WEEK 16: TOP THINGS TO KNOW

Week 16 offers three straight days of NLL action, with games on Friday, Saturday, and NATIONAL LACROSSE LEAGUE Sunday! We kick things off with a Friday night doubleheader, followed by four matchups the next day. Then on Sunday, the Seals host the Desert Dogs at 4:30 pm ET on ESPNU.

NLL Friday Night on TSN: Del Bianco Debut 

Toronto and Vancouver are both on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoff picture, but this weekend’s matchup could be pivotal for staying in the race. 2023 MVP Christian Del Bianco is set to start for Vancouver. Three of Toronto’s four wins came on the road, while Vancouver is 2-6 in its last eight after a 3-1 start.

 

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Bandits Eye Revenge

Buffalo and Calgary will clash for the second straight weekend after the Roughnecks pulled off a surprising 17-11 victory on the road last Saturday. The 17 goals were by far the most allowed by the Bandits this season, and the loss was their first in regulation. With this Saturday’s meeting coming in Calgary, it’s worth noting that Buffalo is a perfect 5-0 on the road this season, while the Roughnecks are just 2-4 at home.

43 saves from Nick Rose and a sock trick from Curtis Dickson lead @NLLRoughnecks to a 17-11 win over Buffalo in Banditland.

GAME RECAP 👀 pic.twitter.com/hvZFoANbC9

— NLL (@NLL) March 9, 2025

NLL on ESPN

The Seals host the Desert Dogs on Sunday afternoon at Pechanga Arena. San Diego currently sits in eighth place, but has an opportunity to improve its playoff chances in its penultimate home game of the season against last-place Las Vegas. The Seals will play four straight road games after this weekend, with their only other remaining home contest coming in their season finale. While the Desert Dogs have just three wins this year, one was a 12-10 victory over the Seals on Jan. 18 in Vegas.

Dynamic Trio Leads Surging Knighthawks

Rochester has won three straight games and is 6-3 following a 1-4 start. The Knighthawks find themselves in the thick of the playoff race, thanks in large part to arguably the most dominant offensive trio in the NLL. Connor Fields (95 points) and Ryan Lanchbury (89 points) rank first and second in points, respectively, while teammate Ryan Smith’s 36 goals are the second-most in the League. Fields joined NLL Box Out with Maki and Coop this week. Listen here!

Stingy Saskatchewan Heads to Halifax

The Rush became the first team to reach 10 wins behind a 45-save performance from goalie Frank Scigliano. That’s nothing new for Scigliano, who leads the League with a 9.23 Goals Against Average (GAA). Halifax, meanwhile, will be looking to avenge a devastating Dec. 14 loss to Saskatchewan. The Thunderbirds held an 8-3 lead in the fourth quarter before allowing five unanswered goals to force OT, where the Rush tacked on a sixth straight goal for a 9-8 victory.

POWER RANKINGS: WEEK 16

For the first time this season, there’s a new number one in Cooper Perkins’ latest Power Rankings. Check out who beat out the Bandits for the top spot.

NLL Top Plays: Week 15 PLAYS OF THE WEEK

Week 15 brought more insane goals, wild assists, and lots of drama. Check out Tom Schreiber’s behind-the-back score and all the top plays of the week here.