This weekend’s action resulted in the Bandits jumping up from the No. 3 slot and tying with the Rock for first overall in this week’s NLL Power Rankings. Buffalo demolished the Swarm on Saturday, 19-9, a statement win that every other team in the league should definitely heed; the Rock had the weekend off, but that didn’t hurt their standing, as we’ve seen with the Seals in past weeks. The Swarm, however, didn’t fall too far and still sit at No. 3. Calgary and Saskatchewan switched spots in the NLL Power Rankings, with Calgary climbing to the No. 4 slot and the Rush dropping to #7 after a tough loss to the Roughnecks (17-12, and at home, of all places). Props to the ‘Necks for putting up those kind of numbers against the Rush, and it’ll be interesting to see if they can keep the pace; while on the other side of the aisle, an uncharacteristic three-game losing skid leaves the Rush camp with a lot of questions to answer before this weekend’s tilt in Vancouver.
SEE MORE: Check out the top plays from Week 9 of the National Lacrosse League here.
New No. 5 New England took down the Knighthawks at home 16-13, while No. 6 San Diego returned to the floor for the first time since January 19th, only to lose to the Warriors 14-6 and drop one slot. Speaking of the Warriors, Vancouver continues its slow climb out of the basement (both in the standings and in the rankings), claiming the No. 8 spot after their offense came back to life after their 8-5 loss to Calgary the weekend before. Colorado (who beat Philadelphia on their own floor 12-10 on Saturday) and Rochester tied for the No. 9 spot, while the Wings round it out at No. 11 in the NLL Power Rankings. Colorado (two games behind), like Vancouver, is very much still in the playoff picture out West, but Rochester (4.5 games behind) and Philadelphia (5.5 games behind) are definitely on the outside looking in back East, and we’re coming up on the halfway point of the season. Look for them both to start playing with increased intensity from here on out, as both will be pushing to usurp New England, who currently holds the fourth and final playoff spot.
Looking ahead, the Bandits take on the Roughnecks at home on Saturday night, Toronto’s break ends as they host the Seals, and Georgia makes the trip to Denver to duke it out with the Mammoth. New England has a home-and-home with the Wings beginning Saturday night at the Wells Fargo Center. Saskatchewan travels to Vancouver looking to firmly keep the Warriors in the No. 4 spot in the West standings, and Rochester gets the weekend off and has the chance to regroup after dropping three straight.
READ MORE: Read Steve Wizniuk’s Winners and Losers column for the top (and not as great) moments from Week 9 of the NLL here.
Now, I know it’s early, but as I mentioned before, the playoff picture is already beginning to take shape, and parity is the theme of 2019 so far. Each weekend from here till the end of the regular season is going to be extra fun, I can guarantee. So, check back next week to find out who keeps climbing and who begins to lose ground in the NLL Power Rankings.
| # | Team | Votes (1st) | +/- | Results | Next |
| 1 | Buffalo | 63 (3) | +2 | W 19-9 v GA | Sat v CAL |
| 2* | Toronto | 63 (3) | – | Bye | Fri v SD |
| 3 | Georgia | 54 | -1 | L 9-19 @ BUF | Sat @ COL |
| 4 | Calgary | 44 | +3 | W 17-12 @ SASK | Sat @ BUF |
| 5 | New England | 42 | +1 | W 16-13 v ROC | Sat @ PHI, Sun v PHI |
| 6 | San Diego | 38 | _ | L 6-14 v VAN | Fri @ TOR |
| 7 | Saskatchewan | 30 | -3 | L 12-17 v CAL | Sat @ VAN |
| 8 | Vancouver | 26 | +1 | W 14-6 @ SD | Sat v SASK |
| 9 | Colorado | 15 | +2 | W 12-10 @ PHI | Sat v GA |
| 10* | Rochester | 15 | -2 | L 13-16 @ NE | Bye |
| 11 | Philadelphia | 6 | -1 | L 10-12 v COL | Sat v NE, Sun @ NE |
* Indicates tie
