National Lacrosse League Champion's Cup Playoffs Update
Published on April 21, 2008 under National Lacrosse League (NLL) News Release
2008 Champion's Cup Playoffs Update
With only one weekend of games remaining in the 2008 NLL regular season, all seven games to be played on the weekend of April 25-27 will have an impact on the playoffs. Two playoff berths remain up for grabs in the East Division. The six teams that have already clinched playoff berths still have much to play for this weekend, as they all have the opportunity to improve their position within the playoff seeding structure. The regular season champions of the East and West Divisions will come down to the games to be played this weekend. Seven teams still have a chance to become the top overall seed for the playoffs. In the East, five teams enter the final weekend with a chance to win the division's regular season title.
The league has determined the following with respect to the playoffs entering the last weekend of regular season play:
EAST DIVISION
MINNESOTA SWARM (9-5): Has clinched a playoff berth.
Clinches a home playoff game with at least one win against Chicago this weekend.
If Minnesota loses both games to Chicago this weekend, the Swarm would still clinch a home playoff game with a New York loss to Rochester AND a Buffalo win over Portland AND a Philadelphia loss to Toronto.
Clinches the East Division title, top overall seed and home field advantage throughout playoffs with two wins against Chicago.
Clinches the East Division title with at least one win against Chicago this weekend AND one of the following:
-Buffalo loss to Portland.
-New York win over Rochester AND Philadelphia win over Toronto.
BUFFALO BANDITS (9-6): Has clinched a playoff berth.
Clinches a home playoff game with a win against Portland AND one of the following:
-New York loss to Rochester.
-Philadelphia win against Toronto.
-At least one Minnesota loss to Chicago.
If Buffalo loses to Portland, the Bandits would still clinch a home playoff game with two Minnesota losses to Chicago AND a Philadelphia loss to Toronto.
Clinches the East Division title, top overall seed and home field advantage throughout playoffs with a win against Portland AND either:
-One Minnesota loss to Chicago.
-Two Minnesota losses to Chicago AND a New York loss to Rochester.
NEW YORK TITANS (9-6):
Clinches a playoff berth with a win over Rochester OR a Philadelphia loss to Toronto.
Clinches a home playoff game with a win over Rochester AND one of the following:
-Buffalo loss to Portland.
-Two Minnesota losses to Chicago.
-Two Chicago losses to Minnesota.
Clinches the East Division title, top overall seed and home field advantage throughout playoffs with a win over Rochester AND two Minnesota losses to Chicago.
PHILADELPHIA WINGS (9-6):
Clinches a playoff berth with a win over Toronto OR a Rochester loss to New York.
Clinches a home playoff game with a win over Toronto AND two of the following:
-New York loss to Rochester.
-Buffalo loss to Portland.
-Two Minnesota losses to Chicago.
Clinches the East Division title, top overall seed and home field advantage throughout playoffs with a win over Toronto AND a New York loss to Rochester AND a Buffalo loss to Portland AND two Minnesota losses to Chicago.
ROCHESTER KNIGHTHAWKS (8-7):
Clinches a playoff berth with a win over New York.
Clinches a home playoff game with a win over New York AND a Buffalo loss to Portland AND either a Philadelphia loss to Toronto or two Minnesota losses to Chicago.
Clinches the East Division title with a win over New York AND a Buffalo loss to Portland AND a Philadelphia loss to Toronto AND two Minnesota losses to Chicago.
WEST DIVISION
COLORADO MAMMOTH (9-6): Has clinched a playoff berth and a home playoff game. Can clinch the West Division title with a win against San Jose.
SAN JOSE STEALTH (8-7): Has clinched a playoff berth and a home playoff game. Can clinch the West Division title with a win against Colorado.
CALGARY ROUGHNECKS (6-9): Has clinched a playoff berth. Can clinch third place in the West with a win against Edmonton OR a Portland loss to Buffalo.
PORTLAND LUMBERJAX (6-9): Has clinched a playoff berth. Can clinch third place in the West with a win against Buffalo AND a Calgary loss to Edmonton.
--
The schedule of games for the final weekend of the 2008 NLL regular season is as follows:
(All times Eastern)
Friday, April 25
Chicago at Minnesota - 8:00 PM
Colorado at San Jose - 10:30 PM
Saturday, April 26
Portland at Buffalo - 7:30 PM
Rochester at New York - 8:00 PM
Minnesota at Chicago - 8:00 PM
Calgary at Edmonton - 9:30 PM
Sunday, April 27
Philadelphia at Toronto - 1:00 PM
(end of regular season)
--
About the 2008 National Lacrosse League Playoffs:
The 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 Edge NLL 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 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 Edge 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 2008 Edge NLL 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 2008 Edge NLL Championship Game.
PLAYOFF CALENDAR
Divisional Semifinals: 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 Semifinal winners meet at higher remaining seed
West Semifinal winners meet at higher remaining seed
2008 Edge NLL Championship Game: Weekend of May 16-18
East Division Champion vs West Division Champion hosted by higher overall seed
Exact times & dates TBD; subject to change
National Lacrosse League Stories from April 21, 2008
- National Lacrosse League Champion's Cup Playoffs Update - NLL
- Dallas And Daria's Masterpiece - Portland Lumberjax
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.
