The final week of the regular season was a wild one in the National Lacrosse League. Halifax and San Diego snapped up the final two playoff spots, while the final standings were determined and playoff matchups set.
Vancouver clinched top spot with a win over Philadelphia. Buffalo, Toronto and Colorado all lost their games, while Saskatchewan snapped a three-game skid and Georgia swept a home-and-home against Rochester.
We have our Top 8; now it is time to see where they land in the Power Rankings as the League heads into the playoffs. The Quarterfinals are one and done. Which teams have the best chance of making it to the Semifinals? Read on.
San Diego, CA – April 17, 2026: San Diego Seals vs Las Vegas Desert Dogs at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California (Photo by Alexis Goeller / National Lacrosse League)
Week 21 Result: Beat Las Vegas 14-12; Lost to Las Vegas 18-16
Quarterfinal Opponent: @ Colorado (12-6)
Previous Ranking: 7th
The Seals ended the regular season by splitting a home-and-home with Las Vegas, against whom they were competing for a playoff spot. The Seals did their job, winning the first game, and then got some help from Georgia to secure seventh place. It was a streaky season for San Diego, with three and five-game losing streaks. The Seals do their best work when they jump out to early leads, so the key to winning against Colorado will be staying calm if it’s the Mammoth who come out hot. Head coach Patrick Merrill’s stoicism behind the bench is exactly what the team needs in high-pressure situations.
Halifax, Nova Scotia – Apr 18: National Lacrosse League game between the Halifax Thunderbirds and Ottawa Blackbears on April 18 2026 at the Scotiabank Center in Halifax, Nova Scotia. (Trevor MacMillan/Halifax Thunderbirds)
Week 21 Result: Beat Ottawa 12-6
Quarterfinal Opponent: at Vancouver (13-5)
Previous Ranking: 8th
A week after falling by a single goal to the first-place Warriors, the Thunderbirds ran roughshod over Ottawa in a win-and-in game. The Thunderbirds had a pesky midseason five-game losing streak that put their playoff hopes in jeopardy, but they’re perhaps the most resilient team in the NLL. Any frustration on the floor was quickly replaced by determination. Now they meet Vancouver again, with all the momentum on their side. Warren Hill has played the best lacrosse of his life in the last couple of weeks; their transition has reawakened, and captain Cody Jamieson is ready to lead his team to a championship.
The Saskatchewan Rush host the Toronto Rock at SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, April 18, 2026
Week 21 Result: Beat Toronto 10-9/OT
Quarterfinal Opponent: vs Toronto (11-7)
Previous Ranking: 5th
Suddenly, the Rush are the comeback kids. In Week 20, they trailed Colorado 8-1 but made it all the way back within a goal at 12-11 in the fourth quarter. Though they ultimately lost that game, they rewrote the script against the Rock in Week 21. In a much closer game, the Rush took advantage of a too-comfortable Toronto squad, leading 9-7 with six minutes left. Levi Anderson scored with 1:20 left, Robert Church tied it with one minute to play, and Brock Haley scored the winner 1:34 into overtime. That win should rebuild some of the lost confidence the Rush displayed during their recent skid. A win is always important, but a win at the right time can work wonders.
San Diego at Georgia 4/12/2026
Week 21 Result: Beat Rochester 13-6, 17-12
Quarterfinal Opponent: vs Buffalo (11-7)
Previous Ranking: 6th
Georgia heads into the postseason on a two-game winning streak, having swept their home-and-home with Rochester. In both games, they were controlled and methodical, but against Buffalo, it will be a challenge to dictate the pace of the game given the Bandits’ dynamism and frantic style of play. Buffalo beat them 15-11 in their season opener; along the way, the Swarm also lost to Colorado, Saskatchewan and Vancouver – all the teams that finished ahead of them. The X factor in this one is Brett Dobson, who had a career year and is playing with no fear. He finished first in GAA (7.86, the first in League history to finish sub-8.00) and save percentage (.847) – video game numbers, as Pat Gregoire would say. He didn’t get there without a solid defence in front of him, though, and they’re ready to take on the challenging Bandits.
