Rochester closes the regular season in Buffalo against the Bandits.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Knighthawks control their playoff fate, entering the final weekend of the season. The Knighthawks will secure a playoff berth, and second place in the East Division, with a win over the Buffalo Bandits on Saturday.
The Knighthawks (9-8) are currently tied for second place in the East Division with the New England Black Wolves (9-8). Rochester travels to play the rival Bandits at KeyBank Center at 7:30 pm Saturday. Buffalo, who lost 16-11 to Toronto last Saturday, is tied for fourth place with the Rock (8-9). The Bandits (8-9) need a win and some help to make the playoffs.
The National Lacrosse League released its playoff-clinching scenarios ahead of NLL Week 21, which features 5 games on the schedule, with all 9 teams in action to conclude the regular season.
Rochester Playoff Scenarios:
Clinches a playoff berth with two Georgia losses vs. Vancouver and New England.
Clinches a playoff berth and 2nd place in the East Division with:
A win vs. Buffalo, OR
Two Georgia losses vs. Vancouver and New England AND a Colorado win vs. Toronto.
Clinches a playoff berth and the East Division title with a win vs. Buffalo AND a Vancouver win vs. Georgia AND a Georgia win vs. New England.
Eliminated with a loss vs. Buffalo AND one Georgia win vs. either Vancouver or New England.
The 2018 NLL Playoffs start the weekend of May 4-6.
A total of 6 NLL teams, the top three clubs in each division, will qualify for the playoffs. The 2 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 fourth-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).