Bandits, Rock to battle with plenty of playoff implications
March 22, 2004 - National Lacrosse League (NLL) News Release
The Buffalo Bandits and Toronto Rock rivalry could reach a new high as the teams meet in a home and home series this weekend. A sweep by either Buffalo or Toronto would give that team the East Division title and a first round bye. The Rochester Knighthawks can clinch the last remaining East Division playoff berth by defeating the Philadelphia Wings, the very team they are fighting for the East Division playoff spot. In the West Division, the Colorado Mammoth can wrap up the division title and a first round bye with a win over San Jose on Saturday.
EAST DIVISION
The Toronto Rock (8-4) have already clinched a playoff berth and can clinch the East Division title and a first round bye with a pair of wins over the Buffalo Bandits (8-5) this weekend. The Rock would move to 10-4, while Buffalo would drop to 8-7. Toronto could then finish no worse than 10-6. Toronto and Buffalo play a home and home series against each other this weekend. Toronto can clinch a home playoff game with one win over Buffalo AND a Rochester loss to Philadelphia this weekend.
The Buffalo Bandits (8-5) have already clinched a playoff berth and can clinch the East Division title and a first round bye with a pair of wins over the Toronto Rock (8-4) this weekend. Buffalo would improve to 10-5, while Toronto would drop to 8-6. While the teams could finish the season with identical 10-6 records, Buffalo would win the first tie-breaker (head-to-head matchups) by having gone 3-1 against Toronto during the season. Buffalo can clinch a home playoff game with one win over Toronto AND a Rochester loss to Philadelphia this weekend.
The Rochester Knighthawks (6-7) can clinch the last remaining playoff berth in the East Division by defeating the Philadelphia Wings (5-8) on Saturday. Rochester would improve to 7-7 and the Philadelphia would drop to 5-9. While the teams could finish the season with identical 7-9 records and split the first tiebreaker (2-2 against each other in head-to-head matchups this season) Rochester would win the second tie-breaker (record against East Division opponents) by having gone no worse than 6-6 against divisional opponents, while Philadelphia could go no better than 5-7 against divisional opponents. Rochester plays at Philadelphia on Saturday.
The Philadelphia Wings (5-8) can clinch the last remaining playoff berth in the East Division by defeating Rochester twice over the next two weeks. The Wings host Rochester on Saturday, and then play at Rochester on April 3rd. The sweep would improve the Wings to 7-8, while Rochester would drop to 6-9. While both teams could still finish at 7-9, Philadelphia would win the first tiebreaker (head-to-head matchups) with Rochester by having gone 3-1 against the Knighthawks during the regular season.
WEST DIVISION
The Colorado Mammoth (11-3) have already clinched a playoff berth. The Mammoth can clinch the West Division title and a first round bye with a win over the San Jose Stealth (7-4) on Friday. The Mammoth can also clinch home field advantage throughout the playoffs with a win AND one Toronto loss this weekend.
If the Mammoth lose to San Jose on Friday, they can still clinch a home playoff game with a Calgary loss to Vancouver on Sunday. The loss would assure Colorado (no worse than 11-5) of finishing ahead of Calgary (best possible 10-6 if they lose to Vancouver on Sunday) in the West Division.
San Jose (7-4) can win the West Division and a first round bye if they win their remaining five games. The Stealth (would be 12-4) would win a potential tiebreaker over Colorado (best possible record 12-4 if they lose to San Jose on Friday) by winning the season series over Colorado 2-1.
Arizona (6-7) and Calgary (7-5) remain in contention for playoff berths.
National Lacrosse League Stories from March 22, 2004
- Storm trade Colsey to Buffalo for Powell brother, draft pick - Anaheim Storm
- Inner city youth learn lacrosse from the pros - Philadelphia Wings
- Bandits acquire Roy Colsey as trade deadline approaches - NLL
- Bandits, Rock to battle with plenty of playoff implications - NLL
- Bandits acquire Colsey - Buffalo Bandits
- Wings Weekly - Philadelphia Wings
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