The Vancouver Warriors have finally broken away from the four-way tie to take fifth place in the standings with two weekends remaining in the regular season. Just a half-game ahead of the four teams tied for sixth (Georgia, San Diego, Colorado, Calgary), Vancouver has the opportunity to clinch a playoff spot in Toronto with a win OR a loss by various combinations of four different teams. The Warriors are lined up to host the Philadelphia Wings for Fan Appreciation Night on the final night of the regular season.
🗣️ Warriors fans!
You know where to be next Saturday. Join us at Rogers Arena as we celebrate the BEST fans in the league for our final regular season home game. 🖤 💛
GET TICKETS | https://t.co/V0gbwtgQ9T pic.twitter.com/NvFvHnDHhW
— Vancouver Warriors (@VanWarriors) April 9, 2025
As we’re sure Vancouver-deniers are tired of hearing, the Warriors are now 4-0 in their last four games since the addition of homecoming king Christian Del Bianco, currently averaging nearly 43 saves a game. His stonewall performance in net has allowed the Vancouver offense to flourish, paving the way for Keegan Bal’s four recorded hat tricks in each of their last four games (having only tracked two in his first 12 games), and breaking 100 points in last week’s win over Albany.
Keegan Bal and the @VanWarriors have been on FIRE! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/f0JXttCLd7
— NLL (@NLL) April 10, 2025
Bal now sits five points behind his own single-season record (105 recorded in the 2024 season), and just 11 points shy of the franchise record for most points in a single season (111, currently tied by Colin Doyle, Rhys Duch and Corey Small) with two games remaining. This weekend’s matchup also marks Vancouver head coach Curt Malawsky’s 205th NLL Game Coached, passing his predecessor, and Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Famer, Troy Cordingley, for 6th all-time. Additionally, a win over Toronto would tally Malawsky’s 108th NLL Coaching Win, once again passing Cordingley for 6th all-time, and securing the Warriors’ first postseason appearance since taking over as head coach in 2023.
It’s been a rough and tumble season for the Wings, and in true, gritty Philly fashion, they’re not out of the running yet! After breaking a franchise-record eight-game losing streak with their 15-13 win over Georgia Last week, the Wings are back at the Wells Fargo Center for game two of their late-season series against the Swarm. The Wings are hosting game two during their end-of-season Fan Appreciation Night, and to show their gratitude, are offering $1 ice cream presented by Turkey Hill, and a 20% discount on in-game Wings merchandise for all fans in attendance.
We couldn’t do it without you, Wings fans!
All fans in attendance on Saturday will enjoy 20% off at our OutPHItters retail shop, with LLP Members receiving 25% off!
🎟: https://t.co/40X4iSqkR8 pic.twitter.com/8KddJmGM1c
— Philadelphia Wings (@NLLwings) April 9, 2025
Georgia currently sits atop the four-way tie for the remaining three playoff seats, and needs a win this week to stay in the conversation. After conceding game one to Philadelphia last week, the Swarm are 1-4 in their last five games (4-8 in their last 12 after starting the season 4-0), and are now dangerously close to falling from the playoff pedestal, as two of the three other 8-8 teams suit up for similar make-or-break games (Colorado, San Diego). Though Philadelphia sits two games outside of current playoff consideration, a second win over Georgia and a slew of losses from the teams ahead on the leaderboard could put them within arms reach of the eight-seat heading into the final week of the regular season.
It’s the perfect time to bust out your old New England Black Wolves jerseys—it’s Retro Night in Albany! It’s grandad’s favorite night of the year, featuring all the back-in-his-day pricing, including $15 gameday tickets, $6 domestic beer (it was a delicacy back then, that’s why they’re raising the price), and all the Firewolves fun you care to enjoy. Bring the whole family out, or strap in at home, as Albany gears up to host the San Diego Seals in yet another pivotal postseason-pending matchup in The March to May.
We’re going RETRO this Saturday night 🪩
Join us for a walk through the decades on Retro Night presented by La Salle Institute this Saturday, April 12th. Dress your decade and enjoy retro music, trivia, games and more!
