Vegas
Vancouver
Sat, Mar 16
19:00:00
Rochester
Albany
Sat, Mar 16
19:00:00
Toronto
Buffalo
Sat, Mar 16
19:30:00
Philadelphia
Georgia
Sat, Mar 16
20:30:00
New York
Saskatchewan
WK
17
Fri, Mar 22
20:00:00
Buffalo
Panther City
Fri, Mar 22
21:00:00
Albany
Calgary
Sat, Mar 23
19:00:00
Halifax
Toronto
Sat, Mar 23
19:00:00
Vancouver
Philadelphia
Sat, Mar 23
19:30:00
Saskatchewan
New York
Sat, Mar 23
21:00:00
Rochester
Colorado
Sat, Mar 23
22:00:00
Las Vegas
San Diego
Sun, Mar 24
17:30:00
Saskatchewan
Georgia
WK
18
Sat, Mar 30
13:00:00
Buffalo
Philadelphia
Sat, Mar 30
19:00:00
Halifax
Rochester
Sat, Mar 30
19:30:00
Toronto
New York
Sat, Mar 30
22:00:00
Vancouver
Las Vegas
WK
19
Fri, Apr 5
21:00:00
Saskatchewan
Calgary
Fri, Apr 5
21:00:00
Buffalo
Colorado
Fri, Apr 5
22:00:00
Panther City
San Diego
Fri, Apr 5
22:00:00
Halifax
Vancouver
Sat, Apr 6
19:00:00
New York
Rochester
Sat, Apr 6
19:00:00
Toronto
Albany
Sat, Apr 6
19:30:00
Las Vegas
Georgia
Sat, Apr 6
20:00:00
Calgary
Saskatchewan
Sun, Apr 7
16:00:00
Philadelphia
Panther City
WK
20
Fri, Apr 12
21:00:00
Philadelphia
Colorado
Sat, Apr 13
19:00:00
Rochester
Toronto
Sat, Apr 13
19:30:00
Calgary
Buffalo
Sat, Apr 13
20:00:00
San Diego
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 13
22:00:00
Colorado
Las Vegas
Sat, Apr 13
22:00:00
New York
Vancouver
Sun, Apr 14
16:00:00
Albany
Panther City
WK
21
Fri, Apr 19
19:30:00
Rochester
Georgia
Fri, Apr 19
22:00:00
Vancouver
San Diego
Sat, Apr 20
18:00:00
Colorado
Halifax
Sat, Apr 20
19:30:00
Albany
New York
Sat, Apr 20
20:00:00
Toronto
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 20
21:00:00
Panther City
Calgary
Sat, Apr 20
22:00:00
Buffalo
Las Vegas
Sun, Apr 21
15:00:00
Philadelphia
Rochester
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Bandits and Mammoth for the NLL Cup: Take Two

The Colorado Mammoth and Buffalo Bandits have made it to the NLL Finals, but that’s not why they came to the party (just to be a participant). These two teams have worked tirelessly all season long with one goal in mind: to win the NLL Cup.

It’s been a while since the Bandits last lifted the NLL Cup (previously known as the Champion’s Cup). Buffalo last hoisted the cup in 2008. Since then, they have lost three NLL Finals (2016, 2019 and 2022). Last year’s NLL Finals loss came against the Mammoth. It is a loss that is still in the back of the minds of the Bandits’ players and coaches. Now they are ready for redemption.

For the second year in a row, the Bandits finished the regular season with a 14-4 record, but all those wins didn’t come easily. Six of their seven wins during the second half of the season were decided by one goal, and four of those games ended in overtime.

That being said, a win is a win. Bandits Head Coach John Tavares hopes that everything the team learned during those close game experiences will come in handy if (and that’s a big if) the games are packed during the NLL Finals.

“It builds character, and it gives the guys some experience in tight games, so when that situation presents itself again, they know how to deal with it,” Tavares said. “Those are playoff-type games with playoff-type atmospheres – I don’t know how many overtime games we had, but we had three or four wins in those games, and that’s the sign of a good team. We’re back in the finals, and I’m expecting close games against Colorado just like last year, and hopefully, we can find a way to win.”

In last year’s NLL Finals battle between these clubs, each of the three games were decided by three goals or less, and unfortunately, the Bandits came out with a loss in two of those games.

It’s hard to imagine the Bandits being involved in any close postseason games this time. So far during these playoffs, the Bandits have won 20-8, 14-5, and 17-8, and those latter two wins were against the 13-5, Toronto Rock.

