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Calgary Roughnecks, Colorado Mammoth, Edmonton Rush, Minnesota Swarm, National Lacrosse League, Philadelphia Wings, Rochester Knighthawks, Toronto Rock, Washington Stealth

National Lacrosse League adding a third ref for playoff games

The National Lacrosse League will be hoping that six eyes are better than four for the playoffs this year (this is where the ref baiters can feel free to make their 12 eyes versus six jokes). The league announced Monday that it will add another assistant referee to help out the crew chief for the 2013 playoff run. The NLL’s release pointed out that “The third referee is not a technical referee used under the previous three-man system. In adding the third referee, the NLL is following the playoff model of Major League Baseball, which adds two umpires for post-season games.”

The playoffs kick off at 5 pm ET Saturday with Philadelphia visiting Rochester. Two more games follow on Saturday night with Edmonton at Washington facing off at 7:30 ET and Calgary playing host to the Colorado Mammoth at 9 ET. The first weekend of the playoffs wraps up Sunday afternoon when the Minnesota Swarm cross conferences to play the East Division champion Toronto Rock at 3 pm ET at the Air Canada Centre.

Buffalo Bandits, Calgary Roughnecks, Colorado Mammoth, Edmonton Rush, Minnesota Swarm, National Lacrosse League, Philadelphia Wings, Rochester Knighthawks, Toronto Rock, Washington Stealth

NLL playoffs: Knighthawks and Mammoth are in, Bandits are out, Swarm head east

Johnny Powless and the Knighthawks squeaked into the playoffs to defend their NLL championship, edging Buffalo 10-9. (Photo: Larry Palumbo)

The Rochester Knighthawks won their do-or-die showdown with the Buffalo Bandits to reach the National Lacrosse League playoffs, edging Buffalo 10-9. The Colorado Mammoth downed the Minnesota Swarm 16-14 to earn the fourth seed in the West. They’ll face the Calgary Roughnecks in the first round of the playoffs after Calgary beat Edmonton 12-11 in overtime to win yet another West Division regular season title. And Washington clinched home playoff dates for themselves and Rochester by beating Philadelphia 15-11. And with all that, perhaps the biggest winners were the Swarm, who–thanks to Buffalo missing the playoffs and Minny owning the Bandits pick that will now be first overall in the 2013 entry draft–won the Logan Schuss sweepstakes. READ MORE »

Buffalo Bandits, Calgary Roughnecks, Colorado Mammoth, Edmonton Rush, IL Indoor, Minnesota Swarm, National Lacrosse League, Philadelphia Wings, Rochester Knighthawks, Staff Pick 'Em, Washington Stealth

NLL Week 16 Staff Picks

Both still vying for a playoff berth, the Buffalo Bandits host the Rochester Knighthawks Saturday at 7:30pm EST (Photo: Bill Wippert)

The final weekend of regular season National Lacrosse League action features eight of the nine teams in four games all on Saturday evening.

Kicking off the night, the Buffalo Bandits (6-9) host New York rivals the Rochester Knighthawks (7-8), both of which are still vying a spot in the playoffs.  Also hoping for a playoff berth, the Colorado Mammoth (6-9) head to Minnesota to face the Swarm (7-8).  In the last of four Battles of Alberta, the Calgary Roughnecks (8-7) head north to face the Edmonton Rush (9-6).  In the final game of the weekend and the final game of the regular season, the Stealth (8-7) welcome in the Philadelphia Wings (7-8) to Washington. READ MORE »

Buffalo Bandits, Calgary Roughnecks, Colorado Mammoth, Edmonton Rush, IL Indoor, Minnesota Swarm, National Lacrosse League, Philadelphia Wings, Pick 'Em, Rochester Knighthawks, Washington Stealth

Who Ya Got? NLL Week 16 Fan Picks

The Rush and Roughnecks close out their regular seasons facing off in the final 2013 Battle of Alberta (Photo: Dale MacMillan)

National Lacrosse League East Division leaders Toronto Rock failed to secure their spot as league leaders when they lost their last regular season game to the Philadelphia Wings.  Later on Saturday, Minnesota won the first of the Swarm’s week 15/16 home and home series against the Mammoth in Colorado.  In only their third trip to Calgary, the Rochester Knighthawks picked up their first win at the Saddledome, edging out the Roughnecks in a close battle.  In the fourth game on Saturday, the Buffalo Bandits snapped their six game losing streak win a win against the Washington Stealth.  On Sunday, the Edmonton Rush regained first place in Shanny’s Power Rankings as they got only their second home win of the season and postponed Rochester’s playoff hopes. READ MORE »

Edmonton Rush, IL Indoor, National Lacrosse League

Edmonton Rush focused curing home woes

The Rush know how to win on the road, but a home win would build confidence for the playoffs. (Photo: Ward Laforme Jr.)

The Edmonton Rush can’t explain it. And frankly, they probably don’t want to. They just want to win games and they’ve done that, to a degree. Their biggest hurdle is an odd one, to say the least, as they come into today’s game against the visiting Rochester Knighthawks with a 1-5 home record. They’re 7-1 on the road. “The record at home is more coincidence than anything, I believe,” coach and GM Derek Keenan told the Edmonton Journal. “We’ve had some good games at home and not won and we’ve had a couple of not-so-good games on the road and won. Sometimes that’s the nature of the beast in this league.” Still, the Rush would like know they can win at Rexall Place and today would be a good time to prove that to themselves. A win today gives the franchise its first-ever home playoff date, and they would love nothing more than to reward their fans.

