NLL Insider

Jeff Dowling (Photo: Dave Sanders)

Eleven of the twelve teams are still part of the National Lacrosse League playoff picture with only one weekend to play.

As noted by many lacrosse enthusiasts on Wingszone, whoever wins the Rochester – Philadelphia game makes the post-season, and in the West, only Colorado doesn’t need help from someone else.  Win and they are in.  Lose and either Minnesota (if they win over New York) or Edmonton gets the last spot.  If Edmonton can get in, it is interesting to note that half of their wins will have been against Colorado!

We know that Portland and Calgary will host games in the West. Buffalo gets one in the East and either New York or Boston will get the other one. That got me thinking about whether home field is an advantage or not.

As Smackem and StealthDragon point out, the last two post-seasons in the West, the road team has held an advantage. In fact, since the league went to an East/West format in 2004, the West has not sent the #1 seed to the dance. And other than 2004, home field has worked out for the East. 

Here’s a look back at the past five years…

So what does all this mean?  Not much.  As we have seen all year, anything can happen and the team that gets hot at the right time can go the distance. 

In 2006, we (Calgary) thought we had Colorado. They chased Curtis Palidwor but then we chased Gee Nash.  In OT Kaleb Toth had Chris Levis beat and hit a pipe before Brian Langtry put a squeaker through Andrew Leyshon’s  five-hole.  That gave the Mammoth confidence, they beat Arizona in the West Final and went into Buffalo and annihilated the Bandits.

Quick Notes

- As TJ mentioned yesterday and Tutka before the draft… It doesn’t matter how you pronounce it: Reese, Rice, Rees, Ryes, the Duch kid knows how to play.  Congrats to Rhys for topping Prout’s Rookie point mark.  He needed five, and he goes off for eight points including the OT winner!  Good thing Wick has him under his wing!  

- Only one looseball separates Brodie Merrill and Geoff Snider.  Geoff has played two games less but a lot of those have been from his 245 face-off wins.  Brodie has not taken a faceoff all year. 

- We all know that Doyle, Dawson and Sanderson may eclipse Shooter’s single season assist record, but what about goals?  No one is touching Ianucci’s record from last year, but will we see a 50-goal scorer this year?  With only one game left for each team, only two players have a real shot at 50.  Steenhuis (48) and JT (47).  No one else has even hit the 40 mark yet.

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