What You Need to Know: Week 12

We’re at the halfway point of the season and things are getting serious as teams begin to look ahead to the March to May. Week 12 kicks off on Friday with three games including a TSN doubleheader featuring two fierce rivalry matchups. Saturday continues with four more exciting games beginning with the back half of Philadelphia and Halifax’s home-and-home series. There’s also a rare Sunday evening game featuring the Las Vegas Desert Dogs visiting the Calgary Roughnecks – both teams will be playing their second game of the weekend. In fact, in a scheduling quirk, four teams play twice this weekend. Get ready for some intense action.

Buffalo Bandits (6-0) @ Toronto Rock (3-6)

When: Friday at 7pm ET | Tune In: NLL Friday Night on TSN | Where: Paramount Fine Foods Centre

There’s no love lost between Buffalo and Toronto, who kick off Valentine’s Day Weekend on TSN with a match that’s sure to be heated. Not only will recent playoff history be a factor, but add in each team’s record, some bad blood from Buffalo’s 15-13 win on January 10, and this one could be explosive.

Both teams are talented, but Buffalo has been much better at harnessing that talent this year. Toronto has battled injuries and late-game collapses and they haven’t had much to celebrate this season. Despite that, the Rock only lost by two goals in their previous tilt against Buffalo. Toronto led at halftime and after the third, but the Bandits pulled away in the fourth outscoring them 6-3.

The Bandits have won the last eight games between these two teams including playoff games dating back to April 22, 2023, and they’ve ended Toronto’s season for the previous four years in the playoffs. To say Toronto wants this one is the understatement of the season.

Milestone Watch

• Chase Fraser’s next assist will be the 100^th of his career

Goalie Battle

• Matt Vinc has handed the Rock some lopsided playoff losses, but in the regular season, he and Nick Rose play each other closely. Their last four regular season games have been decided by just one or two goals. Fans are in for a treat, watching these two match each other save for save.
• Vinc is third in GAA at 9.63 and tied with Zach Higgins in save percentage with 81%.
• Rose is fifth in GAA at 10.62 and fifth in save percentage at 78%.

Saskatchewan Rush (6-2) @ Calgary Roughnecks (5-3)

When: Friday 9:30pm ET | Tune In: NLL Friday Night on TSN, ESPNU | Where: Scotiabank Saddledome

The second half of TSN’s doubleheader is a Battle of the Canadian Prairies. Though 6.5 hours separate Sasktel Centre from Scotiabank Saddledome, the fans of these two franchises travel well, so expect to see some green mixed in with the Calgary crowd on Lovers and Lax Night.

The Roughnecks have won eight of the last nine games that the perennial rivals have played against each other, although the Rush took their last meeting in April 2024 12-9.

Never a dull moment in the Battle of the Prairies 😤@SaskRushLAX x @NLLRoughnecks pic.twitter.com/OvVuFpxRSi

— NLL (@NLL) October 9, 2024

It was the back half of an exciting home-and-home series that the teams split; it was during the Rush’s late-season resurgence which has continued this season and now sees them sitting in second place, while Calgary is in third. With so few wins separating second to 10th place, I wouldn’t exactly call this a clash of titans but it will be fun to watch two top teams battling it out.

They play again on April 4 at Sasktel Centre.

Players to Watch

• Saskatchewan’s Frank Scigliano is expected back from baby leave (after welcoming a newborn daughter) to spell Thomas Kiazyk in goal. Look for Scigliano to display some new-dad strength between the pipes as he rides life’s high.
• Rookie Levi Anderson of Saskatchewan is a Calgary native and will be playing his first pro game in his hometown.

Vancouver Warriors (4-5) @ Las Vegas Desert Dogs (2-6)

When: Friday at 10:30pm ET | Tune In: ESPN+, TSN+, NLL+ (Territory Restrictions Apply) | Where: Lee’s Family Forum

The Desert Dogs are in for another tough contest on Rock the Box 80s Night, with the Warriors in town. Vancouver is 4-1 all-time against Las Vegas, and though they have slipped to ninth place, they are capable of playing much better than their current standing. The Desert Dogs remain in 13^th place.

