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BUF at SD - Sat. 10pm ET on ESPNews Schedule

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WK
1
Fri, Dec 2
FINAL
Philadelphia
8
Halifax
18
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Vancouver
8
Toronto
19
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
San Diego
15
New York
14
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Albany
11
Buffalo
10
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Rochester
16
Georgia
11
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Colorado
6
Saskatchewan
18
WK
2
Fri, Dec 9
FINAL
Las Vegas
11
Panther City
13
Fri, Dec 9
FINAL/OT
Saskatchewan
12
San Diego
13
Sat, Dec 10
FINAL
Toronto
7
Rochester
11
Sat, Dec 10
FINAL
Vancouver
9
Calgary
11
WK
3
Fri, Dec 16
FINAL
Calgary
14
Vancouver
5
Fri, Dec 16
FINAL
Panther City
9
Las Vegas
3
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Buffalo
11
Toronto
8
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Rochester
14
Albany
13
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Philadelphia
13
Georgia
12
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Halifax
20
New York
11
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Colorado
12
Panther City
9
WK
5
Fri, Dec 30
FINAL
Halifax
13
Buffalo
18
Fri, Dec 30
FINAL
San Diego
17
Calgary
14
Sat, Dec 31
FINAL
Panther City
9
Saskatchewan
11
WK
6
Fri, Jan 6
FINAL
Philadelphia
14
Las Vegas
9
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Panther City
9
Rochester
17
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Halifax
14
Albany
11
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Buffalo
18
Georgia
9
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Toronto
15
New York
7
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Calgary
8
Colorado
9
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Vancouver
11
San Diego
16
WK
7
Fri, Jan 13
FINAL/OT
Albany
11
Halifax
10
Fri, Jan 13
FINAL/OT
Saskatchewan
10
Colorado
11
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Halifax
8
Toronto
17
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Panther City
12
Philadelphia
10
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Georgia
9
Buffalo
11
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
San Diego
10
Calgary
14
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Las Vegas
16
Vancouver
19
Sun, Jan 15
FINAL
Rochester
11
New York
8
WK
8
Fri, Jan 20
FINAL
Buffalo
12
Rochester
15
Fri, Jan 20
FINAL
Vancouver
14
Las Vegas
15
Sat, Jan 21
FINAL
Toronto
14
Philadelphia
5
Sat, Jan 21
FINAL
New York
16
Albany
10
WK
9
Fri, Jan 27
FINAL
Rochester
7
Halifax
17
Fri, Jan 27
FINAL
Buffalo
13
Philadelphia
9
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
Buffalo
16
New York
10
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
Las Vegas
10
Saskatchewan
15
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL/OT
Toronto
11
Calgary
10
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
San Diego
13
Colorado
9
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
Panther City
20
Vancouver
7
WK
10
Fri, Feb 3
FINAL
Georgia
10
Colorado
13
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL/OT
Calgary
12
Halifax
11
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
New York
14
Toronto
22
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Albany
5
Philadelphia
13
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Rochester
10
Buffalo
13
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Panther City
10
San Diego
12
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Saskatchewan
14
Vancouver
8
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Colorado
8
Las Vegas
13
WK
11
Fri, Feb 10
FINAL
Toronto
11
Georgia
10
Fri, Feb 10
FINAL
Saskatchewan
6
Calgary
13
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Halifax
14
Rochester
16
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Albany
12
New York
14
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Vancouver
13
Panther City
14
