PK’s NLL Power Rankings - Week 16

*Reminder these are Power Rankings. To see the Standings please head to NLL.com

1.       Saskatchewan Rush – 10-3 (Last Week: #2)

There is a new top team this week and it’s the Saskatchewan Rush. After falling just short of beating Buffalo 2 weeks ago. They used an 8-7 electric win over Georgia and the Bandits loss at home to the Roughnecks to spring board themselves into the top spot of the league. Down 4-1 after just 15 minutes, the Rush got within 1 as the half closed out. They would go on to score 4 of the 6 goals in the 2nd half to take the game and move up in the rankings. This has now been back to back weeks the offense has been without Robert Church and it has showed with just 15 goals to their name between the 2 weeks. In fact, they have averaged just 8.33 goals the last 3 games while still going 2-1 in them. In this game though, that production was spread between multiple players. 6 players were credited with goals and 11 players recorded at least a point which is very impressive considering only 8 total goals were scored. However, the man of the game was hands down Frank Scigliano. 45/52 saves, but an incredible final few minutes in what was an already insane game in total, allowing 3 goals in the final 45:39 of the game and none in the final 12:42. To me he is the goalie of the year so far this season. And the numbers are backing it up. The Bandits made moves to get better while the Rush sat still. But to be fair, I don’t think the Rush needed to make a move. Once they have their full lineup, they can be that team that can push the Bandits to the brink. They will look to hold onto that #1 spot in the rankings this Friday in Halifax.

2.       Buffalo Bandits – 9-2 (Last Week: #1)

I see the messages now. How can you have the Bandits above the Roughnecks who they lost too, but behind the Rush who they beat. To that I would say please read the * at the top of the article. But yes, for the first time in 16 weeks, the Bandits are not in the #1 spot after their 17-11 loss to Calgary last Saturday. The game was actually much closer than the score indicates. Bandits trailed 10-9 entering the 4th and 13-11 with 9:27 left to go. However, the Roughnecks would go on to score the final 4 of the game. It was another quieter game for both Dhane Smith (2/2/4) and Josh Byrne (2/3/5) in terms of what we had come to expect from those 2. It was not a good game out of the defense as well allowing Curtis Dickson to net 6 from nearly the same spot each time. 3 other players scored 3 or more as well. And in net, Matt Vinc was not on his A game in the final 3 quarters making 39/56 saves in the loss. It felt like the perfect storm of all areas of the game struggling at one time. It had actually been a handful of games now that they have felt to be fighting issues and winning. However, the deadline came and went and as Steve Dietrich tends to always do, deals were made. They first sent out Marquez White (2024 3rd Rounder) to SD for a handful of picks. Getting those picks allowed him to become part of a 4 team deal that sent out 2 picks as well as Sam La Roue to get a couple of picks back plus transition players Kiel Matisz and Ron John. Both of which should slide right into the starting lineup and help the back end. (We will talk more about this trades impact on Fridays show). They still hold a 2 game lead over the Rush, but they need to avoid the season sweep vs Calgary when they head west on Saturday.

3.       Calgary Roughnecks – 7-6 (Last Week: #6)

Now that is a statement win if I have ever seen one. Up 3 spots in the rankings after a 17-11 win over Buffalo, in Banditland in front of 19,070 fans. Trailing by 2, three different times in the 1st half, the team used a 6 goal night from Curtis Dickson to cap off the upset win vs the 2 time defending champs and move back over .500 on the season. Tanner Cook scored the first 3 of the game, while Jesse King (4/6/10) and Brayden Mayea (3/3/6) also stepped up their game with no Dane Dobbie in the lineup. Nick Rose got rid of some demons Saturday night making 44/55 saves and beating Buffalo for the first time in 23 months of action. However, Calgary’s work did not stop Saturday night. Right before the deadline, they completed one of the biggest trades in NLL history. With their win and VAN losing to SD, I think it pushed both teams in the direction they needed to be in to make the CDB trade. Knowing Del Bianco would never play with the Roughnecks again, they moved him for multiple picks as well as star 2nd year defenseman Brayden Laity who is likely one of, if not the Roughnecks top defender now. Who knows what the future holds for the goalie position after this year, but this team is addressing their major concerns to go for that title this season. They look for the sweep of Buffalo at home on Saturday.

4.       Halifax Thunderbirds – 7-5 (Last Week: #3)

After five straight and 7 of the last 8, we all knew eventually the lacrosse lords were going to come collecting. And they did just that with a 15-12 loss to the Rock on Friday night. Fresh off their two big trades and a bye week, Toronto looked hungry and fresh to quiet the doubters that believe that can’t get back into it. And Halifax was the team in the way. Playing with no Randy Staats to me was one of the other big factors in why the Birds fell in this one. Down 4 going into the 4th, Halifax scored 3 quick goals to cut the lead to 1, but the team just could not find the tying one past Holowchuk. It was also an oddly quiet game from Ryan Terefenko who was left off the scoreboard completely and only had 5 loose balls and 2 blocked shots to his name. But, to me the biggest fall from grace was Warren Hill in net. Just 15/27 saves before giving way to Drew Hutchison who was 14/16 in net. No question, I’m going right back to Hill vs SAS on Friday night in the nest. The other issue with dropping this game, was slamming the door on the rumor of Brad Kri to HAL. Had Halifax won this game sending TOR to 3-9, I think that trade gets done. However, the win keeps the Rocks hopes alive. The Birds need to get back in the win column this week as they have slipped to 5th in the standings with a tough final 6 remaining in the season.

