fbpx

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

×
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
Powered By
MGM Logo
Scores / Schedule
Stories/Op-Ed

Il Indoor: Observations From Champion’S Cup Finals

The Saskatchewan Rush made history as just the sixth team in National Lacrosse League history to win back-to-back titles by defeating the Buffalo Bandits at home in front of over 15,000 fans at a sold-out SaskTel Centre on Saturday night. Preview Stephen Stamp’s observations from the clinching win below and find the full story on IL Indoor.

“It took 59:48 of the 60 minutes in Game 2 but the Saskatchewan Rush earned their second straight sweep of the Champion’s Cup finals, downing the Buffalo Bandits 11-10 Saturday night when Jeff Cornwall scored on a breakaway with 12 seconds to play,” Stamp writes. “The game, against all odds, lived up to the thrill-a-minute excitement of Game 1, even if the quality of play—understandably–was slightly lower.”

One aspect of the game that even outshone last week’s contest was the play of Aaron Bold. The Rush keeper turned away 47 of 57 shots, including stoning the great Dhane Smith driving alone to the net late. His .825 save percentage in Game 2 provides ample evidence of why Bold was named the series’ MVP.

Below, some observations from a riveting final game to the 2016 season.

* I saw more mistakes in this game than in Game 1 but it was still brilliant lacrosse. The level in Game 1 was just so high, offensive chances were so hard to come by and the goals that were scored were the results of such precision plays that it’s hard to imagine it could have been any better. It wasn’t, but it wasn’t far off. Saskatchewan and Buffalo are two excellent lacrosse teams and while the Bandits won’t be taking home the Champions Cup, they should be holding their heads high after the season they just had.

* Derek Keenan said Curtis Knight would play a big role at some point and he was dead on. Knight, who was inconsistent in his first year back from knee reconstruction as many players are, had a pair of goals and three assists. He added a boost that the offence needed with Mark Matthews being handled effectively by the Bandit’s defence for much of the night (although Matthews still managed to score 2 goals and 4 assists). Knight’s second goal, in particular, was sensational. A perfect seal to open space on the pick and roll led to him being alone on top of the crease, where he threw a short but credible fake far side then tucked a slight twister into the near side. A healthy and effective Knight just makes the Rush better.

* There wasn’t a ton of transition in the game, but that is attributable to both teams recognizing how important the running game is to their opponents and working hard to take it away. The shortage just elevated the important of the transition goals that were scored, including of course Cornwall’s winner.

* Okay, let’s talk about that winning goal. Cornwall was excellent all series—in fact, all season and through the playoffs as well. He may not have shone any brighter, though, than in the sequence leading up to that final goal. The Bandits got the ball to Smith on a pick and roll that couldn’t have been played any better than Cornwall handled it, switching off his man to jump on Smith. Cornwall got out to Smith in time to take away the immediate shot without overrunning him and allowing a cutback, which is no easy task in and of itself.

Then Cornwall initiated a solid cross check that he was able to ride all the way down the alley, forcing Smith past the net unable to get a quality shot off and making it easy for Bold. When the Bandits got the ball back, Cornwall was ready for more. He was out in the lane when the shot was taken that bounded high off the back boards and he tracked it perfectly, positioning himself so that Smith couldn’t get past him but he was able to grab it and take off.

The speed he showed—Cornwall actually pulled away from Smith, which almost no one can do—was remarkable. The shot was perfectly placed. But the real beauty of that goal came at the other end of the floor.

* Speaking of outstanding defenders for the Rush, I saw Brett Mydske make two mistakes yesterday. I’m not sure I’ve even seen him make two mistakes in one game before. One came when he jumped out on Smith too quickly and overran his check, leaving Smith a lane to the net. The other came when he was trying to execute a switch and actually fell down. Neither resulted in a goal, but it’s still an anomaly for Mydske. He has been so reliable for Saskatchewan. It’s not just this year, although 2016 may have been his best season in the NLL. I had Mydske as the top player in the 2015 world championships because he was simply impeccable. If ever a player was underrated, it’s Brett Mydske. Just think what it says about his play that making two mistakes in a game against the top offence in the league stands out.

