Philadelphia, April 4, 2019 – The National Lacrosse League has released playoff clinching scenarios ahead of Week 17.
The New England Black Wolves (7-7) and the Colorado Mammoth (6-8) can each clinch playoff berths this weekend. The Black Wolves will clinch with a win vs. San Diego on Saturday or a loss by both the Philadelphia Wings and the Rochester Knighthawks.
The Mammoth will clinch with a win vs. Saskatchewan on Saturday.
The Buffalo Bandits (12-3), Georgia Swarm (11-4) and San Diego Seals (9-4) have the opportunity to clinch home games in the first round of the playoffs. The Bandits will clinch a home game in the first round with a win vs. Toronto on Friday.
The Swarm will clinch a home game in the first round with a win vs. San Diego on Friday and one Toronto loss, either vs. Buffalo on Friday or vs. Rochester on Saturday. The Swarm can also clinch with two Toronto losses.
The Seals will clinch a home game in the first round with a win vs. Georgia on Friday or a win vs. New England on Saturday. The Seals can also clinch with a Colorado loss vs. Saskatchewan on Saturday and a Calgary loss vs. Philadelphia on Saturday.
In addition, the Philadelphia Wings (3-11), Rochester Knighthawks (3-11), and Vancouver Warriors (4-11) face the prospect of being eliminated from playoff consideration.
•New England Black Wolves (7-7) can clinch a postseason berth with a win vs. San Diego or a loss by both Philadelphia and Rochester.
• Colorado Mammoth (6-8) can clinch a postseason berth with a win vs. Saskatchewan.
• Buffalo Bandits (12-3) can clinch a home game in the first round of the playoffs with a win vs. Toronto.
• Georgia Swarm (11-4) can clinch a home game in the first round of the playoffs with a win vs. San Diego and one Toronto loss. Georgia can also clinch with two Toronto losses.
• San Diego Seals (9-4) can clinch a home game in the first round of the playoffs with a win vs. Georgia or a win vs. New England. San Diego can also clinch with a Colorado loss vs. Saskatchewan and a Calgary loss vs. Philadelphia.
• Philadelphia Wings (3-11) will be eliminated from playoff consideration with a loss vs. Calgary or a New England win vs. San Diego.
• Rochester Knighthawks (3-11) will be eliminated from playoff consideration with a loss vs. Toronto or a New England win vs. San Diego.
• Vancouver Warriors (4-11) will be eliminated from playoff consideration with a Colorado win vs. Saskatchewan.
The 2018-2019 NLL regular season concludes in Week 20 before the NLL Playoffs start the weekend of May 3-5.
A total of eight NLL teams, the top four clubs in each division’s standings, will qualify for the playoffs. The East and West Division winners will be seeded #1 within their respective divisions and play the #4 seed, while the #2 and #3 seeds play each other in the first round, with the higher seed hosting round 1.
The two first round winners from each division will face off in the Division Finals in a one game series, hosted by the highest remaining seed. The East and West Division winners will then play a best two-of-three game series in the NLL Finals. The highest remaining seed will host games one and three, if necessary.
