It’s crunch time. Score bugs have March to May graphics on them. We’ll start seeing weird symbols on standings pages to denote things be clinched. Graeme Perrow has added the “It could happen” type feature to NLLStats.com that lets you play with results to come up with possible playoff fields. When all these things arrive, the intensity gets turned up in games. Do or die time for some teams. Here’s the weekend slate.
FRIDAY
Who: Toronto Rock (3-8) vs Halifax Thunderbirds (7-4)
Where: ScotiaBank Centre, Halifax
When: 6:30pm EST
The Spread: Halifax favored by 1.5 (+120), game total set at 23.5
Who: Rochester Knighthawks (6-8) vs Las Vegas Desert Dogs (3-9)
Where: Lee’s Family Forum, Las Vegas
When: 10:30pm EST
The Spread: Rochester favored by 1.5 (-130), game total set at 24.5
Who: Vancouver Warriors (5-6) vs San Diego Seals (5-6)
Where: Pechanga Arena, San Diego
When: 10:30pm EST
The Spread: San Diego favored by 1.5 (-110), game total set at 20.5
SATURDAY
Who: Calgary Roughnecks (6-6) vs Buffalo Bandits (9-1)
Where: Keybank Centre, Buffalo
When: 6:30pm EST
The Spread: Buffalo favored by 2.5 (-110), game total set at 24.5
Who: Albany FireWolves (3-9) vs Philadelphia Wings (5-6)
Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia
When: 7:00pm EST
The Spread: Philadelphia favored by 1.5 (+105), game total set at 25.5
Who: Saskatchewan Rush (9-3) vs Georgia Swarm (7-4)
Where: Gas South Arena, Georgia
When: 7:30pm EST
The Spread: Saskatchewan favored by 1.5 (+114), game total set at 22.5
STORIES TO WATCH
In the business of ending seasons
Neither Albany nor Las Vegas has a reasonable path to make the playoffs. But that doesn’t mean they can’t impact the field. Vegas plays Rochester and Albany play Philly. In both instances, the three win teams have a chance to put Rochester and Philly two games under .500. Vegas can give Rochester their ninth loss, and that feels critical right now. Albany and drop Philly to 5-7. Vegas and Rochester last played way back in week one, and Vegas only lost that game by two goals. Albany has already beaten Philly once this year. The spoilers can do some serious damage to playoff hopes this weekend.
Rosie vs Buffalo, again.
This weekend marks the first half of a home and home between Calgary and Buffalo. Saturday night, it’s the KeyBank Center, next week back in Calgary. The Roughnecks acquired Nick Rose to bolster their back end and put a top tier goalie between the pipes. Rosie has already played Buffalo twice this year, going 0-2 against them with his previous team the Toronto Rock. The more recent of those saw the Rock get out to a lead early but fail to hold it. Rose will have to deal with the two time defending world champion Bandits four times this regular season. Not an easy ask for any goalie. But if Calgary is going to get the most out of this trade and make the run they want to make, they’ll need Rose to be sharp. If they drop both games of the home and home, the Roughnecks will be 6-8, and the playoff picture will look a little more ominous.
Red hot Halifax
The Thunderbirds have lost one game since the calendar flipped to 2025. They’re on a five game winning streak. Their 7-4 record is even more impressive when you considered they started the year 0-3. The only loss in the last eight games is a one goal heartbreaker to Rochester. Halifax now starts a run of three straight games at home. The Nest crowds can be loud and impact games; it’s one of the true home field advantages in the NLL. In this three game stretch at home, two of the opponents currently have losing records. The last four games of the year are considerably more difficult, but if Halifax can stay hot and get a home win over Toronto, they can build a bit of a cushion for a challenging final month of the regular season.
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