Power Rankings | Week 7

With a light slate over the weekend, this week’s Power Rankings look quite similar to last week’s edition. One team re-enters the group, while another falls out after a narrow loss.

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Just Missed – Ottawa Black Bears (2-2)

Week 6 Results: Lost to San Diego 6-5
Week 7 Opponent: at Georgia (4-1)
Previous Ranking: 8

The Black Bears slipped out of the Power Rankings this week after a league-record scoreless streak of 37:02 to end their Week 6 game sank their hopes of a road win in San Diego. Zach Higgins was other worldly, but Ottawa wasted his effort thanks to the franchise’s worst offensive output since April 2, 2022 when the Wings beat the then-Riptide 11-5. Serious on-paper firepower has gone into hibernation for the Black Bears. Their paltry scoring average of 8.8 goals per game through four contests is not good enough to keep them in the NLL’s top eight. Ottawa finishes a five-game gauntlet to open the season with another statement opportunity this upcoming weekend, traveling to Georgia to play the Swarm on Friday night.

8) Calgary Roughnecks (2-1) 

Week 6 Results: Idle
Week 7 Opponent: at Philadelphia (3-1)
Previous Ranking: Unranked

After falling out of the Power Rankings a week ago, the Roughnecks re-enter this week despite not playing. With Ottawa losing to San Diego and scoring just five goals in the process, the explosive attack of the Roughnecks pushes them back ahead of the Black Bears. As we noted last week, Dane Dobbie and Curtis Dickson have scored 26 of Calgary’s 41 goals (63%). As incredible as that stat may be, it is also entirely unsustainable. The need for consistent secondary scoring is of principal importance for the Roughnecks. Calgary needs Jesse King, who has netted just three goals, to be more of a scoring threat this weekend when the Roughnecks hit the road to play the Wings in Philadelphia. This Saturday’s game marks Calgary’s first real opportunity for a statement win.

CALGARY, AB – DECEMBER 28, 2024: Vancouver Warriors versus the Calgary Roughnecks at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Saturday night (Photo by Angela Burger/Calgary Roughnecks).

7) Colorado Mammoth (3-2)

Week 6 Results: Idle
Week 7 Opponent: vs Albany (1-4)
Previous Ranking: 7

The Mammoth may be underrated at number seven in the Power Rankings, but with multiple teams having endured one fewer loss, the Mammoth find themselves looking up at Vancouver, Philadelphia and Saskatchewan. Colorado’s two losses to date have come to two of the top three teams in the Power Rankings in the form of San Diego and Georgia. The Mammoth did not play this past weekend, but will be back at the Loud House on Saturday night for a matchup with the Albany FireWolves. Albany may be 1-4, but is still an exceedingly dangerous team. A win over the FireWolves, particularly one in convincing fashion, may be enough to give the Mammoth a substantial boost up the pecking order next week.

6) Saskatchewan Rush (3-1)

Week 6 Results: Idle
Week 7 Opponent: vs Las Vegas (1-4)
Previous Ranking: 6

As one of the six teams in our rundown to have the weekend off, the Rush remain sixth in the NLL Power Rankings. Rookie face-off man Jake Naso has become a talking point around the League, while Matt Hossack has flown under the radar as one of the NLL’s best defenders for the Rush. Saskatchewan was forced to sit at home with the sour taste of a one-goal loss to Philadelphia lingering on the plate. The Rush go back to work on Saturday, welcoming the Las Vegas Desert Dogs to Saskatchewan after the Dogs upset Albany for their first win of the season on Saturday.

5) Philadelphia Wings (3-1)

Week 6 Results: Idle
Week 7 Opponent: vs Calgary (2-1)
Previous Ranking: 5

Thanks to a bye week, the Wings hold steady in their position from last week’s Power Rankings. After an opening-weekend loss to the Seals in San Diego, Philadelphia has ripped off three consecutive wins, including a gut-check effort against previously unbeaten Saskatchewan last weekend. The Wings get the nod over the Rush because of their head-to-head victory, and inch ahead of Colorado thanks to their having one fewer loss than the Mammoth. Philly now has a chance to run their win streak to four games when the Calgary Roughnecks visit the City of Brotherly Love on Saturday.

