PK’s NLL Power Rankings - Week 19

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

1.       Saskatchewan Rush 11-4 (Last Week: #3)

As Michael Scott would say, snip, snap, snip, snap. Sask is back in the top spot after their dismantling of Colorado 17-12 on Saturday night, bumping Buffalo out for the 2nd time in 3 weeks. This game was over by the 3:40 make in the 2nd as the Rush held a 12-2 lead. 6 players had 5 or more points with Austin Shanks leading the way with a sock trick in his 10 point night. It was a very important showing by the offense who had put up a combined 17 in the last 2 games and 34 in their 4. It is the 5th time they have put up 15 or more goals in a game and shows how when this offense is on, they are one of the most dangerous in the league and with the performances on the back end, they are still one of the favorites to make a run to the finals. They are now tied with Buffalo in the standings, but with the Bandits holding the tie breaker, they need to finish with a win more than them to claim the top seed in the playoffs. They host Calgary this week. A win and a Halifax loss, they will clinch a top 2 seed in the upcoming playoffs.

2.       Buffalo Bandits – 11-4 (Last Week: #1)

Back down 1 spot in the rankings are the Bandits after their 13-12 loss to Vancouver in front of yet another sold out crowd. 2 major penalties, some bad defense and a little bit of unproductive offense are some of the main reasons the Bandits have now lost 2 games in a row. Besides a stretch in the 2nd quarter, I thought the offense was playing well and they were yet again a victim of good goaltending. However, the team was averaging 15.57 goals a game through the first 7 weeks. Now while that pace was unlikely to last, they are now at 11.5 goals per game in their last 8. This team is far too talented for that to be happening. While I did say on the Monday episode that I am not all that worried about the team when playoffs roll around, they are now 1-4 when trailing going into the 4th quarter. This is a battle-tested team with 4 straight finals appearances and 2 straight titles. They know what they are doing. But any leeway they had for the top seed is now gone as they look towards heading to Colorado on Saturday night to try and break the longest losing streak they have had since losing 3 straight over a year ago.

3.       Halifax Thunderbirds – 9-6 (Last Week: #2)

Slipping down just 1 spot in the rankings this week are the Thunderbirds that despite the 13-12 OT loss, remain one of the hottest teams in the league sitting 9-3 since their 0-3 start. Battling back from 2 down with just 19 seconds left in the game is no easy task. This is now their 4th 1 goal loss this season. Dawson Theede returned to the lineup and made an immediate impact netting 4 on 11 shots. Clarke Petterson continued his productive season handing out 5 helpers in his 6 points night while also collecting 11 LBs.  Warren Hill got the net the whole night making 43/56 saves giving his team a chance to win the close battle. With just 3 games left in the regular season, this team is in the drivers seat to host a playoff game but the schedule is tough with games vs San Diego, Buffalo and Toronto yet to come. A 2-1 finish likely gets it done. First step is defending the nest on Saturday night when the Seals come to town.

4.       Rochester Knighthawks – 9-7 (Last Week: #5)

The NLL’s hottest team has extended their league leading 5 game winning streak after their epic 14-13 win over the Seals on Saturday night. Leading 12-6 midway through the 3rd, San Diego would battle all the way back to tie the game with 6:06 remaining in the game. That was until Ryan Smith netted his 5th and game winning goal with just 11 second left to pull off the win in regulation and avoid OT. Rylan Hartley made 40/53 saves in the victory who is now 5-1 since returning from injury. The team remains in the lead for most games played and will continue that with their 17th game of the season coming up vs Ottawa on Saturday night as they look to become the 3rd team to double digit wins and will clinch a playoff spot with the victory before heading into a bye week. Before the season, both of us here at the BSC were very high on what this team could do this season. After falling to 1-4 and 4-7, we started to doubt ourselves. They will be a lesson moving forward that we need to stick to our preseason thoughts longer into the regular season when next year rolls around because this is the Rochester team we were expecting in November.