* I thought the officiating in Game 1 was excellent. I disagreed with a couple of calls in Game 2, but when you look at the game as a whole, the officials provided consistency. Mitch de Snoo was visibly upset on Zack Greer’s goal with four seconds left in the first half because he felt Matthews had ripped the stick out of his hands. He was probably right, but the call was consistent because Jarrett Davis was left to play a rebound with his feet earlier because Billy Dee Smith was still holding Davis’ stick in the slot as the Rush player ran towards the crease. Later in the game, there were a pair of holding the stick calls. How does that equal consistency? My guess is that the refs told both teams to knock it off and when they didn’t, the calls were made. There’s a lot more to reffing than just blowing your whistle, and communicating how you’re going to call the game then following through on it is a huge part. Kudos to the crew for a solid showing.

* There are some plays where it just doesn’t feel right for a team not to score. With a little over four minutes left in the first half, Ryan Benesch threw a pass from the left side to the right and somehow got the ball through to a teammate who was covered by two defenders. Even more amazingly, his teammate was able to get a pass back through the coverage to a cutting Benesch, who caught it with a defender draped all over him. Unfortunately for the Bandits, Bold anticipated the play perfectly and made the save actually look fairly routine, although it was anything but.

* One other Mydske point: not many guys can knock Dhane Smith flat on the floor like he did on the first possession of the second half. Even fewer would still be balanced, in position and alert enough to lay another big hit on the Bandit who picked up the resulting loose ball.

* Nick Weiss’ goal was a strange one, much like Kedoh Hill’s odd transition marker in Game 1. Great point made during the broadcast that 90% of coaches would have told Hill not to take that shot, with no one else even in the play yet, if they had a chance and saying that Troy Cordingley had said he’s in that 90%. Well, not many coaches would want Weiss taking the odd little hop shot on a one on one break with no support, either. But it’s hard to argue when he picks the top corner perfectly with the shot. It’s the old no-no-no-no-nice shot that I heard a few times from my high school basketball coach.

* The next goal was a power play marker by Benesch and it was a textbook example of a good shot selection. As Andy McNamara and Brian Shanahan noted, the subtlety of Benesch’s look to the top like he was going to throw the ball back to Smith then turning to release a shot and hit an open spot barely larger than the ball, well, it was spectacular.

* About McNamara and Shanahan. I’m a bit biased because I’ve worked with both and consider both friends. But I believe I’m able to impartially say that the game call was very good in both games. It’s a real pleasure to hear solid announcers with excellent chemistry and timing. Good work, fellas.

* The Ben McIntosh goal that followed Benesch’s marker was a momentum-turner. It looked like a Buffalo player had possessed the ball momentarily in the corner off a rebound, so the 30-second clock was reset and the Rush had plenty of time to work. The refs huddled, though, and agreed that there hadn’t been sufficient possession. That meant while the Rush still had the ball they only had four seconds to get a shot off. McIntosh looked like he was going to try to feed the ball down to Knight on the wing but instead just let a sidearm fly that somehow eluded Anthony Cosmo.

* Then Greer scored from even further out. Greer was barely inside the Buffalo zone and it was early in the shot clock, but something told him that was a good shot to take. Granted, there was a screen and Cosmo may never have seen the ball on its way to the net, but it was a strange shot selection. As with Weiss’ goal, though, it’s hard to argue when the ball goes in.

* There was nothing strange about Mark Steenhuis’ that followed, simply hard work and execution. David Brock, who may be almost as underrated as Mydske, showed a combination of diligence and stick skill to win a loose ball battle with Robert Church along the boards in the Buffalo end. Brock then got up the floor, left the ball for Steenhuis and laid a hard but legal pick on a Saskatchewan defender. The seal was excellent and Steenhuis shot over it to put Buffalo back in front.

Click here for the full story by Stephen Stamp on Inside Lacrosse via IL Indoor. Photo by Josh Schaefer.

NLL