Wings vs Rush 12-28-2024 (Photo: Jeff Crawford)

4) Vancouver Warriors (2-1)

Week 6 Results: Idle
Week 7 Opponent: vs San Diego (3-2)
Previous Ranking: 4

The Warriors were idle this past weekend, but now enjoy a tremendous opportunity to make a statement when the aforementioned Seals visit Vancouver on Friday night. Vancouver’s defense has been a pleasantly surprising unit, allowing just 9.3 goals per game in the team’s first three contests. Offensively, there is plenty for the Warriors still to prove. Their attack has managed just 10.3 goals per game to this point and will line up across from a San Diego defense fresh off a record-setting performance. Curt Malawsky, Owen Grant, Keegan Bal and company could shake up the Power Rankings quite a bit with a win over the Seals.

3) San Diego Seals (3-2)

Week 6 Results: Defeated Ottawa 6-5
Week 7 Opponent: at Vancouver (2-1)
Previous Ranking: 3

Last week’s Power Rankings made the case that Saturday night’s San Diego-Ottawa game would be a “prove-it” game for both teams. Facing the possibility of slipping under .500 for the first time since December of 2021, the Seals responded with a stellar defensive effort in an historic 6-5 win over the Black Bears. Not only did the Seals become the first team in League history to win a game with fewer than seven goals scored, their 37:02 of shutout game time to end the game established a new league record. The takeaways from San Diego’s bizarre win are twofold. Firstly, San Diego’s defense and goaltending are on an encouraging upward trajectory that should excite its’ fanbase. Conversely, the Seals have managed only 14 goals in their last two games, which is exceedingly concerning. Wes Berg was the hero with two second-half goals to inch the Seals past the Black Bears, but the group will have to be significantly more sound on offense this upcoming weekend when they play just their second road game of the year, visiting Vancouver on Friday night.

2) Georgia Swarm (4-1)

Week 6 Results: Lost to Rochester 16-9
Week 7 Opponent: vs Ottawa (2-2)
Previous Ranking: 2

The Swarm were one of just three teams in last week’s Power Rankings to play over the weekend, suffering their first loss of the season. It’s difficult to justify dropping the Swarm, even after a blowout defeat to Rochester, simply because they are still the NLL’s only four-win team. Additionally, the only team with a viable case to be ranked ahead of Georgia would be the same San Diego Seals team that Georgia knocked off twice in the month of December. With those details in mind, the Swarm hold steady in the Power Rankings, but have a much looser grip on their spot than a week ago. While Georgia is 4-1, the team interestingly has a negative goal differential of minus-one. Georgia has a fascinating test on Friday night when the Ottawa Black Bears visit Gas South Arena. The Swarm must rebound.

Lyle Thompson is chased by Matt Gilray. (Photo: Victoria Adkins)

1) Buffalo Bandits (3-0)

Week 6 Results: Idle
Week 7 Opponent: vs Toronto (0-4)
Previous Ranking: 1

After enjoying a bye week, the Bandits now stand as the NLL’s only remaining unbeaten team. With an absurd scoring margin of +26 in just three games, the Bandits are clearly the League’s top team through six weeks of game action. Every aspect of Buffalo’s performance to date has been impressive. Perennial MVP candidates Josh Byrne and Dhane Smith have already combined for an absurd 54 points in three games—an average of nine points per game for each man. Defensively, the Bandits have surrendered only 20 goals, thanks to tremendous efforts from their veteran-heavy defense and ageless superstar goaltender Matt Vinc. Perhaps Week 7 offers the Bandits their first real challenge, as they welcome their winless arch rivals from Toronto to Banditland for an NLL Friday Night on TSN game.