Las Vegas is coming off a bye week after a heartbreaking 16-14 home loss to Georgia, and should be ready and motivated. Vancouver is on a short two-game skid and needs to get back in the win column to put themselves back in playoff position.

Milestone Watch

• Keegan Bal is three goals away from 200, six assists away from 300 and nine points away from 500 total career points.

Players to Watch

• Keegan Bal leads Vancouver with 46 points this season and leads the all-time series between the two teams with 44 points.
• Jack Hannah leads Las Vegas with 43 points and leads Las Vegas in the all-time series with 20 points.
• Landon Kells and Justin Geddie look for the Las Vegas goaltending tandem to split the weekend. With the Desert Dogs also playing Sunday in Calgary, it’s a perfect chance for Kells to get back in the net and get his confidence back up after Geddie started the last couple of games.

Philadelphia Wings (5-4) @ Halifax Thunderbirds (4-4)

When: Saturday at 6pm ET | Tune In: ESPN+, TSN+, NLL+ | Where: Scotiabank Centre

Deadpool and Wolverine – the perfect frenemies. Can’t ask for much more out of a Marvel SuperHero game, unless it’s the back half of a home-and-home series – which this is.

Halifax will once again don their Deadpool-themed jerseys with Philadelphia wearing new Wolverine-themed duds. The Thunderbirds beat Philly 14-10 last week, leading the whole game. Halifax’s season started slowly but they have evened their record and look to jump over .500 with another win.

The Wings, who started the season strong, have lost three of their last four games. They need to find Wolverine’s invincible mindset and find the fight within themselves before they slip any further down the standings.

Players to Watch

• Halifax starter Warren Hill will be playing in his 100^th career game.
• Jake Withers had his best game of the season last weekend, with a goal, 20 loose ball recoveries and 25 wins on 28 faceoff attempts. The Thunderbirds need their MVP candidate to keep that pace up.
• Ryan Terefenko has been on a tear with 11 points, 18 loose balls and six caused turnovers in his last two games.

Ottawa Black Bears (4-4) @ Albany FireWolves (2-7)

When: Saturday at 7pm ET | Tune In: ESPN+, TSN+, NLL+ | Where: MVP Arena

This will be the first meeting between Ottawa and Albany, although the franchises met seven times when Ottawa was in New York. They love to score against each other, with a combined score of 105-65 in favor of Albany, though Ottawa holds the edge with four wins to three. Their lowest-scoring game still saw a combined 21 goals (March 26, 2022 – Albany lost 15-6).

In those seven games, Jeff Teat racked up 27 goals and 25 assists, Connor Kearnan behind him with 14 goals and 19 assists. Ethan Walker has had the most success for the FireWolves with 15 goals and 12 assists.

Goaltending will be an interesting matchup. Zach Higgins is having a terrific season with the Black Bears, who are sitting in the middle of the standings, while Doug Jamieson isn’t having much success with Albany; after a surprising run to the finals last season, the FireWolves are in last place with only two wins. Albany needs to start taking advantage of middle-of-the-pack teams if they want to start moving up the standings.

Milestone Watch

• At the 55:00-minute mark of the game, Doug Jamieson will hit 5,000 career minutes played.
• If he wins eight faceoffs in this game, Ottawa’s Jay Thorimbert will become the first player to ever reach 3,300 career faceoff wins.

San Diego Seals (4-5) @ Buffalo Bandits (6-0*)

When: Saturday at 7:30pm ET | Tune In: ESPN+, TSN+, NLL+ | Where: KeyBank Center

The Bandits have faced San Diego four times since 2019 and won all four games – two at home, and two away. Saturday’s contest, also Marvel SuperHero Night, is the front half of a home-and-home that concludes next Saturday at Pechanga Arena.