5.       Georgia Swarm – 7-5 (Last Week: #4)

Down just 1 spot this week was all to do with the quality of win the Roughnecks had and a lot less to do with the loss the Swarm suffered. 8-7 defeat to the Rush on Saturday night. They held a 4-1 lead after 1 but were only able to beat Frank Scigliano 3 more times and none in the final 12:42 of the game. Lyle Thompson had a hand in 4 of the 7 goals, but for back to back weeks now was held without a goal. Bryan Cole and Shayne Jackson were responsible for 4 of the 7 goals while Andrew Kew was held off the stat sheet completely. I am giving a ton of credit to the Rush in this win, but you have to look at the Swarm and the lack of goal scoring at least somewhat. When your goalie is playing, the way he was making 34/42 saves and holding a great team to just 8 goals, you need to find a way to pull out the W. The Swarm fell short of that. In addition, with the loss they fall back in the group of two other 7-5 teams in the league. 5 teams sit with 7 wins and are 3-7 in the standings. This league is begging for a 3rd team to step up that can compete with the Bandits and Rush. Georgia gets their shot Saturday vs Albany on the road.

6.       Colorado Mammoth – 7-5 (Last Week: #5)

The only team in the top 8 to have a bye week were the Mammoth. And with that they are still moving back and suffered a loss although that did not come in the form of affecting the standings. Eli McLaughlin was placed on the hold out list and is likely to miss the rest of the season due to commitments of his regular job of firefighting. This is a perfect time to remind everyone that these players have jobs outside of this sport and the ways they are forced to adjust to be able to play the sport they love is incredible. However, to look at how this now affects the Mammoth is massive. They are now likely missing McLaughlin and Zed Williams for the remainder of the season. Connor Kelly has been struggling of late. They need Kelly, Ryan Lee, Will Malcom, Connor Robinson to step up their games in order to keep pace in the playoff chase. However, 2 players you might need to rely on to take their games to another level are Thomas Vela who had been used out the front door sparingly this season. And Tyson Gibson who has only played in 4 games but has struggled since arriving in Colorado for a 1st round pick a couple years ago. If they are unable to make up for those 2 massive losses out the front door, the slide down the rankings and standings could be in store for the Mammoth. They face Philly before getting Buffalo, Ottawa, Calgary and twice vs Saskatchewan. That is as tough of a final 6 as you could imagine.

7.       San Diego Seals – 6-6 (Last Week: #8)

Two teams both in must win situations. They were both sitting 5-6 on the edge of the playoffs. Neither where they expected to be at the start of the season. However, the Seals are the ones to get back to .500 pushing the Warriors to 5-7 and IMO, ready for next season in a 13-11 win. San Diego took over the game midway through the 2nd scoring 6 straight and led 11-7 going into the 4th. Vancouver put on their own 4-goal run to tie up the game. But, and let me know if you have heard this one before. 1:20 left, Wes Berg (4/3/7), puts the Seals ahead before Rob Hellyer (2/7/9) seals it. Chris Origlieri put on a show making 45/56 saves in the victory.  The team has now won 3 of the last 4 and put themselves with a very small cushion for the 8th seed having the tie breaker over Ottawa who sits a half game out in the 9th. They went out at the deadline and helped sure up the back end adding James Barclay to the lineup while also getting Ryan Benesch (3/2/5) back healthy for the stretch run. They get Vegas on a rare Sunday afternoon this weekend before a critical 3 game stretch of Calgary, Rochester and Halifax. Magic number is 10. Looking to go 4-2 down the stretch and it starts Sunday.

8.       Rochester Knighthawks – 7-7 (Last Week: #7)

How does a team win 21-13 and slide down you ask? Honestly no idea. The teams in front of them to me had either better wins or more quality losses than the Knighthawks had after beating up on the limping to the end of the season Desert Dogs I guess. However, I really wouldn’t blame anyone for saying I have them ranked wrong. You have a solid argument. After being down 4-0 to start the game, 19 of the next 22 goals including a 13 goal stretch that spanned 3 quarters. Connor Fields (6/5/11), Ryan Lanchbury (2/7/9), Ryan Smith (4/3/7) continue to be one of the best tandems in the league while also getting help from rookie Graydon Hogg (4/1/5) in this one. But, the biggest story is Rylan Hartley. Pulled after making just 2/6 saves. Riley Hutchcraft played 53:47 of the game making 32/41 saves. I think they go back to Hartley Saturday vs Ottawa, but you never know. The team now owns the longest winning streak in the league at 3 games while winning 4 of the last 5 as well to get back to .500. With just 4 games left and having played the most in the league, you need to look at the loss column and not the win column. 10 wins gets you in. 9 puts you in that bubble. Going 3-1 isn’t out of the question with 2 vs Ottawa, along with San Diego and Toronto left. This is not a team id want to see in a 1 game playoff matchup that’s for sure.

9.       Toronto Rock – 4-8 (Last Week: #12)

10.   Ottawa Black Bears – 5-6 (Last Week: #11)

11.   Vancouver Warriors – 5-7 (Last Week: #9)

12.   Philadelphia Wings – 5-7 (Last Week: #10)

13.   Albany Firewolves – 4-9 (Last Week: #13)

14.   Las Vegas Desert Dogs – 3-10 (Last Week: #14)