🎟️ https://t.co/ebAtnnB0bk#GetFiredUp🔥 pic.twitter.com/7uDNzm8jAq
— Albany FireWolves Lacrosse Club (@AlbFireWolves) April 9, 2025
The Firewolves last saw the Seals in last season’s playoff semifinals, where Albany swept the series 2-0 to face the Bandits in the championship. Mirroring their last meeting, Albany and San Diego will host each other for their last two games of the season, each looking oust the other from the postseason. San Diego once again finds themselves caught in the four-way tie for the remaining playoff spots (Georgia, Colorado, Calgary), just half a game behind the now 9-7 Vancouver Warriors, and two games ahead of the 6-10 Firewolves. Albany, despite starting their season 3-9, are 3-1 in their last four games, including wins over Buffalo and Georgia. Though further down the standings, the Firewolves find themselves in a similar postseason situation as Philadelphia, needing to once again sweep their series against the Seals and a similar train of losses in the preceding tie-breakers.
Colorado Mammoth at Ottawa Black Bears 03.23.25
For their final home game of their inaugural season, the Ottawa Black Bears are suiting up to take on the Las Vegas Desert Dogs, and are pulling out all the stops. As one of the many teams celebrating their fans this weekend, the Black Bears are taking it an extra step further, selecting four lucky fans and their guests to help make League and franchise history. This Saturday, the Black Bears will be mic’ing up forward Reilly O’Connor for the first ever Game Unc*nsored, giving the evening’s lucky winners the chance to listen to O’Connor’s in-game chatter in real time, “from play calls to trash talk, nothing is off the board.” And what a game to listen in on, as the Black Bears get deeper into their late-season crunch time.
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Currently sitting behind the four-way tie in tenth place, Ottawa is just a single game behind the teams tied for sixth, with a win this weekend holding the potential to throw them into the tie in the final week of the season. Additionally, after their less-than-ideal contest against Rochester in Week 19, Ottawa’s Jeff Teat is still in the running for Most Goals Scored this season.
Who’s your pick to finish the season on top? 🥍👀 pic.twitter.com/u8e9rXFMwl
— NLL (@NLL) April 11, 2025
Teat currently sits at 45 goals scored with two games remaining, just behind Rochester’s Ryan Smith (47 goals scored, one game remaining). Teat has the opportunity to lead the League in goals for the third consecutive season, which would be the longest streak since Hall of Famer John Grant Jr. (2005-07), and weather depending, the second player in League history to record three consecutive 50-goal seasons, behind Gary Gait.
During a weekend filled with uncertainties, it’s nice to have a few constants around the corner. The Thunderbirds fly down to Buffalo this Saturday for a friendly end-of-season competition… is what you thought we’d say. Though Buffalo and Halifax have both clinched their spots in the postseason, their schedules are far from secured. This weekend, the Bandits can clinch the number one seed in the playoffs with a win OR a Saskatchewan loss (Sunday at Colorado), but are in no headspace to settle for the easy road to the top.
After their back-to-back losses to Vancouver and Albany sparked minor conversations around the Bandits’ authority in the postseason, Buffalo has taken every play personally, securing a 15-10 statement win over Colorado in Week 19. Halifax, currently perched in the three-seat, could clinch a first-round home playoff game with a road win against the Bandits. Halifax’s Cody Jamieson and Jake Withers are also both on the lookout for a few career milestones this weekend, as Jamieson sits just shy of 1,000 career NLL points (996), and Withers needs just two wins at the ‘x this weekend to surpass Jamie Hanford for 4th all-time NLL Faceoff Wins.
Buffalo Bandits v Colorado Mammoth (Photo: Isaiah J Dowling)
In our Sunday matinee matchup, Saskatchewan ships down to Colorado for the Mammoth’s final regular-season home game. Colorado will host the Rush during their end-of-season Tusk Up Night, featuring fan-appreciation activities and post-game fireworks.
What is Tusk Up Games?
All the details about the new theme night: https://t.co/9HmLNcijWA pic.twitter.com/FETsBZQiTx
— Colorado Mammoth (@MammothLax) April 11, 2025
The Mammoth, still caught up in the four-way tie for sixth place, has lost its last three straight games, falling unceremoniously to the Buffalo Bandits at home. Now sinking dangerously close to the ninth seat and just out of reach of the postseason, Colorado needs a big win against the number two Rush to stay within playoff consideration heading into their final matchup against Calgary in Week 21. To lead them into this weekend, Captain Robert Hope has been placed back on the Active Roster after his brief stint on the Hold Out List, taking a moment’s leave to welcome his second child.
On the road this weekend, the Rush are looking to clinch their number two seed in the playoffs, needing a win over Colorado AND a Halifax loss to Buffalo. Historically, Saskatchewan has dominated in their head-to-heads against Colorado, going 22-6 all-time (regular season and playoffs), including their 17-12 win in Week 18. The Mammoth will once again need an elephant-sized effort to bring home the bison and punch their ticket to the playoffs.