HAMILTON, CANADA – APRIL 4: 2025 NLL regular season game action between the San Diego Seals Roughnecks and Toronto Rock at TD Coliseum on April 4, 2026 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Christian Bender/NLL)
Week 21 Result: Lost to Saskatchewan 10-9/OT
Quarterfinal Opponent: at Saskatchewan (12-6)
Previous Ranking: 4th
Like we said last week, the Rock has gone about their comeback season quietly. They’ve deserved to be ranked higher many times, but everyone ahead of them has been louder about how they’ve played and won this season. Though the Rock lost to the Rush in Week 21, it was in overtime; they controlled most of the game. They’re not a team to give up easily. They beat Saskatchewan earlier in the season, and when they meet again this weekend in the Quarterfinals, the Rock will be that much more prepared. CJ Kirst has been a marvel and it’s unlikely playoff pressure will get to the rookie – he’s been cool as a cucumber from his first shift and led all rookies in points and assists, with Owen Hiltz right on his heels. Toronto may be the lower seed in this match-up, but they won’t be playing like it. It’s the quiet ones you have to watch out for the most.
Denver, Colorado – February 14, 2025: Toronto Rock at Colorado Mammoth at the Ball Arena in Denver Colorado, United States. (Photo by John Matthew Harrison/National Lacrosse League)
Week 21 Result: Lost to Calgary 9-8
Quarterfinal Opponent: vs San Diego (8-10)
Previous Ranking: 3rd
The Mammoth needs Andrew Kew back this weekend. Three of their six losses came without him in the lineup, including Week 21’s one-goal loss to Calgary. Jack Hannah and Will Malcom did everything they could, but they work best as a trio, not to mention Kew leads the team with four game-winning goals. Colorado wasn’t expected to be as good as they turned out to be. They had significant roster turnover, but the new and younger group gelled almost immediately. They have veteran leadership, a goalie with the fourth-best save percentage in the League and a winning home record (they took seven of nine at Ball Arena this year). They’re going to keep playing above their level.
Buffalo goal during a National Lacrosse League game between the Oshawa Firewolves and the Buffalo Bandits at the Tribute Communities Centre on April 18, 2026 in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada/David Pickering – Pick’s Pics/NLL
Week 21 Result: Lost to Oshawa 12-8
Quarterfinal Opponent: at Georgia (12-6)
Previous Ranking: 1st
Buffalo was sailing smoothly into the playoffs, competing not only for home floor but also first overall, when they ran into the FireWolves. Their fate wasn’t entirely in their hands, but losing home floor and finishing fifth overall certainly wasn’t the plan, especially given their seven-game winning streak. They played well and were disciplined, but didn’t get the scoring support to which they’re accustomed and which will be key against the Swarm. It was a hiccup. A blip against a motivated team during an emotional Tucker Out Lymphoma game. But it was a good reminder not to be complacent. The Bandits were 5-4 on the road this season and considering how well Georgia is playing, bringing the Semifinals back to Buffalo isn’t guaranteed. The Bandits are great at gutsy W’S, and they’ll need their biggest one of the season.
Philadelphia Wings at Vancouver Warriors @ Rogers Arena
Week 21 Result: Beat Philadelphia 17-10
Quarterfinal Opponent: vs Halifax (8-10)
Previous Ranking: 2nd
The Warriors have been steady all season and on the final weekend, they got a win while their fellow top teams lost. It was a final tune-up before they host Halifax, a team that kept them on their toes well into the fourth quarter of their last meeting. But the Warriors have something the Thunderbirds don’t: Keegan Bal. The League’s newly-crowned leading scorer finished his regular season with an 11-point game, including a sock trick, and he is what puts them in first place this week. He ended up with 124 points, was second overall in both goals and assists and had three or more points in all but one game this season. The Warriors are one of the most dangerous offensive teams and boast a back end that likes to run. They finished fifth overall in goals for, but first in differential at plus 30, thanks to Christian Del Bianco’s third-place GAA and save percentage. It will be hard to beat a team that has so much going for it at any stage of the playoffs.