5.       Vancouver Warriors – 8-7 (Last Week: #7)

Up 2 spots is Christian Del…. I mean the Warriors. They went into Banditland in front of a sold out crowd and won 13-12 overcoming a 2-goal deficit in the 4th. It was their 3rd straight win since acquiring one Christian Del Bianco at the trade deadline who made 40/52 saves including 3 in the final 30 seconds of the game to keep the winning streak going as they look to inch closer and closer to the playoffs. Keegan Bal was other worldly going 4/6/10 on the night. However, I also want to give credit to the defense who for a good majority of the game, made Buffalos offense look dis organized and afraid to go to the middle while settling for early outside shots. One stat that is crazy if you only look at the numbers and not the reasons behind them. Before acquiring Del Bianco the offense was averaging 10.17 goals while allowing just 10. Since the trade, the offense has averaged 13.67 goals while allowing 11. We have talked about the reasons behind the increase in the offensive production. Just still find it funny to say that they moved a forward and added a goalie for the numbers to improve with the offense and get worse with the defense. They host the red hot Firewolves on Friday night with a chance to pull further away in the playoff race.

6.       San Diego Seals – 8-7 (Last Week: #4)

We had said all last week that this matchup between the Seals and Knighthawks was a massive swing game. And it was just that. Down by 6 midway through the 3rd, San Diego battled all the way back to tie the game 13 all with 6:06 to go. That was until Ryan Smith scored with just 11 seconds left to win the game 14-13 sending the Seals to 8-7 and down to 8th in the standings. Chris Origlieri made 46/60 saves in the loss including holding Rochester scoreless for a 15:34 stretch from end of 3rd to the end of the 4th. Now this is where the team currently stands when it comes to playoffs. They hold the tiebreaker over both Ottawa and Calgary so they sit a game and a half over both with 3 games to go. A win over Halifax this week with losses by both Ottawa and Calgary should lock up a playoff spot. However, things will get very interesting with a loss and an Albany win as both teams battle in the final 2 weeks of the season. The Seals are currently in the driver’s seat for playoffs but as we know, a lot can happen in 3 weeks in the NLL this season.

7.       Georgia Swarm – 8-7 (Last Week: #9)

Back into the top 8 for one of the weirdest teams in the NLL this season. Usually when a team has a 2 goal lead with 19 seconds to go, you’d feel comfortable. However, Georgia needed OT to take the game over Halifax 13-12 after another game winner by Andrew Kew (2/1/3). Shayne Jackson’s turn around since the beginning of the season is very impressive going 3/6/9 on the night and making me look dumber by the day for my midseason takes. Brett Dobson in net made 47/59 saves earning another victory and pushing the Swarm to 8-7 on the season. 3 other teams are sitting 8-7 with 2 sitting 7-8 in what should be an epic finish to the season. Philly comes to town riding an 8 game losing streak in what will be a home and home the next 2 weeks. If Georgia is able to take both games, they will likely lock up a playoff spot before their date with Buffalo to close out the regular season.

8.       Albany Firewolves – 6-9 (Last Week: #8)

A very important week off for the Firewolves for rest purposes as they are hoping Alex Simmons is able to play the final 3 games of the season as they look to get back into the playoff mix. They did not get much help while they were off with the likes of Vancouver, Georgia, and Ottawa winning. San Diego as well as Colorado did drop their games to move one loss closer to Albany, but work is still needed if they are going to make a push into a playoff spot. The benefit that they do have though, the remaining schedule will help them in their effort to leapfrog some teams. They get the Warriors Friday night before a home and home with San Diego. There is no question they need to go 3-0 in those games. One loss and they are likely out. But run the table and get a little help, you never know.

9.       Colorado Mammoth – 8-7 (Last Week: #6)

10.   Ottawa Black Bears – 7-8 (Last Week: #12)

11.   Calgary Roughnecks – 7-8 (Last Week: #10)

12.   Toronto Rock – 5-9 (Last Week: #11)

13.   Philadelphia Wings – 5-10 (Last Week: #13)

14 . Las Vegas Desert Dogs – 3-12 (Last Week: #14