Holidays are over. All of us are back to the grind, some ramping up a bit more slowly than others depending on just how festive you found yourself over the last few weeks. The NLL eased into the New Year with three games last weekend, but now it’s full speed ahead. All 14 teams are in action this weekend, seven games on the slate, including a Saturday matinee in Philadelphia.
Here’s everything you need to know for the weekend, and the storylines to watch.
FRIDAY
WHO: Ottawa Black Bears (2-2) vs Georgia Swarm (4-1)
WHERE: Gas South Arena, Georgia
WHEN: 7:30pm, EST
THE SPREAD: Georgia favored by 1.5 (-115), game total set at 22.5
WHO: Toronto Rock (0-4) vs Buffalo Bandits (3-0)
WHERE: KeyBank Center, Buffalo
WHEN: 7:30pm EST
THE SPREAD: Buffalo favored by 2.5 (-115), game total set at 22.5
WHO: San Diego Seals (3-2) vs Vancouver Warriors (2-1)
WHERE: Rogers Arena, Vancouver
WHEN: 10:00pm EST,
THE SPREAD: San Diego favored by 1.5, game total set at 21.5
SATURDAY
WHO: Calgary Roughnecks (2-1) vs Philadelphia Wings (3-1)
WHERE: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia
WHEN: 1:00pm, EST
THE SPREAD: Philadelphia favored by 1.5 (+110), game total set at 24.5
WHO: Halifax Thunderbirds (1-3) vs Rochester Knighthawks (2-4)
WHERE: Blue Cross Arena, Rochester
WHEN: 7:00pm, EST
THE SPREAD: Rochester favored by 1.5 (+130), game total set at 24.5
WHO: Las Vegas Desert Dogs (1-4) vs Saskatchewan Rush (3-1)
WHERE: SaskTel Centre, Saskatchewan
WHEN: 8:00pm, EST
THE SPREAD: Saskatchewan favored by 2.5 (-105), game total set at 23.5
WHO: Albany FireWolves (1-4) vs Colorado Mammoth (3-2)
WHERE: Ball Arena, Colorado
WHEN: 9:00pm, EST
THE SPREAD: Colorado favored by 1.5 (-105), game total set at 22.5
STORIES TO WATCH:
Throw out the records
Toronto makes the trip up to Banditland this weekend for the game of the week. The Rock are officially the league’s last winless team, a truly stunning development. They wouldn’t make the excuse, but their injury woes are just brutal to overcome. TD Ierlan and Tom Schreiber haven’t played yet this year. Even when someone gets healthy, it’s a swap for a new injury. Just this week Challen Rogers was activated from IR, which is great, but on the same day Mark Matthews was sent to the injured list. It snaps a consecutive game streak for Matthews, and is emblematic of the way the year has gone for Toronto. They just can’t catch a break. Still, coming into the year, Toronto was considered a contender, and an ever present question of “can they get past Buffalo” was going to be answered this week. It still can be. The Rock are 2.5 goal underdogs, I think betting on a close game battle in Banditland is reasonable. Desperate teams in rivalry games are dangerous.
No rest for the weary
Speaking of Toronto, they are one of a few teams desperate for a win this weekend who face a brutal test to get it. Toronto is in Buffalo. Albany sits at 1-4, but three of those losses are in OT at home. This weekend they travel to the Loud House, and if they can steal the road half of this home and home with Colorado, they’ll be in position to get back to possibly be back at .500 before they play Buffalo in February. Ottawa needs to find the back of the net in bunches after a five goal outing in San Diego, but they’ll have to do it on the road shooting at Brett Dobson. Vegas finally got their first W last week, but it doesn’t get any easier for them. They have to visit a hot Rush team on the road to try and continue their climb out of the basement. No easy weeks in the NLL.
MORE FACEOFFS!!
Mike Sisselberger went 20/29 in his first ever box game, and Rochester got the win over Georgia. This week, he’ll be at the center of what is the faceoff matchup of the weekend. Siss gets to go toe to toe with Jake Withers, one of the best in the world, as Halifax tries to build on their positive momentum after beating Albany. Elsewhere, it could be another weekend where teams without a specialist get convinced they need one. Jake Naso (63.4%) goes up against Connor Kirst (44.3%). Joe Nardella (67.2%) goes up against Tim Edwards (42.4%). Justin Inacio (60%) goes up against Nathan Fehr (49.1%) or Tyler Burton (45.6%) as Philly waits for Nick Rowlett to be back. There was some great writing on Lacrosse Culture Daily this week about the impact of the faceoff that’s worth a read, and in games where there could be big disparities, it’s an important part of the game to start studying.
Back from the Bye
There were only three games last week. Vancouver, Saskatchewan, Colorado, and Halifax all had last week off and take on a team that played last weekend. The Warriors, Rush, and Mammoth all even get to stay home off their bye week. Going on the road to visit a team coming off a bye is a tough test for anyone. Vegas, San Diego, and Rochester are coming off wins which helps, they’ll have a lot to feel good about. Particular for Vegas who got their first win and Rochester who handled Georgia thoroughly. But maintaining that against a fresh team is a story to watch.