The Mammoth are currently positioned for a playoff spot, but are sliding at the wrong time. With Zed Williams out for the season and Eli McLaughlin’s status uncertain, issues are piling up for Pat Coyle’s team. Saturday’s lopsided loss to Saskatchewan was disappointing, but the Mammoth have demonstrated multiple times over the last few years that one loss is not necessarily indicative of what rests ahead. The Mammoth will end the season with two home games against Buffalo and Saskatchewan before traveling to Calgary. In order to make the postseason, Colorado likely needs to find a way to win two of those three games.
Yes, the FireWolves are the only sub-.500 team currently in the Power Rankings. But don’t be deceived by their 6-9 record, they are very much playing like one of the best teams in the NLL at the moment. Dyson Williams has discovered a knack for performing in the clutch, while goaltender Doug Jamieson has finally rekindled his form from last year’s playoffs. The injury to Alex Simmons two weeks ago is a source of concern, but until we know more about the young rising superstar’s status, Albany deserves a spot in the top eight. The pathway into the playoffs for the FireWolves isn’t clean or simple—it requires near perfection on their part, blended with some other teams offering help in specific matchups. After beating Buffalo two weeks ago, the FireWolves now have another colossal test on the road against Vancouver before a home-and-home with San Diego to round out the regular-season schedule. Getting into the playoffs won’t be easy, but based on how the team has been playing, it would be unwise to bet against Albany.
A week after falling out of the top eight, the Swarm re-entered after a thrilling overtime win over Halifax. The Swarm were in must-win mode, and found a way to win a one-goal game for the first time since February 22. The Swarm are now 5-3 in one-goal games this year, which illustrates just how narrow the margin for error is in the NLL. Shayne Jackson was superb in Georgia’s win over Halifax with three goals and six assists, while Andrew Kew and rookie Kaleb Benedict were the only other players with multiple goals. 13 goals spread across nine different goal scorers demonstrated a wildly impressive degree of balance that has been absent from the Swarm for most of the season. One week after a disappointing effort, young netminder Brett Dobson was superb, stopping 57 shots against Halifax. At this point in the season, it feels like the Swarm will go as far as Dobson will take them. The ceiling is high, but the floor is low. Back-to-back games against the struggling Philadelphia Wings offer the Swarm an opportunity to stack a few wins atop each other and sew up a playoff spot.
San Diego Seals @ Rochester Knighthawks 03/29/25 (Photos for NLL by Jonathan Tenca)
The Seals overcame a six-goal deficit to tie the game late in Rochester, only to take a bad penalty with 2:12 remaining in regulation and concede the winning goal to Ryan Smith. On one hand, San Diego’s ability to dig out of a big hole against an excellent opponent was encouraging, but on the other hand, failing to consummate the comeback with a win was disappointing. San Diego’s defense is beginning to offer reason for concern, allowing 11 goals or more in six consecutive games. While the Seals have demonstrated a knack for making big plays in high-pressure situations, their late-game stumble in Rochester was a sobering data point of the contrary. Young forward Jake Govett has become San Diego’s bellwether player on offense, holding the left side together as a glue guy, while scoring timely goals, including three in the second half against the Knighthawks. Despite a difficult finish to the schedule, the Seals seem very likely to make the playoffs. Next for San Diego is a trip all the way to Halifax to play the Thunderbirds on Saturday.
The Thunderbirds slipped one spot in the rankings this week, not because of their loss to Georgia, but because of Vancouver’s massive statement win in Buffalo. The Thunderbirds are still absolutely serious contenders and are playing high-level lacrosse with three games left to play. With a two-game lead over the ninth-place Calgary Roughnecks, Halifax has to feel good about the team’s status as a likely playoff team. While Randy Staats only accounted for one goal and three assists on Sunday, Dawson Theede offered an unexpected offensive boost with four goals and five points for the T-Birds. Warren Hill’s success or failure between the pipes will likely determine Halifax’s fate down the stretch. Hill was very good against Georgia on Sunday, stopping 43 shots, but obviously his effort was not quite enough in the overtime period. Halifax ends the season with a home game against San Diego on Saturday before road games against Buffalo and Toronto.
