NLL Playoffs Round 2
#4 Buffalo Bandits (11-7) V #1 Toronto Rock (15-3)
Last weekend kicked off with the Toronto Rock taking care of business over the #8 seeded Rochester Knighthawks 9-6. The Rock jumped out to an early 5-1 first quarter lead after scoring 4 in the first 4 minutes of the game. Challen Rogers led the way with a 2/3/5 night while, Chris Boushy and Tom Schreiber each chipped in 2 of their own. Nick Rose was an animal again in this one making 57/57 saves in the victory. The defense swarmed Rochester offense allowing no room for the shooters. Ryan Smith was the only one to have success scoring 3 while they contained Connor Fields to just 1 goal on 14 shots.
Buffalo on the other hand needed OT to take down their round 1 opponent the Georgia Swarm 10-9. It was a back and forth 1st half which saw the game tied 5-5. Buffalo would score 3 straight on the Power Play in the 3rd but Georgia would battle back with a 4 goal run of their own to have a 1 goal lead late into the 4th. Kyle Buchanan (1/1/2) would score the tying goal with 5:55 remaining before Josh Byrne would end it 4 minutes into OT. Byrne was on fire netting 5 while Dhane Smith handed out 6 assists in the victory. Matt Vinc was electric once again making 46/55 saves in the victory which now is 3 straight games allowing under 10.
Let’s get into this matchup now. These two teams know one another far too well. This weekend will mark the 12th and 13th matchup they have had whether in season or in the playoffs in the last 3 years. Buffalo holds that edge going 8-3 in those games including winning 4 straight and 7 of the last 8 meetings. In fact the last 4 meetings have been dominated by the Bandits who have averaged 15.25 Goals for and have allowed just 9.25 a game. They have also been responsible for sending the Rock home in the last 3 playoffs. So you have to ask, will the Rock ever be able to defeat the Bandits?
Game 1 Prediction: Toronto 13 – Buffalo 11
Game 2 Prediction: Buffalo 12 – Toronto 10
If the Rock are going to get a playoff win vs the Bandits it has to be this season. The defense has been fantastic all year long With Brad Kri and Mitch de Snoo allowing the fewest goals on the year with a 9.39 a game average. This was even without Latrell Harris. The offense was retooled last offseason and added weapons like Boushy, Dan Linter and Mark Matthews to an already scary from of Schreiber, Dan Craig and Corey Small. And of course you have the next Goalie of the Year in Nick Rose between the pipes. But they are still going against the likes of Smith and Bryne who had the best season by a pair of teammates in the history of the league. The defense has turned the corner with the addition of Paul Dawson as well as the healthy bodies of Adam Bomberry, Justin Martin and the giant rookies of Cam Wyers and Zach Belter. Oh and can’t forget the best to ever do it in net with Matt Vinc.
This is the finals matchup everyone was expecting before the season began. We just get it a round early. I wish we could see this in a 7 game series but I’m not sure the teams could fill a healthy lineup if it make it to game 7. The hatred is real. A lot on the line for both teams in this matchup. I could see either team sweeping the other here but for selfish reason, I want to see it go the distance so I have both home teams winning by 2 to force a game 3 next weekend.
#3 Albany Firewolves (11-7) V #2 San Diego Seals (13-5)
The third game of the weekend saw the San Diego Seals finally get the monkey off their back and advanced past the 1st round of the playoffs with a 9-8 OT victory over #7 Panther City. This game was truly a back and forth fight. Every goal scored was either to tie the game or take the lead. Intense matchup until Dane Dobbie scored 2:49 into OT to end it on his 16th shot of the night to complete his hat trick. Austin Staats went 4/1/5 while Wes Berg handed out 5 helpers. In his first playoff start, all Chris Origlieri did was make 37/45 saves to get this team over that hump they had not been able to achieve in prior years.
In the final game of round 1, the young and fearless Albany Firewolves hosted the veteran laded Halifax Thunderbirds. It was the young guns that came out on top in this one 9-3. After a slow start that saw 11 1st half penalties called, Albany would take a 4-1 lead. They traded goals in the 3rd while the 4th was filled with a goaltending faceoff. Albany would score 3 late but at that point the game was wrapped up. Travis Longboat and John Wagner each finished with 2 goals while Tye Kurtz and Alex Simmons netted 1 each. But it was the play of the 202 goalie of the year Dougie Jamieson that shined the brightest. 52/55 saves or a 95% save percentage. Insanity.
As opposed to the other matchup, absolutely nobody had this one as a semifinals matchup before the season started. And if you did you are a liar. Everyone had the Seals making the playoffs, but very few, if any saw the Firewolves going on this sort of run. The Seals were responsible for giving the Wolves their first loss of the year. A 14-7 game which saw Jamieson leave the game at halftime and Simmons go 1/15 shooting the ball. On the flip side Staats and Curtis Dickson pumped in 4 each in the victory. The game got within 1 near the end of the 3rd, but the Seals would score 7 of the next 8 and the final 5 of the game to put it away. The big question is, what lessons have the 2 teams taken away from this game?
Game 1 Prediction: San Diego 12 – Albany 8
Game 2 Prediction: Albany 11 – San Diego 9
The cross county travel might have an effect on both teams in this one. The benefit is there is a day between game 1 and game 2 and that is why I have the matchup split with both home teams taking it. Going into the playoffs I had Albany losing to Halifax round 1. Throughout the season I have picked against them more than I have picked them to win. This is a matchup of a team I have too much believe in and a team I don’t have enough. It’s a battle of a veteran led team vs this young, no fears given club.
Game 1 I think will be a bounce back game for the Seals offense. Nick Damude really locked them down last weekend and I think you will see them come out scoring early. But game two will belong to Albany. They feel like a team that when their back is against the wall, they fight to the end. Add in the Seals have been up and down all year long I wouldn’t be shocked to see their offense disappear in the Sunday game. Going to a winner take all game 3 would be amazing. One team looking to get to their first finals ever with the team they built for a title run. The other ahead of their rebuild with Dyson Williams waiting in the wings. The league has to be hoping for Game 3 in both matchups after they amazing season this has been already.