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Colorado
9
Calgary
13
WK
12
Fri, Feb 17
FINAL
Calgary
14
Vancouver
9
Fri, Feb 17
FINAL
Saskatchewan
16
San Diego
11
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL
Georgia
7
Toronto
16
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL
Las Vegas
12
Albany
10
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL/OT
Philadelphia
12
Buffalo
13
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL
Colorado
7
Panther City
13
Sun, Feb 19
FINAL
New York
12
Halifax
13
WK
13
Fri, Feb 24
FINAL
Panther City
12
Colorado
14
Fri, Feb 24
FINAL
Calgary
9
Las Vegas
11
Sat, Feb 25
FINAL/OT
New York
10
Rochester
11
Sat, Feb 25
FINAL
Albany
4
Georgia
20
Sat, Feb 25
FINAL
Vancouver
16
Saskatchewan
12
WK
14
Fri, Mar 3
FINAL
Buffalo
10
Halifax
9
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
New York
12
Philadelphia
19
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
Las Vegas
12
San Diego
15
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
Rochester
8
Toronto
9
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL/OT
Georgia
9
Albany
8
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
Saskatchewan
10
Panther City
16
Mon, Mar 6
FINAL
Toronto
10
Philadelphia
11
WK
15
Fri, Mar 10
FINAL/OT
Halifax
9
Buffalo
10
Fri, Mar 10
FINAL
Calgary
16
Colorado
10
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
Albany
6
Toronto
12
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
Philadelphia
10
New York
13
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
San Diego
12
Saskatchewan
11
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
Vancouver
14
Las Vegas
5
Sun, Mar 12
FINAL
Rochester
19
Georgia
18
WK
16
Fri, Mar 17
FINAL
Saskatchewan
6
Calgary
11
Fri, Mar 17
FINAL
San Diego
16
Vancouver
9
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Georgia
13
Philadelphia
12
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Toronto
12
Halifax
14
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Albany
10
New York
13
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Colorado
13
Buffalo
8
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Las Vegas
8
Panther City
11
Sun, Mar 19
FINAL/OT
Philadelphia
9
Rochester
8
WK
17
Fri, Mar 24
20:30:00
San Diego
Panther City
Sat, Mar 25
19:00:00
Toronto
Albany
Sat, Mar 25
19:00:00
Halifax
Philadelphia
Sat, Mar 25
19:30:00
Georgia
New York
Sat, Mar 25
21:30:00
Calgary
Saskatchewan
Sat, Mar 25
22:00:00
Buffalo
San Diego
Sat, Mar 25
22:00:00
Colorado
Vancouver
Sat, Mar 25
22:30:00
Rochester
Las Vegas
WK
18
Fri, Mar 31
19:00:00
New York
Georgia
Fri, Mar 31
21:00:00
Las Vegas
Colorado
Fri, Mar 31
22:00:00
Calgary
San Diego
Sat, Apr 1
19:00:00
Buffalo
Toronto
Sat, Apr 1
20:00:00
Albany
Panther City
Sat, Apr 1
21:30:00
Vancouver
Saskatchewan
Sun, Apr 2
13:00:00
Georgia
Halifax
Sun, Apr 2
18:00:00
Rochester
Philadelphia
WK
19
Sat, Apr 8
19:00:00
Albany
Rochester
Sat, Apr 8
19:00:00
Saskatchewan
Georgia
Sat, Apr 8
21:00:00
Panther City
Calgary
Sat, Apr 8
21:00:00
Vancouver
Colorado
Sat, Apr 8
22:30:00
San Diego
Las Vegas
WK
20
Fri, Apr 14
21:00:00
Las Vegas
Calgary
Fri, Apr 14
21:00:00
San Diego
Colorado
Sat, Apr 15
19:00:00
Philadelphia
Toronto
Sat, Apr 15
19:00:00
Georgia
Albany
Sat, Apr 15
19:30:00
New York
Buffalo
Sat, Apr 15
21:30:00
Halifax
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 15
22:00:00
Panther City
Vancouver
WK
21
Fri, Apr 21
20:30:00
Calgary
Panther City
Sat, Apr 22
18:00:00
New York
Halifax
Sat, Apr 22
19:00:00
Georgia
Rochester
Sat, Apr 22
20:00:00
Toronto
Buffalo
Sat, Apr 22
21:30:00
Colorado
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 22
22:00:00
Las Vegas
San Diego
Sun, Apr 23
15:00:00
Philadelphia
Albany
WK
22
Sat, Apr 29
19:00:00
Philadelphia
Rochester
Sat, Apr 29
19:00:00
Buffalo
Albany
Sat, Apr 29
19:00:00
Halifax
Georgia
Sat, Apr 29
22:00:00
Colorado
San Diego
Sat, Apr 29
22:00:00
New York
Vancouver
Sat, Apr 29
22:30:00
Saskatchewan
Las Vegas
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Game Previews

