National Lacrosse League Playoffs Update
Published on April 16, 2008 under National Lacrosse League (NLL) News Release
With just two weekends of games left in the National Lacrosse League's 2008 regular season, every team is still alive in the hunt for the playoffs. Colorado and San Jose, the only two teams that have clinched a playoff berth, are battling for the West Division title, while the other ten clubs have their eyes on the six remaining playoff spots.
In the East, Minnesota (9-4) and Philadelphia (9-5) can each secure a playoff berth with a win this weekend, while Buffalo (8-6) and New York (7-6) can clinch with wins and some help. Rochester (7-7), Toronto (7-7) and Chicago (5-7) all remain in playoff contention.
In the West, Calgary (5-9), Portland (5-9) and Edmonton (4-9) are competing for the two remaining playoff berths. Each team still controls its own destiny and is guaranteed a post-season berth if they win their remaining games.
The league has determined the following with respect to the playoffs entering the upcoming weekend of games on April 18-19, the second to last weekend of the regular season:
East Division
MINNESOTA SWARM (9-4):
Clinches a playoff berth with a win against Rochester on Saturday. Other scenarios also exist. Clinches the East Division title with a win against Rochester on Saturday AND a Philadelphia loss to New York on Saturday AND a Buffalo loss to Chicago on Saturday.
PHILADELPHIA WINGS (9-5):
Clinches a playoff berth with a win over New York on Saturday. Other scenarios also exist.
BUFFALO BANDITS (8-6):
Clinches a playoff berth with a win over Chicago on Saturday AND a Rochester loss to Minnesota on Saturday AND a Toronto loss to Calgary on Saturday. Other scenarios also exist.
NEW YORK TITANS (7-6):
Clinches a playoff berth with two wins this weekend AND a Rochester loss to Minnesota on Saturday AND a Toronto loss to Calgary on Saturday. Other scenarios also exist.
West Division
SAN JOSE STEALTH (8-6):
Has clinched a playoff berth and a home playoff game. Can clinch the West Division title with a win over Portland on Friday AND two Colorado losses to Edmonton this weekend.
COLORADO MAMMOTH (7-6):
Has clinched a playoff berth. Can clinch a home playoff game with one win this weekend. Other scenarios also exist.
PORTLAND LUMBERJAX (5-9):
Clinches a playoff berth with a win at San Jose on Friday AND at least one Edmonton loss to Colorado this weekend. Clinches a playoff berth with two Edmonton losses to Colorado this weekend.
CALGARY ROUGHNECKS (5-9):
Clinches a playoff berth with a win against Toronto on Saturday AND two Edmonton losses to Colorado this weekend.
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About the 2008 NLL 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 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 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
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
NLL Championship Game: Weekend of May 16-18
East Divisional Champion vs West Divisional Champion
hosted by higher overall seed
Exact times & dates TBD; subject to change
National Lacrosse League Stories from April 16, 2008
- Swarm Can Earn Playoff Berth With Victory Saturday vs. Rochester Knighthawks - Minnesota Swarm
- Fourth Place New York Titans Play Home And Away This Weekend - Orlando Titans
- O'Toole Earns NLL Weekly Honors - Rochester Knighthawks
- Wings' Athan Iannucci Honored As NLL's Player Of The Week And Offensive Player Of The Week - Philadelphia Wings
- Philadelphia's Athan Iannucci named Player of the Week - NLL
- National Lacrosse League Playoffs Update - 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.
