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Breaking: League Adopts Unified Standings Format & Updated Playoff Structure for 2023-24 Season

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WK
1
Fri, Dec 1
19:00:00
Saskatchewan
Halifax
Fri, Dec 1
22:00:00
Albany
Las Vegas
Fri, Dec 1
22:00:00
Panther City
Vancouver
Sat, Dec 2
19:00:00
Calgary
Rochester
Sat, Dec 2
19:30:00
Philadelphia
New York
WK
2
Sat, Dec 9
19:00:00
Philadelphia
Toronto
Sat, Dec 9
19:00:00
Buffalo
Albany
Sat, Dec 9
19:30:00
Colorado
Georgia
Sat, Dec 9
20:00:00
Rochester
Saskatchewan
Sat, Dec 9
22:00:00
Calgary
San Diego
Sun, Dec 10
16:00:00
Las Vegas
Panther City
WK
3
Fri, Dec 15
22:00:00
Saskatchewan
Las Vegas
Sat, Dec 16
13:00:00
Albany
Philadelphia
Sat, Dec 16
19:30:00
Halifax
New York
Sat, Dec 16
19:30:00
San Diego
Buffalo
Sat, Dec 16
22:00:00
Georgia
Vancouver
WK
4
Fri, Dec 22
20:00:00
Toronto
Panther City
Fri, Dec 22
21:00:00
Georgia
Colorado
Sat, Dec 23
19:00:00
Vancouver
Rochester
WK
5
Fri, Dec 29
18:30:00
Philadelphia
Halifax
Fri, Dec 29
19:30:00
Georgia
Buffalo
Fri, Dec 29
22:00:00
Rochester
San Diego
Sat, Dec 30
16:00:00
New York
Toronto
Sat, Dec 30
21:00:00
Las Vegas
Calgary
Sat, Dec 30
21:00:00
Vancouver
Colorado
Sun, Dec 31
20:00:00
Albany
Saskatchewan
WK
6
Sat, Jan 6
19:00:00
Halifax
Albany
Sat, Jan 6
19:30:00
Panther City
Georgia
Sat, Jan 6
19:30:00
Colorado
Buffalo
Sun, Jan 7
15:00:00
New York
Philadelphia
WK
7
Fri, Jan 12
18:30:00
Toronto
Halifax
Fri, Jan 12
22:00:00
San Diego
Las Vegas
Sat, Jan 13
19:00:00
Buffalo
Rochester
Sat, Jan 13
19:00:00
Saskatchewan
Philadelphia
Sat, Jan 13
19:30:00
Panther City
New York
Sat, Jan 13
19:30:00
Albany
Georgia
Sat, Jan 13
21:00:00
San Diego
Colorado
Sat, Jan 13
22:00:00
Calgary
Vancouver
WK
8
Fri, Jan 19
19:30:00
New York
Buffalo
Sat, Jan 20
19:00:00
Georgia
Toronto
Sat, Jan 20
19:00:00
San Diego
Albany
Sat, Jan 20
20:00:00
Vancouver
Saskatchewan
Sat, Jan 20
21:00:00
Calgary
Colorado
WK
9
Fri, Jan 26
22:00:00
Colorado
Vancouver
Sat, Jan 27
18:00:00
Rochester
Halifax
Sat, Jan 27
19:00:00
Buffalo
Toronto
Sat, Jan 27
19:30:00
Georgia
New York
Sat, Jan 27
19:30:00
San Diego
Philadelphia
Sat, Jan 27
22:00:00
Panther City
Las Vegas
WK
10
Fri, Feb 2
19:00:00
Halifax
Philadelphia
Fri, Feb 2
19:30:00
Vancouver
Georgia
Fri, Feb 2
21:00:00
New York
Calgary
Sat, Feb 3
19:00:00
Las Vegas
Albany
Sat, Feb 3
19:30:00
Rochester
Buffalo
Sat, Feb 3
20:00:00
Panther City
Saskatchewan
Sat, Feb 3
21:00:00
Toronto
Calgary
Sun, Feb 4
18:00:00
Colorado
San Diego
WK
11
Fri, Feb 9
18:30:00
Las Vegas
Halifax
Fri, Feb 9
20:00:00
Colorado
Panther City
Sat, Feb 10
19:00:00
Georgia
Rochester
Sat, Feb 10
19:00:00
Calgary
Toronto
Sat, Feb 10
19:30:00
San Diego
New York
Sat, Feb 10
22:00:00
Saskatchewan
Vancouver
WK
12
Fri, Feb 16
18:30:00
Buffalo
Halifax
Fri, Feb 16
22:00:00
Philadelphia
Las Vegas
Sat, Feb 17
19:00:00
Colorado
Albany
Sun, Feb 18
19:00:00
Halifax
Calgary
WK
13