Whether you want to give credit to Matt Vinc in between the pipes (he’s been excellent) or the deep offense consisting of guys such as Josh Byrne, Dhane Smith, Chris Cloutier, and others, or the defensive wall in front of Vinc, including the likes of Bryce Sweeting, Matt Spanger, and Steve Priolo, during this postseason, the Bandits have looked unstoppable.

“Guys have been shooting well and taking advantage of their opportunities,” Tavares said. “Defensively, guys have been doing their jobs and pressuring when asked to, soaking shots when asked to, getting into shooting lanes, and they’ve got Matt Vinc back there playing very well. We’ve also been getting transition opportunities as well, so things are clicking right now. But, we obviously have a big task ahead of us against Colorado.”

It’s hard to avoid how big of a task this could be for the Bandits, particularly if you look at recent results between these two. During this past regular season, the clubs went helmet-to-helmet in an inter-conference duel, which the Mammoth won 13-8.

In the last three matchups between the Bandits and the Mammoth, the Bandits have scored at most eight goals in one game. The Mammoth’s suburb goaltender, Dillon Ward, has played a significant part in that. According to Mammoth Head Coach Pat Coyle, one of the main reasons the Mammoth even have the privilege to compete in their second final in as many years is Ward’s efforts.

“He’s been our best player by far, and I think that’s what has to happen for us to win,” Coyle said. “I’m sure teams and people looking from outside our locker room are saying, ‘Without Dillon Ward, they don’t win.’ We’re like, ‘Yeah, of course.’ That is a lot of what our team is built around.

“We’re still a team, and there’s still a lot of really important pieces to that, but there isn’t a more important piece than him, and everyone in the dressing room would agree with that.”

Many of Ward’s teammates have been trying to nurse themselves to total health over the long season. During the regular season, the Mammoth didn’t have one forward that played in all 18 games, and even Ward himself missed a game. However, in postseason play, most of the Mammoth roster has participated in every game, including the likes of Ryan Lee. Unfortunately, the Mammoth will still be without Joey Cupido for the Finals.

But, what has made the Mammoth successful this season, and in past years as well, is their “Next-man-up” mentality. This is a tight-knit group that does not want to disappoint one another.

“It speaks to how great of a system defensively that those guys have come to play,” Coyle said. “The fact the one guy can go out like that and other guys can step in. They depend on each other, which makes us strong, I think.”

“We just have to be us; that’s all we can do,” Coyle said. “We have to play stifling defense that we play and limit them to the shots that we want them to take, which is easier said than done.”

Similar things can be said about the Bandits, who were missing guys like Byrne, Cloutier, and Chase Fraser for ample time during regular season play. Still, everyone is healed and rested (mainly thanks to their “bye” week last weekend).

Looking forward to Games 1 & 2 of the NLL Finals, the Bandits earned the privilege to host the series’ opening game. In a best-of-3 series, having a home-floor advantage can be very impactful, especially when you’re playing in Banditland, which averaged over 14,000 fans per game in the regular season.

“We think, and I think most people can agree, that (not to be biased) that Buffalo has the greatest fans in the National Lacrosse League,” Tavares said. “They’re a big part of our team, and I preach to the guys how important it is to play for them. They spend their hard-earned money to come and see [the team] play, and we must give 100% every time.”

How these teams have been playing during the postseason, who knows who will come out on top in each game. Ball Arena, better known as the Loud House, is equally difficult to play in (if you’re the visiting team), so will that mean that this series goes to a third and decisive win-or-go-home game, or will it not make an impact?

The fact that Game 1 and Game 2 are without 48 hours of each other could play a significant role in the outcome of a Game 2 with everything on the line for one team. With that in mind, how will that affect Game 1? There are many questions to be answered, and we won’t have to wait long to learn the outcome of the opening games and potentially the series. As it stands right now, Saturday’s game is a big one, but Monday’s contest is even more significant.

“The truth is: someone is going to be in a position on that Monday to win the championship, and someone will be in a position to lose the championship,” Coyle said. “So, I’d like to think that travel and time are going to have very little to do with that because, when someone’s back is against the wall – one team is going to have their back against the wall on Monday, and one team is going to be ready to punch their ticket – so that game should be exciting. There won’t be any jet lag in anybody.”

It goes without saying, but it should be said anyway: The NLL Finals are must-watch TV, and for this year’s finals, expect potentially record-breaking numbers as Games 1 and 2 will be featured on ESPN2, with Game 3 (if necessary) airing on ESPN+. Up in Canada, all three games will be aired on TSN.

Don’t miss a second of all the action, starting with Game 1 in Buffalo at 7pm ET/5pm MT. Game 2 will begin at 4pm ET/2pm MT on Monday, and Game 3 will start at 7:30pm ET on June 3 if the series needs to go the distance.

NLL