#1 – San Diego Seals (13-4)
Week 21 Result: 14-4 win vs Las Vegas
Week 22 Opponent: vs Colorado (9-8)
Previous Ranking: 2nd
The Seals are back in the driver’s seat heading into the last week of the season. They had their most dominant win of the season in Week 21, beating the Desert Dogs 14-4. This was their largest win since they beat the Knighthawks 19-6 back in March of 2020. The win earned the Seals the #1 seed in the West Conference. It is the first time in the franchise’s young history that they have won the West.
#2 – Toronto Rock (13-5)
Week 21 Result: 11-10 loss at Buffalo
Week 22 Opponent: Bye
Previous Ranking: 1st
The Rock were oh so close to retaining the spot at #1, but a very uncharacteristic underwhelming second half against the Buffalo Bandits cost them a significant victory that would have won them the East Conference. Still, the Rock did almost beat the Bandits in Buffalo in large part to their great first half where they held the Bandits to zero goals in the 1st quarter and two goals by halftime.
#3 – Buffalo Bandits (13-4)
Week 21 Result: 11-10 win vs Toronto
Week 22 Opponent: at Albany (3-14)
Previous Ranking: 5th
The Bandits are back to their winning ways. What a funny thing to say about a team with a 13-4 record heading into the last weekend of the regular season, but it’s true. The Bandits have now won two games in a row. The last time this team had a winning streak was back in early March. If they can close out their season with another win in Week 22, the Bandits will be rolling into the postseason feeling pretty great about themselves, especially knowing they will have home floor advantage throughout.
#4 – Calgary Roughnecks (13-5)
Week 21 Result: 13-12 win at Panther City
Week 22 Opponent: Bye
Previous Ranking: 3rd
It was tough to move the Roughnecks down a spot considering they won in Week 21, but the Bandits massive win was more impressive than the Roughnecks victory over Panther City. The Roughnecks are a dangerous team and they will have to face either the Mammoth or Panther City in the playoffs (depending on the outcomes in Week 22). Christian Del Bianco looks like he could be on his way to his first Goaltender of the Year award and/or his first MVP award and Zach Currier looks like the clear favorite for the Transition Player of the Year award.
#5 – Halifax Thunderbirds (9-8)
Week 21 Result: 15-6 win vs New York
Week 22 Opponent: at Georgia (8-9)
Previous Ranking: Next 3 In
The Thunderbirds have not been in the Top-5 for a long time, but they finishing their season on a very strong note. The Thunderbirds edged out the Mammoth and the Swarm for this spot because the Swarm and Mammoth both lost last weekend. Their 15-6 victory over the Riptide was their largest victory since January of this year – it was the fourth win this season by nine goals or more. The Thunderbirds have now won two in a row and four of their last five games. The last time they had a five-game stretch that was this good or better was when they won five in a row since February and March of last season.
Next 3 In (in alphabetical order)
Colorado Mammoth (9-8)
Week 21 Result: 12-11 OT loss at Saskatchewan
Week 22 Opponent: at San Diego (13-4)
Previous Ranking: 4th
The Mammoth drop into the Next 3 In because of their tough loss to the Rush. Outside of Eli McLaughlin’s incredible 7-goal performance, the Mammoth couldn’t beat Laine Hruska, who was making his very first pro start in net – the other Mammoth players only mustered four goals all game. While it is a tough loss, the Mammoth are as healthy as they’ve been all year (minus Joey Cupido) and they’ve won four of their last six games.
Georgia Swarm (8-9)
Week 21 Result: 12-10 loss at Rochester
Week 22 Opponent: vs Halifax (9-8)
Previous Ranking: Next 3 In
The Swarm would’ve been in the #5 spot if they had beaten the Knighthawks in Rochester in Week 21. Andrew Kew was a late scratch in Saturday’s game and you could tell that the team would’ve been better if he had been out there. Now, because of their loss, they head to Week 22 with a win-or-go-home situation. Whoever wins between the Swarm and Thunderbirds this Saturday will be heading to the playoffs. If Kew is playing in this last game of the regular season, the Swarm could very well be heading to the playoffs for the first time since the 2018-19 season.
Panther City Lacrosse Club (10-8)
Week 21 Result: 13-12 loss vs Calgary
Week 22 Opponent: Bye
Previous Ranking: Next 3 In
Panther City was dealt a tough loss to the Roughnecks in Week 21 and losing the last game of your regular season schedule is not what you want to do, especially when you’re a team heading into your first ever NLL playoffs. It was a close, hard-fought game, and considering this could be a preview of one of the Quarterfinal matchups in the West Conference, this result does give PCLC some confidence to know they can go head-to-head with these Roughnecks for a full 60 minutes.
