NLL Playoffs Primer
April 8, 2025 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Ottawa Black Bears News Release
The 2024-25 NLL regular season is heating up as the league prepares for the start of playoffs, with the Ottawa Black Bears in the midst of a tight race to claim one of the remaining playoff positions.
How do teams get in?
Of the fourteen teams in the NLL, only the top eight make it into the playoffs. Standings are determined by teams' win percentages, which is calculated by dividing the number of wins a team has by the number of games they have played. Therefore, the eight teams with the highest win percentages will make the playoffs.
How are the playoffs formatted?
The NLL Playoffs are fast, vicious, and intense.
A team's rank in the standings doesn't just determine whether or not they'll make the playoffs. Once in, where a team finishes in the standings will dictate who they play and where their game will take place. The best-seeded team hosts each quarterfinal matchup, and thus has home advantage.
The No. 1 team will face the No. 8 team, No. 2 vs. No. 7, No. 3 vs. No. 6, and No. 4 vs. No. 5.
The quarterfinals take place in the form of four single elimination games. Win your game and you move on, lose and you're out.
Following the quarterfinals, both the semifinal and final rounds will take place in a best-of-three format. This means the first team in each matchup to win two games moves on.
This year's playoff schedule, per the NLL, is as follows:
Quarterfinals (single elimination)
Thursday, April 24 - Sunday, April 27
Semifinals (best-of-three)
Thursday, May 1 - Sunday, May 4
Thursday, May 8 - Sunday, May 11 (if necessary)
2025 NLL Finals (best-of-three)
Thursday, May 15 - Sunday, May 18
Thursday, May 22 - Monday, May 26 (if necessary)
Support the team
Black Bears fans can do their part to support the team in their hunt for the playoffs by cheering them on this Saturday when they host the Las Vegas Desert Dogs at 7:00 p.m. ET. A packed house filled with fans' energy is the best way to help the team on their way to a win. Don't miss out! Get your tickets!
National Lacrosse League Stories from April 8, 2025
- 'It's What We're All About': Malawsky Commits to Giving Back Through Coach Curt's Corner - Vancouver Warriors
- Seals Set for Home-And-Home Versus Albany with Sights Set on Playoffs as NLL Regular-Season Reaches Its Conclusion - San Diego Seals
- Mammoth Re-Sign Defenseman Brett Craig to One-Year Deal - Colorado Mammoth
- Player Transaction - NLL
- Jackson and Chaykowsky Hit Milestones in Loss: by the Numbers Presented by Storedtech - Albany FireWolves
- NLL Playoffs Primer - Ottawa Black Bears
- Fan Voting Is Now Open: Choose Your 2024.25 Vancouver Warriors Team Awards Winners - Vancouver Warriors
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.
