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

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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
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Stories/Op-Ed

Season Preview: Minnesota Swarm

Not much went right for the Minnesota Swarm last season, unless they were playing the Philadelphia Wings or Buffalo Bandits. The Swarm beat each of those teams twice, but those 4 wins were the only victories of the season, leaving the Swarm with a lot of wounds to lick this past offseason. Even then, all 4 of those wins were by a single goal, so fixing the offensive production became the offseason priority and while Minnesota did add potential remedies, other issues have crept into the scenario for the 2015 National Lacrosse League season. How the Swarm respond will dictate just how successful, or not successful, this new season will be.

2014 record/playoffs: 4-14 record/no playoffs.

Top 3 returning scorers: Callum Crawford (26 goals, 54 assists for 80 points), Jordan MacIntosh (23-38, 61), Shayne Jackson (18-33, 51).

Key additions: Miles Thompson (F, draft), Ethan O’Connor (T, trade), Nick Cotter (T, return), Brodie MacDonald (G, trade), Shane MacDonald (F, draft), Dean Hill (F, free agent), Mitch Belisle (D, return).

Key losses: Logan Schuss (F, hold out), Josh Gillam (F, Physically Unable to Perform), Scott Jones (F, released), Jeff Gilbert (D, trade), Brock Sorensen (D, trade), Tyler Carlson (G, trade).

Outlook: Considering this was a team that was 1 win away from playing for the 2013 Champion’s Cup, last season’s 4-14 record certainly was a fall from grace for Minnesota. This is a squad that has oodles of young talent thanks to a stockpile of first-round draft picks in recent years, but getting it all on the same page has been a challenge for coach Joe Sullivan and his staff.

The challenge for the 2015 season looks to be much the same. There’s been a lot of turnover from 2014 and that’s to be expected for a team that failed to win back-to-back games even once last season. As to why the Swarm have struggled so, there are plenty of fingers pointing to the trade that shipped Ryan Benesch out of Minny before the 2014 season, and his presence on the left side certainly was missed. Rookie Logan Schuss was expected to fill that role and he did, but his growing pains were evident early and by the time he found his groove, the Swarm were playing catch-up and the season ended without a playoff berth.

A job situation has Schuss on the hold-out list for 2015, meaning the Swarm are back where they started in trying to balance the offense. Veteran Callum Crawford is a proven producer, and rookie forward Miles Thompson has shown great promise in preseason games. But he’s on the right side with Crawford, so that leaves Shayne Jackson as the forward Minnesota will turn to for primary production on the left side. Minnesota brought back veteran free agent Dean Hill and rookie Shane MacDonald will bring a potent stick to add to the depth on the left, but the bottom line for Minnesota is it needs more from the left if it wants to avoid being predictable and keep opposing defenses honest.

The transition took a bit of a hit with the trade of Tyler Hass, regarded by many as one of the top trannys in the game. Along with Jordan MacIntosh, the duo gave Minnesota a lethal presence in transition from the right, but the pluck of Hass certainly will be missed. Still, the Swarm have Andrew Suitor and David Earl to keep the transition game rolling, and a trade for Ethan O’Connor adds to the depth. When it comes to transition, the Swarm appear to still be in great shape and their pace in exhibition games in December shows they’re ready to be a running team.

On defense, Minnesota will be without Brock Sorensen and Jeff Gilbert, who were traded during the offseason. So the Swarm will be counting on a handful of returning players to mesh with a few newcomers to stabilize the back end, which also will feature a new goalie in Brodie MacDonald. Tyler Carlson was traded to the Edmonton Rush for MacDonald.

In losing Hass in a trade to Vancouver, the Swarm gained veteran defenseman Mike Grimes, but he was placed on the holdout list, so who knows when or if he’ll be part of The Hive. That leaves the defensive core of Alex Crepinsek, Greg Downing, Jason Noble and Kiel Matisz to work with some familiar faces that are back in the NLL in Nick Cotter and Mitch Belisle. Both are known for their physical defense and that’s an aspect the Swarm really need a lot of, but how quickly they’ll adjust to live games after a year away remains to be seen.

With the wealth of lacrosse talent across the U.S. and Canada, it’s difficult to not field a talented roster in the NLL. Minnesota has done that but still, the Swarm are a team that’s really on edge and which side they fall to is the issue most pressing. It’s a situation where there are enough gaps to either propel them to greatness, or enough gaps to keep them mired in mediocrity if the chemistry doesn’t come together quickly.

In a basic sense, things did not go well at either end for Minnesota last winter. The 219 goals-allowed was better than only 2 other teams and the 180 goals-for was worst in the league. And while there are new faces on the Minnesota defense, there at least is some NLL experience there and that can bode well for cohesiveness. Up front is a different story and the challenge of getting an offense to click can be a monster. Timing, spacing and anticipation are everything when it comes to offense and there isn’t much room for forgiveness in the close confines of box lacrosse. If the Swarm can get it together on offense while also getting more production from the left side, it can be a happy season in Minnesota. If not, it has the potential to be another long season.

Story courtesy of ILIndoor.com.

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