The defending champs will have played the night before but from a powerhouse team like Buffalo don’t expect any fatigue. And it’s in Banditland – the crowd will carry them even if their legs give out.

Though the Seals beat Toronto last weekend, they were coming off a three-game skid where they didn’t look particularly inspired. After some early-season success, the new forward corps that includes some of the most talented players in the league just hasn’t been clicking like it should. Will the late-game victory last week give them the momentum they need to get back on track?

Players to Watch

• Dhane Smith (58) and Josh Byrne (55) sit in fifth and seventh place, respectively, in league scoring; San Diego has no players in the top 20. Rob Hellyer has seen the most success with 40 points.

Milestone Watch

• San Diego backup goaltender Mike Poulin will be dressing in his 275^th career game, passing Derek Suddons for sixth all-time. Buffalo’s Paul Dawson will be two games away from this milestone.

Rochester Knighthawks (4-6) @ Saskatchewan Rush (6-2*)

When: Saturday at 8pm ET | Tune In: ESPN+, TSN+, NLL+ | Where: Sasktel Centre

This will be the second meeting this season between the Knighthawks and Rush. Saskatchewan took the first meeting, on December 21, 14-12. Austin Shanks and Zach Manns were the stars for Saskatchewan that night, with seven and six points respectively.

The Rush led 13-7 in the fourth quarter before giving up five consecutive goals to let Rochester get within a goal. Matt Hossack was able to secure the win with an empty netter insurance marker, but the Rush can’t afford another slip like that, as Rochester has shown in recent wins against Halifax and Philadelphia that they’ll take advantage of any vulnerability.

Rochester will have an edge at faceoff which should give them more possessions – Sask’s Jake Naso out with an injury, so Rochester’s Mike Sisselberger will face the Rush for the first time, likely going up against Mike Messenger. Messenger has taken many faceoffs in his time and will be a tough matchup for the rookie.

Wedding Bells Are in the Air

• Beloved Saskatchewan mascot Rowdy will be married at halftime of this one, to O16 Electric Crew member Shaylah Davies-Evans. It’ll be the wedding of the century!

Las Vegas Desert Dogs (2-6*) @ Calgary Roughnecks (5-3*)

When: Sunday at 7pm ET | Tune In: ESPN+, TSN+, NLL+ | Where: Scotiabank Saddledome

Both teams will be playing their second game of the weekend, so a little fatigue – especially from the Desert Dogs, who had to travel instead of resting at a hotel – could be both expected and forgiven. Fittingly, the Roughnecks are hosting a Pajama Party for their fans in the stands.

Calgary and Las Vegas have only faced each other three times; the last time was in December of 2023 with Calgary prevailing 17-11 to move their head-to-head record to 2-1. Interestingly, Curtis Dickson and Dane Dobbie have never faced Las Vegas as members of the Roughnecks, though they have plenty of experience against them from their time in San Diego. Dickson has scored 25 points against them (in four games) and Dobbie 22 (in five games).

Brotherly Love

• Las Vegas’ Marshal King (also a former Roughneck) will face off against his brother Jesse, captain of the Calgary squad. Marshal, a former second round pick, played seven games for the ‘Necks from 2019-2022 before being traded to Las Vegas.
• Other former Roughnecks returning to the Saddledome include Shane Simpson (for the first time since an offseason trade) and Landon Kells.

Key Stats

• Curtis Dickson leads Calgary in scoring with 50 points and Jesse King not far behind at 48. Jack Hannah leads Las Vegas with 43 points, and Jonathan Donville in second with 36 points.
• Calgary’s Justin Inacio has the edge at the faceoff dot, having won 62% of his draws. Connor Kirst (IR) and Jonathan Gagliardi split the faceoffs for Las Vegas, with Kirst winning 45% and Gagliardi 33%.
• Young goaltenders: Cam MacLeod has a 12.91 GAA, while Landon Kells is at 14.78 and Justin Geddie 12.90. It remains to be seen who will start for Las Vegas.