A Rochester victory the New England Black Wolves will clinch a playoff berth.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Knighthawks can lock up a playoff berth on Saturday with a victory over the New England Black Wolves. Rochester also can clinch a home playoff game with a win and a Buffalo loss. Saturday’s regular season home finale is set for 7:30 pm at Connors & Ferris Field at the Blue Cross Arena.
The NLL released its playoff-clinching scenarios ahead of NLL Week 20, which features three games Saturday night. Buffalo can clinch a playoff berth with a win and a New England loss, while Toronto is eliminated from playoff consideration with a loss.
The Knighthawks (9-7) are currently tied for first place in the East Division with the Georgia Swarm. Rochester knocked off the Toronto Rock Friday night to win its third straight game and seven of its last eight. The Knighthawks won the season series from the Swarm, 2-1.
The 2018 NLL regular season concludes in Week 21 with every team in action before the 2018 NLL Playoffs start the weekend of May 4-6.
A total of six NLL teams, the top three clubs in each division’s standings, will qualify for the playoffs. The two regular season division champions will earn a first-round bye as the top seeds. The second seeds will host the third seeds in their respective division for the single-elimination Division Semifinal game in the first round. The second round of the playoffs has changed for this season and will now be played as a single-elimination contest. The top seed from each division will host the winner of the Division Semifinal between the second and third seeds for the Division Championships.
For the third straight year, the Finals will be played as a full best-of-three series with the higher-seeded team hosting Game 1 and Game 3 (if necessary).