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Cory Conway 2016 WLA Victoria Shamrock Photo: Victoria Shamrocks
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Western Lacrosse Association Playoff Scenarios

The Western Lacrosse Association playoff race has been so crazy, it has reminded me of the 2018 NLL East division playoffs.  Five teams are still alive fighting for four spots.

Then it dawned on me.  In 2018, I went through every last scenario down the stretch and now with a week to go, I’m about to show you every playoff possibility in the WLA.  After Sunday night’s games, things are a little simpler, but still complicated at the same time. As there hasn’t been a tied game all year, I’m going to ignore those scenarios.  So here we go…

Western Lacrosse Association Playoff Scenarios

Victoria Shamrocks (22 points, 2 games remaining @NW & @COQ)

Yes, a win against Coquitlam may seem like a certainty, but let’s go through the scenarios for the Shamrocks as you never know what might happen.  The Shamrocks are helped by the fact that they have won the season series against every team in the playoff race. For that reason, Victoria has secured home floor advantage in the opening round of the playoffs.

  • Victoria will finish 1st with: a win against New Westminster, a win against Coquitlam, or a Maple Ridge loss.
  • Victoria is 2nd with two losses and a Maple Ridge win.

Maple Ridge Burrards (22 points, 1 game remaining vs Langley)

The Burrards also qualified for the postseason with their win against Nanaimo on Sunday night.  Here’s how it plays out:

  • Maple Ridge is 1st with a win against Langley & two Victoria losses
  • Maple Ridge is 2nd with one of two possibilities:
    • A win against Langley & Victoria winning either remaining game, or
    • A loss against Langley & a Nanaimo win against Burnaby
  • Maple Ridge is 3rd with a loss to Langley and a Burnaby win over Nanaimo

Nanaimo Timbermen (20 points, 1 game remaining at Burnaby)

While the Timbermen are currently in 3rd place, unfortunately the tiebreak scenarios don’t work in their favor.  The only team that they have won the season series against is Burnaby, who they play in their final game. It’s impossible for them to be tied with the Lakers at the end of the year unless the game ends in a tie.  The best the Timbermen can do is 3rd place.

  • Nanaimo finish 3rd with a win against Burnaby and New Westminster losing either remaining game.
  • Nanaimo finish 4th with one of two possibilities:
    • A win against Burnaby and New Westminster winning both remaining games, or
    • A loss against Burnaby and two New Westminster losses
  • Nanaimo finished 5th and misses the playoffs with a loss against Burnaby and New Westminster winning either remaining game.

Burnaby Lakers (20 points, 1 game remaining vs Nanaimo)

Burnaby’s prospects of making the playoffs are far better than Nanaimo as they have the head-to-head tiebreak against New Westminster.  However, missing the playoffs is still possible. Also, because Burnaby has the season series against Maple Ridge, they can still finish 2nd.

  • Burnaby finish 2nd with a win against Nanaimo & a Maple Ridge loss to Langley
  • Burnaby finish 3rd with a win against Nanaimo & a Maple Ridge win against Langley
  • Burnaby finish 4th with a loss against Nanaimo & New Westminster losing either remaining game
  • Burnaby finish 5th and miss the playoffs with a loss against Nanaimo & two New Westminster wins.

New Westminster Salmonbellies (18 points, 2 games remaining @ Langley & vs Victoria)

New Westminster may be in 5th, but still hold their own fate in their own hands.  If they win both games this week, they are in the playoffs regardless of what happens, because the two teams two points ahead of them, Burnaby and Nanaimo, play one another.  But the Bellies have a lot of work to do. That forfeited game early in the year against Nanaimo may come back to haunt them.

  • New Westminster finishes 3rd with two wins and a Nanaimo win over Burnaby
  • New Westminster finishes 4th with a win in either remaining game & a Burnaby win
  • New Westminster finishes 5th and misses the playoffs with one of two possibilities:
    • Losses in both remaining games
    • One loss and a Nanaimo win against Burnaby