Fri, Feb 23
21:00:00
New York
Colorado
Fri, Feb 23
22:00:00
Georgia
San Diego
Sat, Feb 24
19:00:00
Las Vegas
Rochester
Sat, Feb 24
19:00:00
Vancouver
Toronto
Sat, Feb 24
19:30:00
Albany
Buffalo
Sat, Feb 24
20:00:00
Halifax
Saskatchewan
Sat, Feb 24
21:00:00
Philadelphia
Calgary
Sun, Feb 25
16:00:00
Georgia
Panther City
WK
14
Fri, Mar 1
19:00:00
Georgia
Halifax
Fri, Mar 1
20:00:00
San Diego
Panther City
Fri, Mar 1
22:00:00
Toronto
Las Vegas
Fri, Mar 1
22:00:00
Buffalo
Vancouver
Sat, Mar 2
13:00:00
Calgary
Philadelphia
Sat, Mar 2
19:00:00
New York
Albany
Sat, Mar 2
21:00:00
Saskatchewan
Colorado
Sat, Mar 2
22:00:00
Toronto
San Diego
Sun, Mar 3
16:00:00
Rochester
Panther City
WK
15
Fri, Mar 8
19:00:00
Vancouver
Albany
Fri, Mar 8
19:30:00
Calgary
Georgia
Fri, Mar 8
19:30:00
Saskatchewan
Buffalo
Sat, Mar 9
17:00:00
Colorado
Toronto
Sat, Mar 9
19:00:00
Albany
Rochester
Sat, Mar 9
19:30:00
Las Vegas
New York
Sat, Mar 9
22:00:00
Halifax
San Diego
Sun, Mar 10
15:00:00
Panther City
Philadelphia
WK
16
Fri, Mar 15
18:30:00
Panther City
Halifax
Fri, Mar 15
21:00:00
San Diego
Calgary
Fri, Mar 15
22:00:00
Las Vegas
Vancouver
Sat, Mar 16
19:00:00
Rochester
Albany
Sat, Mar 16
19:00:00
Toronto
Buffalo
Sat, Mar 16
19:30:00
Philadelphia
Georgia
Sat, Mar 16
20:30:00
New York
Saskatchewan
WK
17
Fri, Mar 22
20:00:00
Buffalo
Panther City
Fri, Mar 22
21:00:00
Albany
Calgary
Sat, Mar 23
19:00:00
Halifax
Toronto
Sat, Mar 23
19:00:00
Vancouver
Philadelphia
Sat, Mar 23
19:30:00
Saskatchewan
New York
Sat, Mar 23
21:00:00
Rochester
Colorado
Sat, Mar 23
22:00:00
Las Vegas
San Diego
Sun, Mar 24
17:30:00
Saskatchewan
Georgia
WK
18
Sat, Mar 30
13:00:00
Buffalo
Philadelphia
Sat, Mar 30
19:00:00
Halifax
Rochester
Sat, Mar 30
19:30:00
Toronto
New York
Sat, Mar 30
22:00:00
Vancouver
Las Vegas
WK
19
Fri, Apr 5
21:00:00
Saskatchewan
Calgary
Fri, Apr 5
21:00:00
Buffalo
Colorado
Fri, Apr 5
22:00:00
Panther City
San Diego
Fri, Apr 5
22:00:00
Halifax
Vancouver
Sat, Apr 6
19:00:00
New York
Rochester
Sat, Apr 6
19:00:00
Toronto
Albany
Sat, Apr 6
19:30:00
Las Vegas
Georgia
Sat, Apr 6
20:00:00
Calgary
Saskatchewan
Sun, Apr 7
16:00:00
Philadelphia
Panther City
WK
20
Fri, Apr 12
21:00:00
Philadelphia
Colorado
Sat, Apr 13
19:00:00
Rochester
Toronto
Sat, Apr 13
19:30:00
Calgary
Buffalo
Sat, Apr 13
20:00:00
San Diego
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 13
22:00:00
Colorado
Las Vegas
Sat, Apr 13
22:00:00
New York
Vancouver
Sun, Apr 14
16:00:00
Albany
Panther City
WK
21
Fri, Apr 19
19:30:00
Rochester
Georgia
Fri, Apr 19
22:00:00
Vancouver
San Diego
Sat, Apr 20
18:00:00
Colorado
Halifax
Sat, Apr 20
19:30:00
Albany
New York
Sat, Apr 20
20:00:00
Toronto
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 20
21:00:00
Panther City
Calgary
Sat, Apr 20
22:00:00
Buffalo
Las Vegas
Sun, Apr 21
15:00:00
Philadelphia
Rochester
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Sent Packing: Knighthawks Eliminate Black Wolves, 14-6

