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NLL Video Explosion: So Many Clips, So Little Time!

Editor’s Note: Thanks to the help of the innovative team at SISU Guard, the Official Mouthguard of the NLL, we are beefing up our National Lacrosse League coverage for 2016! We hope you enjoy our look at the NLL season through a new lens with the aid of our partner SISU!

Six games across four days adds up for a ton of great viewing content. This weekend we only have two games to watch on Saturday, so get your fix in now! Here we go!

How, Dan Dawson? How?

Forced pass? Who cares! Rapid fire ball movement resulted in a ridiculous one-handed snag by the towering Dan Dawson on the crease to bury it past veteran net minder Brandon Miller. This is easily my play of the week. The fact that he was able to handle the ball blew my mind, let alone getting a successful shot off on cage. This was one of many goals scored by Dawson during their big weekend whooping up on Toronto.

Reigning NLL MVP Shawn Evans scores hist 1st in the new barn

This was Shawn Evans’ only point in the game against his former squad, but that isn’t stopping the 11 year veteran from ranking 6th in points and 2nd for goals so far in 2016. 23 loose balls deep, Evans is already on his way to setting records again, this time in a Black Wolves uniform. Who else can shoot from that spot like Shawn Evans?

Socks?! Socks at a time like this?!

You know what happens when you score six goals in the Pepsi Center over one night? You get the socks. A lot of socks. Numero siete came on a nice little bouncer after Jonesy punched in 5 in the first half. Leading the NLL right now with 13 goals in 3 games, Jones is on a hot streak that he looks to carry into Vancouver this weekend.

Vitarelli goes full steam at the cage for the goal

One of many bright spots last weekend for Rochester was the consistency of Cory Vitarelli. 6 goals and 17 loose balls in 3 games is a solid start for the 6 year veteran lefty. The guy is going hard on every run, as displayed above…

Then he makes heads-up plays like this…

Way to go, Rochester offensive. Keep diversifying things.

Brett Manney hops in open net to make a save

It takes a special kind of person to suit up as a goaltender. It takes an even crazier human being to hop between the pipes with no really padding at all. Kirk got pulled out to grab a loose ball behind the goal in which Kiel Matisz made a huge play snagging the ball and launching for the wrap around. Defenseman Brett Manney made an incredible heads up move and slid in to make the save and halting any chance of a Georgia comeback. What a man.

No one can feed the rock like Junior

When I say no one, I mean no one. The Buffalo defense did what the could to contain the shooting of John Grant Jr. but he still gathered his first hat trick of the season along with the helpers. Junior has eyes that see 10 steps ahead and he backed down his defender just long enough to get Wardle to cut for a smooth behind the back feed to goal. This is textbook JGJ, but still impossible for most.

Bang, bang passing results in a Dhane Smith goal

The Bandits offense isn’t shooting the lights out, but they’re scoring a great deal of quality team goals. They could easily be 2-0, but a tough overtime loss to the undefeated Mammoth gave them their first taste of blood. The transition team is strong, but they favor the 5-on-5 offense where they can do stuff like this.

Miles Thompson change of direction goes inside for goal

Well the sophomore hasn’t wowed us yet this year, but this little change of direction of the goal line gave Miles Thompson the lane straight to the cage. This is the only goal Miles has scored in the three Swarm showings so far, a bit of a serious contrast from last season’s Rookie of the Year runner-up performance.

Hickey throws down the wrap around on Vinc

Hey look! A highlight from Toronto! So far they’re 0-3 and have only scored 19 goals. Pardon me if I seem a bit rude for pointing out that anyone would be hard-pressed to find a highlight, but the Rock have given us nothing to write home about in their first trio of games. This play from Hickey was sick, don’t get me wrong, and draped in Hossack made it that much harder. Props.

Diving goal from Kevin Buchanan at home ignites crowd

Kevin goes hard in the paint. Give him that much space and he will make you pay. Inside, bring it back and attack. Sorry, Frankie, but it’s good!

Spin-move for Cupido opens up angles for easy goal

I wish this video had one of those cartoony, loopy whistles when Cupido hits the B button. Coates hooked him up but the defender played it perfectly giving Joey two options. Roll and his Coates again, or spin move to the middle for an open shot. He chose the latter and sunk it.

Bucky finds twine on the road

Welcome back to the highlight list, Mr. B. The Screaming Eagle (he’s American so I’m going with it) has been fearless so far scoring 4 goals, most coming hard on the crease. He’s not scared to take constant hacks on the back and hard pressure on the boards. Bucky is turning into one of the grittiest guys in the NLL.

Chris Corbeil finishes big play with the diving wraparound

Making an aggressive play on a loose ball, Corbeil forced the strip and snagged the rock in an immediate run on the goal. Coming from behind, he dove out and threw it down hard over Eric Penney’s shoulder. From defense, to the loose ball, to the athleticism on the shot, Corbeil pulled out all his tricks on this play.

Pat Saunders lightly touches one in one the crease

The softest of hands on display here. Shawn Evans could have let it play but instead he connects with Saunders on the money for a quick redirection goal. Only in the pros.

Preparing for this weekend’s trip to Vancouver

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kxjbt0oXqI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbsAhJ3cHPw

Think they can stay undefeated after heading into Vancouver and facing a Stealth squad coming off a huge win over the Rush? This is what Dillon Ward and Jonesy have to say aboot it.

Toronto Rock practice report after 0-3 start

Riding the struggle bus, Toronto can’t slow the skid. This weekend they go to Banditland against a very tough Buffalo team and it’s going to be no easy task. Can they get the offense together and get a win or will they go 0-4 in the league, and conference, on Saturday night.

Top 10 Plays of Week 3 from ECD

Did you just skip straight to this? That’s okay, I don’t blame you.

Top Plays Montage from Lax.com

A whole bunch of goodies in here from 6 games over 4 days!

Vancouver at Saskatchewan Highlights – Banner Raising/Opening Night

Night one in the new hometown for the Rush didn’t quite go as planned, but until the final moments, the game could have been anyone’s. The event started off with the banner raising and featured a house band to play during the intros and halftime for the crowd’s entertainment. Over 9k fans made their way into the Sasktel Centre, but the Stealth righted their ship and took home the win.

Rochester at Toronto Game 1&2 Highlights

Find out all about the pair of games between Toronto (0-3) and Rochester (2-1) in this week’s NLL recap. Moral of the story is the Rock got spanked and the Hawks didn’t even feel bad about it.

Shoot harder with Brett Hickey and the Rock

Get some more power on your shot with this commonly used lacrosse exercise.

60 seconds of getting to know Jeff Gilbert

Pizza burgers with Jeff Gilbert. I’m sold. I’ll spare the jokes about spending more time practicing.

Transformation Thursday with Toronto

If you stayed with me this long, I salute you. After that one, I’m done. Good day, folks!