Saturday evening, the two hottest teams in the NLL locked horns in the first British Columbia home postseason game since 2017, as the scorching Vancouver Warriors played host to the nearly as scalding Rochester Knighthawks. More than 8,000 fans packed Rogers Arena, to assess first-hand who was ultimately the better of the Upstate New Yorkers, who had won six of seven, or their beloved Warriors, who had captured all six of the games that have occurred since Christian Del Bianco officially took his talents from Calgary to Vancouver.
On this night, it was Del Bianco’s mastery that outshined the ridiculous scoring prowess of the Rochester club, with the Warriors earning a 15-10 victory and a semifinal date with the two-time defending champion Buffalo Bandits.
Vancouver is headed to the Semifinals after a 15-10 win over Rochester, powered by an 11-point night from Keegan Bal!
Game Recap ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/LQUGzlmyza
— NLL (@NLL) April 27, 2025
In the wake of the squads trading opening goals, Vancouver reeled off five straight and 10 out of the next 13 blasts, advancing the tally to 11-4, come the third quarter. Soon after, Rochester connected on four successive scores, bringing the battle to 11-8. Just as the situation began to grow a tiny bit precarious, the Warriors delivered four of the final six deposits, ultimately securing the five-goal jamboree.
The All-World Del Bianco subdued 47 of 57 attempts in the decisive win. Over the course of his 7-0 Vancouver run, the former league MVP has now corralled 285 saves, amid an 8.9 GAA and 82 percent save percentage.
Half man, half amazing! @cdelbianco35 👏 pic.twitter.com/GvD0pOsAPI
— NLL (@NLL) April 27, 2025
Keegan Bal was the undisputed star on the offensive side, with the 33-year-old adding five goals and six assists to his robust Western Canada resume. All told, 10 Vancouver players found their way into the goal-scoring column, while Adam Charalambides was on the giving end of five helpers.
Ryan Smith and Thomas McConvey each solidified hat tricks for the now eliminated Knighthawks. Connor Fields added two scores and four helpers, while Ryan Lanchbury dished out an outstanding seven assists to his buddies, in what turned out to be the final game of
Rochester’s roller-coaster of a season.
Downtown Halifax’s Scotiabank Centre was the place to be on Canada’s Atlantic Coast, with NLL playoff action making its debut in the building known far and wide as The Nest. With the 10-8/sixth seeded Calgary Roughnecks serving as the Nova Scotia novella’s co-star, the 11-7/third seeded local guys came out on the good side of the equation, 16-12.
🚨 MOVING ON! @HFXThunderbirds get their 1st ever playoff win, 16-12 over Calgary in dramatic fashion.
GAME RECAP 👇 pic.twitter.com/CaZJmus08a
— NLL (@NLL) April 27, 2025
Charged up by the passion and intensity of nearly 11,000 rabid attendees, Halifax zoomed to a 3-0 first quarter and 8-3 halftime escapade. Calgary outscored the eventual victors 9-8 in the second half, but it was far from what was needed to mount a serious challenge against the jazzed-up T-Birds.
In what shakes out to be a downright fascinating series, Mike Accursi’s squad will now go toe-to-toe with the uber-talented Saskatchewan Rush.
The Thunderbirds’ effort was the definition of balanced. Thomas Hoggarth scored three and assisted on five, with Dawson Theede adding a hat trick, to go alongside two helpers. Cody Jamieson was also a proud member of the hat trick association, with Randy Staats, Clarke Petterson and Mike Robinson joining Hoggarth in the highly exclusive five-assist fraternity.
Oh captain, my captain! Cody Jamieson picked up his 7th career playoff hat trick in @HFXThunderbirds‘ 16-12 Quarterfinal win.
Jamieson highlights 👀 pic.twitter.com/hiAYK3u9k7
— NLL (@NLL) April 27, 2025
Everybody on the Thunderbirds ate!
Curtis Dickson capped his incredible return to the Roughnecks with an amazing approach, etching a hat trick while accompanying that strata with five setups to his teammates. Tyler Pace scored four, with Jesse King banking a combined five points.
Drew Hutchison was solid in the crease for the seaside gang of box lacrosse competitors, prohibiting 38 of 50 shots on goal. The great Nick Rose was underwhelming in his Calgary postseason debut, allowing 15 of 57 shots to slip into the awaiting collection of twine.
The Saskatchewan Rush host the Georgia Swarm at Sask Tel Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, April 26, 2025
Playoff lacrosse returned to the prairies when the second-seeded/13-5 Saskatchewan Rush welcomed Lyle Thompson and the Georgia Swarm to SaskTel Centre. The 9-9 Southerners embarked on the postseason as proprietors of the seventh seed and the dream of winning their first postseason game since all the way back in 2019. When all was said and done, the Saskatoon Saturday spectacle belonged to the high-flying Rush, courtesy of a 13-9 conquest.
Saskatchewan punches its ticket to the Semifinals with a 13-9 win over Georgia!
Game Recap ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/fraEdQccjq
— NLL (@NLL) April 27, 2025
Georgia raced to a 2-0 lead. Saskatchewan retaliated with four straight retorts of its own, doubling up the Swarm’s early game impression. Leading 7-6 in the third, SSK extolled three consecutive detonations, separating from the Swarm. The scoreboard never displayed anything closer than a two-goal spread en route to the four-goal survive and advance.
The Rush’s Jake Boudreau rolled the offensive wheelbarrow, consigning four goals, three of which occurred in the pivotal fourth stanza. Austin Shanks, Ryan Keenan and Clark Walter each tabulated two scores, while Robert Church dispersed three assists.
Frank Scigliano dispatched an exceptional performance between the pipes, knocking down 39 of 48 missiles, with Georgia counterpart Brett Dobson hindered 39 of 48 shots on the cage.
38 saves. 47 shots faced. 👀🔥
Frank Scigliano was a wall tonight for Saskatchewan! 🧱 pic.twitter.com/rEJGltYCup
— NLL (@NLL) April 27, 2025
For the crestfallen Swarm, Jordan MacIntosh, Bryan Cole and Brendan Bomberry scored two goals respectively, while Lyle Thompson concluded his season with one goal and three assists.
The completely transformed Rush now stare down the Halifax Thunderbirds, beginning next weekend.