The Rochester Knighthawks (12-5) kept their East Division hopes alive and eliminated the New England Black Wolves (4-11) from the playoff race with a decisive 14-6 home win in front of 8,535 fans at the Blue Cross Arena on Saturday night.

When the starting lineup for the Knighthawks was announced before the game, it was Angus Goodleaf starting between the pipes, not All-Pro starter Matt Vinc.

“It was a little after shootaround this morning,” said Goodleaf about when he learned about the start. “At first, I didn’t know what to expect. The last couple games, they were getting 60, 70 shots on net against Vancouver and Toronto. So I was expecting a lot of shots, but our defense held them to 38 shots.”

The team felt like there would be no problem with Goodleaf in net and he proved them right.

“He’s definitely got some great help in front of him, but he showed why we have two of the best goalies in the game,” said Knighthawks forward Dan Dawson. “We’re very happy and very proud of the way they play. We’re lucky to have Angus in there.”

“It was a late decision there with ‘V’ getting a little tummyache,” said Knighthawks head coach Mike Hasen. “He played really well… Our defense in front of him just kept doing their job getting in lanes so ‘Gussie” can make the saves.”

“We knew that we’d need a big effort,” said Knighthawks defenseman Mike Kirk. “They were a desperate team coming in tonight fighting for their lives. We knew we had to match it. We had a great effort from ‘Gussie’ but we wanted to make sure we were good in front of him and dictate where the shots came from.”

While Goodleaf and the defense held the Black Wolves in check, the Knighthawks’ offense were able to take over against the New England defense and goalie Evan Kirk. Cody Jamieson finished the night with 10 points (3+7) and led all scorers along with scoring the opening goal 20 seconds in. Joe Resetarits finished with six points (3+3).

“We were prepared,” said Jamieson. “The coaches did a good job preparing us for tonight. We were pumped up. It was our last regular season game at home We’ve go the playoffs coming up. We just wanted to come out and have a good game in front of the home crowd getting ready for the playoffs.”

“We stress that it’s not on one guy to do it,” Hasen said. “It’s going to be good ball movement and when you opportunity comes, you’re going to bury it. Tonight was ‘Jammer’ and ‘Joey Res’ had a good game too. That group up front has been playing well. We’re getting ready and playing well at the right time.”