Vancouver Warriors on March 29, 2025 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY. Vancouver Warriors @ Buffalo Bandits. (Caroline Sherman/NLL)
Since trading for superstar goaltender Christian Del Bianco, the Warriors are 3-0 and boast wins over Buffalo and Georgia. Del Bianco has stopped a staggering 80% of all shots that he’s seen, despite spending the first 15 weeks of the season in limbo and off the floor. This past weekend’s effort in Banditland was the single most impressive performance that Vancouver has offered all season. Since the team’s loss to Saskatchewan in February, the offense has emphasized attacking early in the shot clock, which has led to great results. Keegan Bal had four goals and 10 points against Buffalo, as the Warriors matched their average of 13.0 goals per game since Curt Malawsky publicly challenged his team following their February 21 loss to Saskatchewan. In addition to currently occupying a playoff position, the Warriors have a favorable final three-game stretch to round out the regular season. After a tough home game against surging Albany this upcoming Friday, the Warriors finish with Toronto and Philadelphia.
San Diego Seals @ Rochester Knighthawks 03/29/25 (Photos for NLL by Jonathan Tenca)
Rochester allowed a six-goal lead over San Diego to evaporate on Saturday night, nearly allowing the Seals to steal a win in the Hawk Nest. But thanks to the heroics of Ryan Smith, who scored five goals—including the game-winner—the Knighthawks escaped with a one-goal win. Rochester has ripped off five consecutive wins since a disappointing blowout loss to Saskatchewan on February 15. Most notably, Rochester’s offense has been an unstoppable force since mid-February, netting at least 14 goals in five straight games, and averaging 16.4 goals per game in that span. Rylan Hartley was his hyper-active self between the pipes on Saturday, stopping 40 shots in a duel with his step-brother, Chris Origlieri. At this point, the Knighthawks feel like a near-lock to make the playoffs and depending on their final two games, perhaps a prime candidate to host a first-round playoff game. Rochester hosts Ottawa this upcoming Saturday before a bye week to prepare for the team’s season-finale against Toronto on April 19.
The Saskatchewan Rush host the Colorado Mammoth at Sask Tel Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, March 29, 2025
Talk about loud statements! The Rush reestablished themselves as a League powerhouse after pouring in 17 goals against the Mammoth and riding the heroics of veteran goaltender Frank Sciglaino. Saskatchewan made extremely clear to all viewers that their shocking blowout loss to Halifax two weeks ago was an aberration, not an indicator of things to come. Austin Shanks netted a sock trick, while Ryan Keenan added five goals of his own. Zach Manns scored twice against Colorado after being limited to just one total goal in his previous two games. There is a very fair case to be made for Saskatchewan as the league’s top-ranked team this week, but given that their records are the same and Buffalo has a head-to-head win over Saskatchewan, the Bandits get the nod in this week’s top spot.
Buffalo Bandits’ Tehoka Nanticoke and Steve Priolo on March 29, 2025 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY. Vancouver Warriors @ Buffalo Bandits. (Caroline Sherman/NLL)
As mentioned above, there is a very solid case to be made for Saskatchewan in the top spot, but we opted against punishing Buffalo for a one-goal loss to one of the league’s hottest teams in Vancouver. For the first time this season, the Bandits have lost back-to-back games, but as two-time reigning champions, it feels irresponsible to bet against Buffalo at this stage. Dhane Smith (111) and Josh Byrne (108) are both over the 100-point mark once again, while Ian MacKay has potted a career-high 30 goals for the Bandits. Buffalo likely feels a sense of disappointment after allowing a fourth-quarter lead over the Warriors to slip away. The Bandits led 11-9 with just under 10 minutes remaining before conceding a 4-0 run to the Warriors that ultimately allowed Vancouver to take control of the game. Next for the Bandits is a home game against the Mammoth on Saturday.
