By: Andy McNamara – Staff Writer
After a wild and unpredictable weekend the National Lacrosse League schedule settles down a bit for Week 9 with four battles lined up. The picks went south for the NLL crew as all four of us finished under .500. Let’s see who can bounce back this time around!
This season NLL staff members Andy McNamara, Mia Gordon, Tyson Geick, and Brian Shanahan deliver their game predictions every week. Here are the standings so far:
Team Wins Losses GB
1. Mia 17 11 —
2. Shanny 17 11 —
3. Tyson 16 12 1
4. Andy 14 14 3
Send us your picks @NLL on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook using the specific game hashtags for each match-up below.
Toronto Rock (5-2) at Buffalo Bandits (2-5) – Saturday, 7:30pm ET
Andy
Toronto pummeled the Bandits 18-10 when they last met on February 3. Buffalo split their home-and-home with New England last weekend and I think will put up more of a fight with their playoff hopes hanging by a thread. However, the Rock have given up the fewest goals in the NLL (61), while Buffalo is tied for most allowed (105). Despite being in desperation mode Nick Rose and company pull it off on the road.
Pick – Rock
Mia
Buffalo is coming off a big OT win and their confidence seems to be there, but the Toronto Rock’s defense has been “rock solid” as of late. As the old saying goes, defense wins championships and I think it will win the Rock this game
Pick – Rock
Shanny
Pick –
Tweet @NLL your prediction using #TORvsBUF
Calgary Roughnecks (3-4) at Saskatchewan Rush (5-2) – Saturday, 8:30pm
Andy
After a hot start to the season the Roughnecks have lost three straight. They’ve already been defeated this year by Saskatchewan and the Rush don’t mess around at SaskTel Centre. I feel some deja vu coming for Calgary.
Pick – Rush
Mia
What a story it would be for the Roughnecks to get out of the slump against the top team in their division, but it is hard to pick any team in this league over the Rush right now. Up front they have been on fire, on the back end, solid, and their special teams have been special to say the least. They have such a complete game right now.
Pick – Rush
Shanny
Pick – Rush
Tweet @NLL your prediction using #CALvsSAS
Rochester Knighthawks (2-6) at Vancouver Stealth (3-5) – Saturday, 10pm
Andy
The Knighthawks have not tasted a victory in the month of February and Vancouver is 0-3 at home…something’s got to give here. The Stealth snapped a five game losing skid this past Satuday and look to get back in the thick of things in the West. This is the toughest matchup of the weekend to pick for me, but Rochester needs a ”W” more and squeaks one out.
Pick – Knighthawks
Mia
This was the hardest game for me to pick this weekend. On one end you have a young team that really has had moments of brilliance, and on the other end you have three of the top scorers in the league. Vancouver’s defense proved last week that they are getting more consistent, and that is why I am going with the Stealth
Pick – Stealth
Shanny
Pick – Stealth
Tweet @NLL your prediction using #ROCvsVAN
Colorado Mammoth (4-4) at New England Black Wolves (3-5) – Sunday, 1pm ET
Andy
Colorado has quietly plugged along in 2017 and find themselves 1.5 games out of first in the West. They’ve proven they can win on the road (2-2) and were an 8-7 loss to Saskatchewan away from having won three in-a-row. New England is still too inconsistent for me and the Mammoth hold a definite advantage in net with Dillon War.
Pick – Mammoth
Mia
Ok I lied, this could be the toughest pick this week. I was so impressed with Colorado last week despite their loss to the Rush. Dillon Ward was solid between the pipes, but up front they just weren’t getting enough shots. On the other end Shawn Evans had a 12 point night in the Black Wolves win. Right now, the Black Wolves seem like the more aggressive team, especially on home turf.
Pick – Black Wolves
Shanny
Pick – Black Wolves
Tweet @NLL your prediction using #COLvsNE
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.