“We let the ball do the work,” Resetarits said. “We stuck to our systems, we did everything we were taught to do. You see how we are when we do that, we’re a very high-powered offense. Both sides of the ball, we were dominant. Playing that well going down the stretch, playoffs in two weeks, that’s where we want but have to take it up a notch next week.”

“We were moving the ball and moving our feet,” said Knighthawks forward Stephen Keogh who finished the night with two goals. “Cody got us off to a good start in the beginning and the shots were falling for us tonight.”

The win was big on many levels for the Knighthawks. It kept their dream of first place alive heading into the last weekend of the regular season.

“We control what we can control,” Hasen said. “It was a good effort tonight to get that win tonight. We need help. We need New England next week to do us a favor and we’ll go from there.”

The win was also big coming in the Knighthawks’ final regular season home game. The team finished with a 7-2 record at home and the fans at the BCA certainly were appreciative during the game. Knighthawks forward Joel Matthews spent some time prior to the game on the floor bonding with the crowd by lobbing lacrosse balls to the cheering fans.

“To me, it’s everything,” said Matthews. “I get a paycheck every two weeks and it’s because of these fans. A lot of pro sports don’t give enough respect to their fans I find. These guys are out here and I’ve got to make it enjoyable for them. I think the NLL is the best league for that, for player-to-fan interaction. They clearly feed off it and the environment is better. The smiles I see on these people’s faces is awesome.”

“These are great fans,” Keogh said. “They were real loud tonight. It was unbelievable. They help us, we get some momentum from them and some confidence. They’re a great crowd.”

The Black Wolves’ head coach Blaine Harrison was not happy with the game as a whole starting 20 seconds in with Jamieson’s goal.

“It’s very difficult made even more so by the refereeing which I thought was terrible,” Harrison said. “You just look at the calls that were called early to put us down and the calls that were let go. I think it was Brett Bucktooth goes to the net, gets horse-collared, no call. Yet we get the nickle-and-dime hand off the stick call. The early holding the stick penalty that put us down a man. They scored in the fourth quarter when someone ripped the stick out of our defender’s hand, no call.”

While Harrison may have been unhapy with the refereeing, there were plenty of incidents throughout the game that required intervention. In the second quarter, Knighthawks defenseman Paul Dawson took exception to something that happened with Black Wolves defenseman Bill O’Brien. The two dropped the gloves and Dawson quickly dropped O’Brien to the turf. Dawson was given a game misconduct and ejected from the game.

In the third quarter, it appeared that tensions were going to boil over when Ian Llord and Mike Kirk for the Knighthawks got into it with the Black Wolves with both of them heading for the penalty box. Kirk was handing a roughing major for his troubles. On the Black Wolves side, Craig England was given a trifecta of penalties: two minutes for roughing, a five minute roughing major, and a game misconduct that saw him ejected from the game as well. When the buzzer signalled the end of the game, the Black Wolves finished with 44 penalty minutes to the Knighthawks’ 28.

By no means was Harrison happy with his team’s effort through it all either.

“I think we had an opportunity to be better than we were tonight,” Harrison said. “Most of it’s on us. I didn’t think offensively that we played a very good game. Again we needed our offense to be better.”

Even though New England has been eliminated from the playoffs, they still have two games left on the schedule starting Sunday against the Bandits.

“We’re being paid to play this game,” Harrison said. “We’re professionals. We owe it to the fans, the organization and the ownership group to put our best foot forward. The expectation would be that everybody mans up, be professional and finish the season.”

Three Stars of the Game as selected by the media:

1) Cody Jamieson
2) Joe Resetarits
3) Angus Goodleaf

By Jeremy Pike (@KnighthawksBeat) for NLL.com. Photo by Micheline Veluvolu.

NLL