MLL Week Five Statistical Storylines

Published on June 26, 2019 under Major League Lacrosse (MLL) News Release

Dallas Rattlers at Denver Outlaws

The Dallas Rattlers and Denver Outlaws have had very different starts to the season, The Rattlers have yet to find that elusive first win while the Outlaws have been successful in two of their first three games. 

Dallas has had some offensive struggles so far this season, currently ranked last in goals scored per game, assists per game, faceoff wins per game, and shots on goal per game. If Denver can get out to an early lead the Rattlers will have a hard time fighting from behind to get back in the game, similar to their week 2 game against the Cannons who started the game going up 9-0. 

Denver has been one of the best teams at grabbing ground balls this season, while Dallas ranks in the bottom half of the league in that category. If Denver can take advantage of this, they could gain a few extra possessions. 

Both teams will have to capitalize on any turnovers they can get in this game, since both teams are ranked in the top 3 in turnovers per game. Dallas is 1st with only 15.33 turnovers per game, while Denver is tied for 3rd with 17.67 turnovers per game.

Denver Outlaw vs. Boston Cannons

Boston and Denver are playing this weekend for the first time this season. 

Both teams have dominated their opponents in the ground ball department so far this season. They are currently the two best teams when it comes to scooping up ground balls. Boston is 1st in Ground Balls Per Game with 48 ground balls per game (almost 10 higher than the team ranked 3rd (New York)), while Denver is currently sitting at 2nd in ground balls with 41 per game. Which team will be able to better take advantage of this strong aspect of their play?

Both teams have also been successful gaining extra possessions through faceoffs. Both the Outlaws and Cannons are ranked in the top 3 in terms of face off win percentage. Boston is 2nd winning 50% of their face offs, while Denver is T-3rd with 49% of their face offs going their way.

Boston is currently leading the league in Goals scored and shots on goal per game with 15.67 and 27 respectively, and that could prove troublesome for Denver who currently rank in the bottom half of the league allowing 27 shots on goal per game. Interesting that Boston averages 27 shots on goal per game and Denver averages 27 shots on goal allowed per game

Atlanta Blaze vs Chesapeake Bayhawks

Atlanta and Chesapeake should be a thriller this Saturday since both teams have such electric offenses. Both teams rank in the top 3 for goals scored per game and assists per game

Atlanta is 3rd with 14.33 goals scored per game, and Chesapeake is 2nd with 15 goals scored per game

Atlanta is leading the league so far this season with 9.33 assists per game. Chesapeake is not far behind them currently ranked 2nd with 8.5 assists per game

The Bayhawks have been phenomenal this season, but they do have some flaws. They currently rank last in Ground Balls per game and Turnovers per game. If the Blaze can take advantage of the loose balls that the Bayhawks seem to struggle with and if they can capitalize on those turnovers, they could be in a good position to give Chesapeake their first loss of the season.

Chesapeake's offense is aggressive and will attack all game long. They are tied with Boston for the league lead with 27 shots on goal per game, Christopher Madalon, the Blaze goalie, will have his work cut out for him against this Bayhawks team.   

Dallas Rattlers vs. New York Lizards

Two fan bases that do not like each other, whether it is the Cowboys and the Giants or the Lizards and the Rattlers. 

Not much has gone right for the Lizards this season but one aspect of their game has been consistently excellent all year, that is their faceoff game. The Lizards lead the league with 16.5 face off wins per game. Faceoffs have been an area where the Ratters have struggled this season, currently ranked last with only 13.33 face off wins per game. If the Lizards can capitalize on this advantage and get some extra possessions as the game goes they could get their first win of the season. 

One area where both of these struggling teams have excelled is preventing turnovers. These two teams have been the most stingy in the league, they are ranked 1 and 2 in turnovers per game, the Rattlers are 1st with only 15.33 turnovers per game, & the Lizards are 2nd with only 17 turnovers per game.

Even though Dallas has yet to win a game, their defense has been one of the best in the league. They are first in shots on goal allowed per game, and that could be detrimental to the Lizards offense who have struggled to find the net this season.  

Major League Lacrosse Stories from June 26, 2019

• Denver Outlaws to Host Dallas Rattlers in Home Opener on Thursday - Denver Outlaws
• MLL Week Five Statistical Storylines - MLL

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