Buffalo Bandits, Calgary Roughnecks, Colorado Mammoth, Edmonton Rush, IL Indoor, Minnesota Swarm, National Lacrosse League, Philadelphia Wings, Rochester Knighthawks, Staff Pick 'Em, Toronto Rock, Washington Stealth

NLL Week 15 Staff Picks

East Division leading Rock head to Philly to take on the Wings in Toronto's last game of the season (Photo: torontorock.com)

Week 15 of the National Lacrosse League features five games featuring all nine teams.  In the first of four Saturday games, the Toronto Rock (10-5), playing their last game of the regular season, head to Philadelphia to take on the Wings (6-8).  Both looking to get out of the bottom of the Western Division, the Minnesota Swarm (6-8) head to Colorado to face-off against the Mammoth (6-8) for the first game of the pair’s week 15/16 home and home series.  In the first game of their western road trip, the Rochester Knighthawks (6-7) travel to Calgary to take on the Roughnecks (8-6).  Also making the trip west, the stuggling Buffalo Bandits hope to snap their losing skid in Washington against the Stealth (8-6).  On Sunday, the defending champion Knighthawks continue their western road trip as they face their 2012 Champions Cup opponents, the Edmonton Rush (8-6). READ MORE »

Buffalo Bandits, Calgary Roughnecks, Colorado Mammoth, Editorial, Edmonton Rush, Minnesota Swarm, National Lacrosse League, Philadelphia Wings, Rochester Knighthawks, Toronto Rock, Washington Stealth

The Home Stretch

A friend who coaches at the collegiate level texted me a couple weeks ago that he was frustrated with how soft his guys were. My response was that coaching at the professional level might be easier than coaching college kids. At the pro, level you are mostly dealing with self-motivated individuals that have already learned important lessons such as work ethic and mental toughness. At the collegiate level, those are habits and skills you often have to instill. There is recruiting—but you have to make the most of the guys you have on your team in any given year. At the pro level, you are presumably dealing with guys that have learned what it takes to be successful. You can focus on team building, systems and strategy. If you don’t like your team, you have more flexibility in making changes. READ MORE »

Behind the Scenes, Edmonton Rush, National Lacrosse League, Toronto Rock

Boxla Beat guests this week: Jimmy Quinlan and Andy McNamara

Boxla Beat on NLL Radio this week features a couple of high-energy characters. The consensus choice to portray Jimmy Quinlan in the story of his life is often over-the-top comic actor Jim Carey, and for good reason. The Rush captain is a lively presence in the locker room and on the floor, and this week he brings his energy to the show to talk about his team’s growth in the wake of last year’s trip to the Champions Cup final and how they plan to take the last step to earn a ring. Quinlan’s a hometown boy making good as he hails from Edmonton satellite town Sherwood Park and last summer he got to suit up for the nearby Spruce Grove Slash in their pursuit of the Presidents Cup. He liked that experience of playing close to home in the summer, too, but right now it’s all about the NLL and taking the Rush to the promised land. Andy McNamara has seen the Toronto Rock reach the peak of the sport. He’s the excitable but knowledgeable play by play voice of the Rock’s webcasts and this week he joins me with some insight into all things Rock, as well as a look at other teams and players from around the league. Buckle up and hit the play button for the best of lacrosse radio, brought to you by Bowen therapist Marianne Beacon and J&M Automotive.

Buffalo Bandits, Calgary Roughnecks, Colorado Mammoth, Edmonton Rush, IL Indoor, Minnesota Swarm, National Lacrosse League, Philadelphia Wings, Pick 'Em, Rochester Knighthawks, Toronto Rock, Washington Stealth

Who Ya Got? NLL Week 15 Fan Picks

A flight to the finish: Minnesota Swarm and Colorado Mammoth face-off in weeks 15 and 16, both still looking for a playoff berth (Photo: Joshua Lawson)

It was another busy weekend in the National Lacrosse League as week 14 saw all nine teams back in action.  On Saturday, the struggling Rochester Knighthawks got a much needed home win over the Philadelphia Wings in the first game of the weekend for both teams.  Topping their week 13 franchise high 20 goals, the Minnesota Swarm scored a new team high 21 goals against the Buffalo Bandits, who have now lost six consecutive games.  The Edmonton Rush, who have had trouble winning at Rexall, dropped another home game against the Colorado Mammoth on Saturday night.  In another close match, the Washington Stealth clinched a playoff berth with a win on Saturday against the Calgary Roughnecks. READ MORE »

Edmonton Rush, IL Indoor, National Lacrosse League, Toronto Rock

Doyle & Matthews Named March’s Players of the Month

Toronto Rock Colin Doyle named Player of the Month, Edmonton Rush's Mark Matthews is Rookie of the Month (Photo: torontorock.com, nll.com)

The National Lacrosse League has announced Player of the Month and Rookie of the Month award winners for March of the 2013 NLL regular season.

Toronto Rock captain Colin Doyle has been named Player of the Month, and for the third consecutive month, Edmonton Rush forward Mark Matthews has been named Rookie of the Month.

In his 16^th season in the league, Colin Doyle is currently ranked third in the NLL with 82 pints (25G, 57A) and is the league’s second all-time leading scorer with 1,260 career points.  Leading the Rock to the top of the East Division, Doyle recorded 35 points (11G, 24A) and 14 loose balls in March, including a single-game high nine points (2G, 7A) on March 8^th as the Toronto Rock ended the month with a 3-2 record. READ MORE »