Get Ready for Week 18

The Mammoth Rush into the Prairies on ESPNU

Back at home after clinching their spot in the playoffs, the Rush are stoking the flames in the final stretches of the regular season. While their postseason ticket has already been punched, there’s no room for complacency in this League, especially as playoff seeds are yet to be set in stone. Facing off against the still dangerous Colorado Mammoth for the first time this season, Saskatchewan is back at full strength after a much needed bye week, with a number of their players nearing career milestones, including two quincentennial benchmarks for Robert Church and captain Ryan Keenan, as they look for their 500th career assist and 500th career point respectively.

The Mammoth, with several players climbing their individual mountains, has more important fish to fry this weekend. Sitting precariously in the number-five set headed into Saturday’s matchup, Colorado needs a win to maintain their position in the Elite Eight. As one of three teams currently holding eight wins (San Diego, Rochester), a loss could catapult any one of the seven-win teams fighting for their ‘in’ to the postseason (Calgary, Georgia, Vancouver) up into the five, six, and seven seeds. The Mammoth are heading in with goalkeeper Dillon Ward back between the pipes, having been moved from the Hold Out List ahead of this weekend’s contest. His reactivation may be the defensive cornerstone the team needs to build a win in Saskatoon.

The Mammoth take on the Rush this Saturday at 9:00PM ET on ESPNU, ESPN+, TSN+, & NLL+.

(Trevor MacMillan/Halifax Thunderbirds)

The Thunderbirds Soar into the Swarm’s Nest

In another undeniably precarious situation sits the Georgia Swarm, now creeping dangerously close to the bottom rungs of the League standings, a far cry from their previous positioning in the earlier weeks of the season. In what could be one of their most pivotal matchups of the season, the Swarm will need to outscore, out-scoop, and outrun a hot Halifax transition line, and keep the ball in the air to pull Thunderbirds ‘tendy Drew Hutchison out of the pipes. Hutchison’s 33 saves against the Black Bears, though too close for comfort, helped cement Halifax’s 17-16 home win in Week 17, keeping them atop the leaderboards… for the time being, of course.

While most Nova Scotian lacrosse fans are excitedly awaiting the cannonfire signaling the Thunderbirds’ tenth win of the season, and clinching their postseason appearance, they’d be playing with fire (and ruining a perfectly good parlay) by counting the Swarm out so early. As we’ve learned early on this season, Georgia is a squad that takes very little agitating to find a new chip on their shoulder, and they are not looking to disappoint at home. Will the Thunderbirds punch their ticket early, or will the Swarm claw their way back up through the ranks?

Tune into ESPNU this Sunday at 3:00PM ET, or stream on ESPN+, TSN+, & NLL+.

The Mammoth stampede into the prairies Saturday at 9pm ET to take on Saskatchewan, then the Thunderbirds soar into the Swarm’s nest Sunday at 4pm ET to take on Georgia.

Don’t miss the NLL doubleheader action on ESPNU. pic.twitter.com/YbhptFU51X

— NLL (@NLL) March 28, 2025

Seals to the Left of me, Knighthawks to the Right! 

As the March to May gets closer and closer to the impending postseason, several teams find themselves in highly lucrative matchups; contests that could potentially relegate them to the bottom six. Rochester and San Diego now both find themselves in such a position with no room for error on either side, as the Seals leave their beachfront paradise to take on the Knighthawks in a battle that could very well knock either team out of the playoff conversation.

The two squads have quickly become two of the most exciting teams in this home stretch of the season, finding disappointment in their early matchups and chart-climbing success through the new year. While the Knighthawks are now sitting comfortably in the sixth seat in this week’s League standings, a loss here this close to playoffs could allow the other seven-win teams to sneak up on them.

Conversely, the 8-6 Seals have nestled themselves into the League’s upper echelon, occupying the number four slot above the similarly 8-6 Colorado Mammoth. A win this weekend for San Diego would all but secure their bid for the postseason, while a win for Rochester has the potential to drop the Seals back into the middle of the pack. While the remainder of the season may be filled with uncertainties, one thing is for sure– neither team plans to go down without a fight.

The Seals march to Rochester at 7:00PM ET this Saturday on ESPN+, TSN+, & NLL+.

Ain’t no rest for the Warriors: Vancouver at Buffalo

The Warriors have found themselves between a rock and a hard place—and no, I’m not referring to Toronto. Vancouver currently resides in seven-win purgatory, running the risk of dropping further or climbing ever-higher depending on the outcomes across the League, not to mention their own matchup. The Warriors are making their way to KeyBank Center for a late-season contest against the Buffalo Bandits, who have already clinched their playoff berth and are now playing with nothing to lose but a number-one seed.

Saturday’s matchup also presents an opportunity for Buffalo’s Dhane Smith to reach 1000 career loose balls (currently at 990) and 1,200 career points (currently at 1,188), and also stands out as goalkeeper Matt Vinc’s 300th game played in the NLL. Vancouver, on the other hand, has everything to gain, including but not limited to a higher seat and the ultimate bragging rights (exclusions apply). But a pot this large is not without its drawbacks, as a loss for the Warriors this weekend could drop them out of the safe zone, weather depending. But Vancouver is coming in confident, having won their last two games against Georgia and Toronto, due in part to a few minor lineup changes and the addition of goalkeeper Christian Del Bianco, who fielded an impressive 92 saves in his two games played in the black ‘n’ gold. Despite facing their toughest matchup of the season at the most crucial juncture, the Warriors’ revitalized defense may be their ticket to the show.

Vancouver takes the field at KeyBank Center this Saturday at 7:30PM ET. Stream on ESPN+, TSN+, & NLL+.

Ottawa Tees Up for Pivotal Game Against Philadelphia

Though Philadelphia has been subject to a less-than-stellar win-loss percentage, they’re not out of the running yet. The 5-9 Wings are currently treading water just above the Desert Dogs, coincidentally just below the expectation-defying Albany Firewolves, whose current win streak has proved that even this late in the game, there’s still an opportunity to climb the ladder. Philly seems to be taking that to heart, with recent re-additions to the Active Roster resonating like an East Coast battle cry.

Philly has moved defender Mitchell Armstrong and faceoff specialist Nick Rowlett to the Active Roster from the IR List, both set to make their first appearance this season against the Black Bears. Ottawa, though currently closer to the show than the Wings, who are in no position to goof off either. Their 6-8 record seeds them just below Calgary in the tenth seat, a win and a few goals away from usurping the Roughnecks’ position, but equally as close to dropping again. A win for either squad this weekend could spark a last-ditch effort for a playoff seat, or bump them just out of the running.

Ottawa and Philly kick off the weekend this Friday at 7:00PM ET on ESPN+, TSN+, & NLL+.