Changes In Personnel, Philosophy Fueling Black Wolves Success

Change is never easy, but sometimes it is necessary to reach the returns that you are looking to achieve. In the case of the New England Black Wolves, they knew that shaking up the roster after two sub-.500 records and two seasons allowing more than 240 goals since 2015 -they and the Vancouver Stealth are the only teams in NLL history to have multiple seasons giving up 240+ goals- that something(s) needed to be done to make this team a real contender again like the franchise was in the 90’s and early 2000’s as the Philadelphia Wings.

 

“As a result of the stats from last year and the play in the backend,” Black Wolves head coach Glenn Clark said, “we, as a group, discussed making those changes, so we did, and that’s the big part of it. We’ve adjusted our philosophy a little bit based on our personnel, but a lot of it was bringing in new guys that played the style of game that we wanted to play in terms of transitioning the ball, limiting repossessions, limiting turnovers, all those things we talked about, and it’s been playing out so far.”

 

There was a lot of movement concerning the defense, and rightfully so. Coming into the 2018 season, no team had let in more goals than the Black Wolves over the last three years. David Brock and Adam Bomberry were brought in from the Buffalo Bandits and Rochester Knighthawks respectively to ensure a stronger back-end presence alongside veterans Derek Suddons and Brett Manney as well as budding young talents, Joel Coyle and Matt Spanger.

 

Two other vital moves included sending Sheldon Burns to the Toronto Rock for Stephan Leblanc in the early stages of Week 3 and acquiring Aaron Bold and John Lafontaine (plus draft picks) for long-time goaltender Evan Kirk from the Saskatchewan Rush.

 

“It is always hard trading a quality player like Sheldon,” General Manager Rich Lisk said of the trade, “but you have to give up quality to get quality. In Stephan LeBlanc we get one of the premier left-handers in the NLL and adding him to an already potent offense is something that we are thrilled about. I believe fans will be very excited to see Stephan in a Black Wolves jersey and all of us are very excited to welcome him to the Pack.”

 

The moves weren’t limited to the defense; the aforementioned Lafontaine is playing a key role in the transition game alongside the Black Wolves 7th selection in the 2017-18 NLL draft, Colton Watkinson, and, of course, Leblanc is a dynamic forward. Other selections from this year’s draft such as JP Kealey and Anthony Joaquim have also made an impact on this year’s squad.

 

Black Wolves captain Shawn Evans knows that this is not the team he knew when he came to the club in 2016, but he’ll take the results that this team is putting up any day.

 

“We made a lot of great moves in the offseason, a lot of different faces.” The Captain said. “Aaron Bold has been stellar for us making the saves that he’s needed to late in games to give us opportunities to score on offense. And defensively, they’ve been outstanding in front of him. They’re pressuring to the ball, and they’re holding teams like Rochester to 8 or 9 goals the last two games. So when your defense and goaltender are doing that for you, it gives us on the offensive end time to get things rolling.”

 

Taking away the 24-11 loss the Black Wolves had against the Rush in Week 2, Bold and the defense have allowed 9.25 goals per game. As Evans said, in their last two games, the Black Wolves held the Knighthawks to eight and nine goals respectively, grabbing the attention of Knighthawks head coach Mike Hasen.

 

“The defense is really good.” Hasen said. “They play a good team-system where they get on hand. They want to allow Boldy to be in his spot, see the shot and make it easier to see the ball. At the end of the day, Boldy was exceptional, he stoned us on many opportunities especially when we were tight and had a clear shot at the goal.”

 

Bold’s coach also has plenty of positive things to say about his performance through five games. “I think he’s a guy that doesn’t fade in games,” Clark said. “As the game goes on, he has seemingly been getting stronger and better. That has allowed guys to play with some more confidence and you don’t win in this league unless your goalie, on most nights, is your best player. You need your goalie to be good because in the game of lacrosse, no matter how good you are on defense, you’re going to give up quality shots throughout the game. He has been a big part of giving the guys confidence, and I think with his conditioning and commitment, he has been better in the 4th quarters, which has been real big for us.”

 

Bold and the defense have been so good in fact that even when the Black Wolves have been a man down on the penalty kill, they have been able to stop an NLL-leading 71.4% of the chances against them. Coach Clark is pleased with the effort the man down unit is putting in, and he knows that the success has a lot to do with the new guys on the roster.

 

“We’ve got a couple of new personnel on the man-down. I think we’ve been a little bit more aggressive on the man-down in terms of our schemes and forcing shots from spots we want them to come from. I think probably the aggression, but also some personnel changes have helped as well.”

 

Despite its potent potential, the defense has carried the team to its league-best 4-1 record, and many of the numbers prove that to be true. Offensively, the Black Wolves are 7th in GPG (11.40), 6th on the powerplay (46.15), they have -4 goal differential and they are tied for the fewest players with five points or more in the league with the Colorado Mammoth and Stealth who all only have eight men breaking the threshold. That’s not to say that guys like Evans and Kevin Crowley aren’t producing, they are. Crowley has the 4th-most goals scored (13), and Evans is 4th in overall points with 32. Although, Evans is the only player on the team with more than 20 points through five games.

 

Regardless of the offensive inefficiency, as the adage goes, “Defense wins championships.” As Captain of the Black Wolves, Evans knows that he has a prominent role in leading his team to the Champion’s Cup and bringing the first title to Uncasville, Connecticut.

 

“When I came we had the goal to get better each year and this, my third year here, making the moves that we did, the management have put [us] in a position to succeed. It’s my job and our leadership crew to keep the guys together and make sure that everyone’s happy and everyone’s on the same page. When we’re working together good things happen and as you can see we’re 4-1, and we gotta keep it rolling.”

 

 

NLL