#1 – San Diego Seals (12-3)
Week 19 Result: 14-10 win at Las Vegas
Week 20 Opponent: at Colorado (8-7)
Previous Ranking: 1st
The Seals have turned into an unstoppable train. Even when you look at their lone loss since the beginning of March (a 7-6 OT loss to the Bandits) teams are needing to play nearly perfect games just to try and have a chance to beat San Diego. The Seals have won six of their last seven games and they have won each of their last four games by four or more goals. Frank Scigliano is playing the best lacrosse of his career and the offense looks to be getting into more of a rhythm every game. They will have a tough test in Week 20 when they face the Colorado Mammoth in the Loud House, who they could see in the Quarterfinals.
#2 – Toronto Rock (12-4)
Week 19 Result: Bye
Week 20 Opponent: vs Philadelphia (7-8)
Previous Ranking: 2nd
The Rock didn’t play in Week 19 and have retained the #2 spot in the rankings. They were one of two top-5 teams that didn’t play this past weekend (the Bandits were the other, who the Rock defeated handily 18-7 last game out). Even though they didn’t play over the weekend, the Rock still managed to clinch a home game in the Quarterfinals – they did so when the Knighthawks lost to the FireWolves. The Rock’s Week 20 opponent, the Philadelphia Wings, could be the team they host in the Quarterfinals (depending on how the final few weeks of the season pan out).
#3 – Calgary Roughnecks (11-5)
Week 19 Result: 12-5 win vs Panther City
Week 20 Opponent: vs Las Vegas (5-10)
Previous Ranking: 4th
The Roughnecks are a very scary team, especially when Christian Del Bianco plays like he did in Week 19. It’s not everyday that CDB allows five goals in a game, but this was one of those occasions. This season, Del Bianco has allowed six goals or less in a game (minimum 45 minutes played) in five games this season. This team has an underrated, deep offense, – they are tied with three other teams for having the most players with 10 or more goals (eight players) – and they also have a spectacular transition game. The only key weakness this team has is at the face-off dot – they currently only win about 40% of their face-offs. But, do face-offs really matter? A win in Week 20 would give them 12 wins this season, which would tie the franchise single season record for wins.
#4 – Buffalo Bandits (11-4)
Week 19 Result: Bye
Week 20 Opponent: vs New York (4-11)
Previous Ranking: 3rd
Sorry Bandits fans! I know you couldn’t have imagined moving down in the rankings during your bye week, but the Roughnecks, who were previously one spot behind you, were too good in Week 19 to let you keep your spot. It also doesn’t help that the team has lost two of its last three games, including giving up 18 to the Rock in Week 18. Nevertheless, this year’s Bandits team is a force to be reckoned with (when they are fully healthy). Hopefully they can have a bounce back win at home this weekend against the Riptide to celebrate Josh Byrne’s engagement to his fiancé.
#5 – Colorado Mammoth (8-7)
Week 19 Result: 12-5 win vs Vancouver
Week 20 Opponent: vs San Diego (12-3)
Previous Ranking: Next 3 In
It’s been a challenging year for the Mammoth. The team has been riddled with injuries and Dillon Ward has shown the world that he is in fact human. Still, they find themselves with a winning record late in this season and are getting hot at the right time. The Mammoth have won two games in a row (it’s only the second time this season that they’ve done that) and have held their opponents under 10 goals in both of those victories. If the Mammoth can beat the Seals in Week 20, that would send a scary message to the rest of the league that this Mammoth team is looking to repeat as NLL champions.
Next 3 In (in alphabetical order)
Georgia Swarm (7-8)
Week 19 Result: 13-9 win at Saskatchewan
Week 20 Opponent: at Albany (3-12)
Previous Ranking: Next 3 In
The Swarm are the hottest team in the NLL right now, and, admittedly, there is a great case for them to be in the Top-5. This team has won seven of their last eight games. There are only four other teams in the NLL that have won that many games in an eight game stretch this season: The Seals, the Bandits, the Rock and the Roughnecks. A win on the road against the FireWolves would remarkably bring this team to a .500 record, which seemed unfathomable after their 0-7 start. If the Swarm keep up their winning ways and make the playoffs, this is a team you would not want to be going up against.
Panther City Lacrosse Club (9-7)
Week 19 Result: 12-5 loss at Calgary
Week 20 Opponent: at Vancouver (4-12)
Previous Ranking: 5th
Panther City is on the precipice of clinching their first ever playoff spot, but there is still work to be done. A win against the Warriors in Vancouver would go a long way to making that dream a reality. It would be nice to see this newer franchise make it in to the playoffs, but they’ll need to start winning games against the top teams – their 12-5 loss to the Roughnecks is a prime example. All of PCLC’s losses – except the early-season loss to the Rush – have been against teams that would be in the playoffs if they started today. On the flip side, all of their wins – except for their mid-season win against the Mammoth – have come against teams that would not be in the playoffs if they started today.
Rochester Knighthawks (9-7)
Week 19 Result: 14-12 loss vs Albany
Week 20 Opponent: Bye
Previous Ranking: Next 3 In
The Knighthawks are in the midst of an unflattering losing skid that is almost as incomprehensible as the Swarm’s winning streak. The Knighthawks were the darlings of the league for the first couple of months of the season. After their 6-0 start, they have now lost four games in a row, five of their last six games and seven of their last 10 games. No one ever wants to see a team collapse like this and they can avoid further pain and suffering if they can regroup after their bye week and win their last two games of the season.
