After a long break that included the All-Star game and Skills Competition two weekends ago in San Jose, the PLL regular season resumes this weekend in Colorado Springs as every team is still alive in the playoff hunt. A few teams have clinching scenarios this weekend which we will review later, and a few teams still have work to do in order to attempt to clinch a berth in a couple weeks in Albany. With eleven regular season games left (five this weekend, six in mid-August), everyone is still alive in a very deep field.
(You can discuss this on the BSL Board here.)
The depth of the league was shown the last times everyone strapped up in Minneapolis, as both last place teams (Waterdogs and Cannons) got wins and were able to keep their seasons alive. The Cannons even were able to hold off the Archers on the back of goalie Nick Marrocco.
If you missed the All-Star game, it was just what you would have expected. Home run checks, two-pointers, a high scoring game and a very hot goalie in Tim Troutner. I may be wrong, as the PLL website doesn’t have stats for the game, but in his All-Star MVP performance, I believe Troutner had 23+ saves. Grant Ament and Marcus Holman made #1 on the Top-10 as the Adversaries took down the Defenders 23-21.
The Skills Contest took place immediately following the All-Star game, with your winners to each competition below:
- Fastest Shot – Jake Froccaro (Chaos)
- Accuracy – Marcus Holman (Archers)
- Freestyle – Dhane Smith (Chaos)
- Fastest Player – Romar Dennis (Atlas)
- Goalie Challenge – Kyle Bernlohr (Whipsnakes)
POWER RANKINGS / CLINCHING SCENARIOS
Last we talked there was a major shakeup in the power rankings after a few upsets in Minneapolis. In my mind and if there were more voters to these rankings each of the top-four would probably receive a first place vote. Needless to say the league is wide open this year. Five of eight teams can clinch a berth in the semifinals in Salt Lake City this weekend, and none of the eight teams will be mathematically eliminated this coming weekend.
- Atlas (3) 4-2
Can clinch a postseason berth with (1) A win against Chrome OR (2) A win against Cannons - Whipsnakes (1) 4-2
Can clinch a postseason berth with (1) A win against Waterdogs OR (2) A Cannons loss to Atlas OR (3) Two Chrome losses - Archers (2) 3-3
Can clinch a postseason berth with (1) A win against Redwoods AND two Chrome or Chaos losses - Redwoods (5) 4-2
Can clinch a postseason berth with (1) A win against Archers OR (2) A Cannons loss against Atlas OR (3) Two Chrome losses - Waterdogs (8) 4-3
Can clinch a postseason berth with (1) A win against Whipsnakes OR (2) A Cannons loss against Atlas OR (3) Two Chrome losses - Chaos (6) 2-5 – Can neither clinch a playoff berth or be eliminated this weekend
- Cannons (7) 2-4 – Can neither clinch a playoff berth or be eliminated this weekend
- Chrome (4) 2-4 – Can neither clinch a playoff berth or be eliminated this weekend
OTHER NOTABLE STORIES
Chris Hogan signed a deal with the New Orleans Saints this past week, sending him back to the NFL and putting his lacrosse career on pause for the remainder of his time in the NFL. It was obviously cool to see Hogan in the Whipsnakes and Cannons jerseys, but he wasn’t seeing much of the field and obviously was going to jump at the NFL contract. The Whipsnakes retain Hogan’s rights for up to 2 seasons, as he was moved to the Hold Out List for the remainder of the year.
Two notable names were signed this week from the player pool. Dylan Molloy to the Chrome and Will Perry to the Whipsnakes. Might be tough for both to take the field this weekend just a few days after signing, but I would not be surprised if Molloy were to play. The standout for Brown University and the Long Island Lizards will make an immediate impact. It is still unsure what took so long for a PLL team to sign him.
COLORADO SPRINGS PREVIEW – Quick Hits
Atlas vs Chrome – Friday, 9pm
There are plenty of clinching scenarios for the Atlas, the easiest being a win on Friday night over the Chrome, who havent won since July 2nd when they held the Archers to 7 goals. Will John Galloway be back in net for the Chrome and how will he perform after his last two outings (both with 16 saves). Jeff Teat’s odds to win PLL MVP are currently +500 and second only behind Grant Ament after only playing in four games. Teat is averaging 5.5 points per game and leads the young Atlas squad that had struggled in years prior.
Archers vs Redwoods – Saturday, 7:15pm
The winner will be moving on, as if either team wins this game they will be heading to the playoffs. The Redwoods would take a major step to securing the first seed while the Archers are looking to avoid losing their fourth straight after starting 3-0. This would be a momentus loss for a team leading the league in scoring differential by 14 goals. This should be a very close game and I am really excited to watch Epple, Glazener and Sullivan take on the offensive trio of Ament, Manny and Holman.
Waterdogs vs Whipsnakes – Saturday, 10pm
Another clinching situation for both teams, as the winner will secure their spot in the playoffs. The Waterdogs are missing a key duo in Connor Kelly and Drew Snider but they hope to get Michael Sowers (Questionable) back from the concussion he suffered in week 1. Sticking with the injury news, Matt Rambo is listed as out for this weekend with his wrist injury. I really think with good goalie play and if the Waterdogs are able to get early goals past Bernlohr and the great Whipsnake defense, they could find a way to pull the upset Saturday night.
Chaos vs Chrome – Sunday, 2pm
Neither of the two have a chance to clinch a postseason berth this weekend, but this will be an important matchup to decide scenarios for the weekend in Albany. Both of these teams don’t want to end up needing a win and some help in a couple weeks, but one of them will. I am looking for a low scoring matchup with two hot goalies (Blaze Riorden and John Galloway) in the net. If Dylan Molloy is on the restricted roster for this weekend, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him debut on Sunday afternoon.
Atlas vs Cannons – Sunday, 4:45pm
The Atlas could very well be clinched and looking to improve their scoring differential in this one. Or they could be looking to clinch Sunday afternoon, making this a long weekend for them. Hitting their groove back on July 11th in Minneapolis with their win over Archers, the Cannons will need to find the same momentum after three weeks not playing together. This matchup is interesting, as the Atlas have one of the youngest teams in the league, and the Cannons one of the older. This would be as close to the Veterans vs Rising Stars as we can get.
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Two weeks remain in the 2021 Regular Season, and we could see five teams clinch playoff berths this weekend. With the seven team playoff format, that would leave two spots left for the August 13-15 weekend in Albany to round out the playoff field. The action begins tonight at 9pm EST from Colorado Springs.
Lacrosse Analyst
Sam Kuhn currently is the graduate assistant for the men’s lacrosse program at Heidelberg University in Tiffin, Ohio and is working to complete his Masters of Business Administration in 2020. Sam graduated from the College of Wooster in 2018, where he received his Bachelors Degree in English and played lacrosse as well. In his four years, Sam was a two time All-NCAC selection, a first team All-Region selection in 2018, and surpassed 100 goals for his career, one of seven members in program history to do so. Sam has interned with Inside Lacrosse, and wrote for the sports section of The Wooster Voice.