Champion's Cup Playoff Dates Announced
April 2, 2008 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Edmonton Rush News Release
Edmonton, AB- With the 2008 National Lacrosse League regular season concluding on the weekend of April 25-26, it's time to start thinking about the playoffs. The National Lacrosse League 2008 Champion's Cup Playoffs will begin on the weekend of May 2-4, and play out over three consecutive weekends. The single-elimination playoffs will consist of seven games; four Divisional Semifinal games (weekend of May 2-4), two Divisional Finals (weekend of May 9-11) and the Championship Game on the weekend of May 16-18. The playoffs will take place on three consecutive weekends following the conclusion of the 2008 regular season (weekend of April 25-26). There will not be a bye week during the post-season.
The Colorado Mammoth and San Jose Stealth can be the first teams to punch their tickets into the 2008 Playoffs. Colorado (6-4) can clinch a playoff berth by winning at least one of their two games this weekend. The Mammoth host the Rochester Knighthawks on Thursday at Pepsi Center, and face the Buffalo Bandits on Saturday at HSBC Arena in Buffalo.
San Jose (6-5) will clinch a playoff berth if they are able to sweep the Portland LumberJax in their home-and-home series this weekend. The two teams meet on Saturday at Rose Garden in Portland, and Sunday at HP Pavilion in San Jose.
The playoff format remains the same as last season. Eight teams will advance to the Playoffs, the top four finishers in the East and West Divisions. In the Divisional Semifinal games, the regular season division champion (East #1 / West #1) hosts the regular season fourth place finisher from their respective division (East #4 / West #4) in the Divisional Semifinals. The regular season second place finisher (East #2 / West #2) hosts the regular season third place finisher (East #3 / West #3) from their respective division in the Divisional Semifinals. Each game is hosted by the higher seeded team.
In the Divisional Finals, the winner of the First vs. Fourth place Divisional Semifinal game faces the winner of the Second vs. Third place Divisional Semifinal game in each respective division. Each game is hosted by the higher seeded team.
The Divisional Final winners shall meet in the 2008 NLL Championship Game (East vs. West) with the higher overall seed hosting the game. Following the conclusion of the regular season on April 26th, the eight playoff teams will receive an overall seeding number (#1 through #8). The overall seeding number is used to determine which Divisional Final winner will host the Championship Game. The team with the best regular season record will be the #1 overall seed, and would have home floor throughout the playoffs, including the Championship Game.
Playoff Calendar
Regular season ends on Saturday, April 26
Divisional Semi-finals: Weekend of May 2-4
East #4 at East #1
East #3 at East #2
West #4 at West #1
West #3 at West #2
Divisional Finals: Weekend of May 9-11
East Semi-final winners meet at higher remaining seed
East Semi-final winners meet at higher remaining seed
NLL Championship Game: Weekend of May 16-18
Eastern Divisional Champion vs Western Divisional Champion
hosted by higher overall seed
Exact dates & times TBD; subject to change
Playoff Scenarios, entering games of weekend April 3-6:
COLORADO MAMMOTH:
Can clinch a playoff berth with a win over Buffalo or Rochester this weekend.
SAN JOSE STEALTH:
Can clinch a playoff berth with two wins over Portland this weekend.
National Lacrosse League Stories from April 2, 2008
- Shamrox' Player Cody Jacobs Named NLL Offensive Player and Overall Player of the Week - Chicago Shamrox
- Rush Duo Named in NLL's Weekly Honours - Edmonton Rush
- Champion's Cup Playoff Dates Announced - Edmonton Rush
- New York Titans Look For Revenge In Minnesota Saturday - Orlando Titans
- MacLeod earns first NLL weekly honor - Rochester Knighthawks
- Chicago's Jacobs named Player of Week - NLL
- Chicago's Jacobs named Player of Week - NLL
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
