National Lacrosse League Playoff Update
Published on April 4, 2006 under National Lacrosse League (NLL) News Release
After three of the four playoff berths in the Western Division were clinched last weekend, it's the Eastern Division teams that will be looking to do the same this weekend. First-place Buffalo (9-4) clinched a berth last weekend, leaving the other three Eastern spots open. After battling in perhaps the tightest division race in league history, the four remaining Eastern teams, still all separated by a half game, each have a chance to reach the playoffs this weekend.
Here are the updated playoff scenarios as the league enters the second-to-last weekend of the regular season:
Eastern Division
Buffalo (9-4) has clinched a playoff berth. Can clinch a home playoff game with a win over Colorado, OR one Minnesota loss this weekend (to either San Jose or Rochester). Buffalo can clinch the East Division title with a win over Colorado, and a Toronto win over Philadelphia. Buffalo cannot clinch home field throughout playoffs this weekend.
Philadelphia (7-6) can clinch a playoff berth with a win over Toronto.
Minnesota (7-6) can clinch a playoff berth with a win over Rochester and a win at over San Jose. Minnesota can also clinch with a win over Rochester and a Philadelphia win over Toronto.
Rochester (7-7) can clinch a playoff berth with a win over Minnesota, a Philadelphia win over Toronto and a San Jose win over Minnesota.
Toronto (7-7) clinches a playoff berth with a win over Philadelphia, a Rochester win over Minnesota, and a San Jose win over Minnesota.
Western Division
Calgary, Colorado and Portland (all 8-5) have clinched playoff berths. None of the Western teams can clinch a home playoff game this weekend.
Neither Arizona (6-7) nor San Jose (5-7) can clinch the final remaining Western Division playoff berth this weekend. The playoff berth will be clinched by one of these two clubs on the weekend of April 14-15, when they face each other twice in a home-and-home series to conclude their regular seasons.
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2006 NLL Playoffs Schedule
Regular season ends on April 15
Division Semifinal Weekend, April 21-23
East Division Semifinals
East #4 at East #1
East #3 at East #2
West Division Semifinals
West #4 at West #1
West #3 at West #2
Division Championship Weekend, April 28-30
East Division Championship
East #1-#4 winner vs. East #2-#3 winner, hosted by higher seed
West Division Championship
West #1-#4 winner vs. West #2-#3 winner, hosted by higher seed
2006 NLL Championship Game, Weekend of May 12-14
East Champion vs. West Champion, hosted by the higher overall seed
(All playoff games are single-game elimination)
National Lacrosse League Stories from April 4, 2006
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