The 2022-23 Schedule is Live! Schedule

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WK
1
Fri, Dec 2
FINAL
Philadelphia
8
Halifax
18
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Vancouver
8
Toronto
19
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
San Diego
15
New York
14
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Albany
11
Buffalo
10
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Rochester
16
Georgia
11
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Colorado
6
Saskatchewan
18
WK
2
Fri, Dec 9
FINAL
Las Vegas
11
Panther City
13
Fri, Dec 9
FINAL/OT
Saskatchewan
12
San Diego
13
Sat, Dec 10
FINAL
Toronto
7
Rochester
11
Sat, Dec 10
FINAL
Vancouver
9
Calgary
11
WK
3
Fri, Dec 16
FINAL
Calgary
14
Vancouver
5
Fri, Dec 16
FINAL
Panther City
9
Las Vegas
3
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Buffalo
11
Toronto
8
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Rochester
14
Albany
13
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Philadelphia
13
Georgia
12
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Halifax
20
New York
11
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Colorado
12
Panther City
9
WK
5
Fri, Dec 30
FINAL
Halifax
13
Buffalo
18
Fri, Dec 30
FINAL
San Diego
17
Calgary
14
Sat, Dec 31
FINAL
Panther City
9
Saskatchewan
11
WK
6
Fri, Jan 6
FINAL
Philadelphia
14
Las Vegas
9
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Panther City
9
Rochester
17
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Halifax
14
Albany
11
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Buffalo
18
Georgia
9
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Toronto
15
New York
7
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Calgary
8
Colorado
9
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Vancouver
11
San Diego
16
WK
7
Fri, Jan 13
FINAL/OT
Albany
11
Halifax
10
Fri, Jan 13
FINAL/OT
Saskatchewan
10
Colorado
11
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Halifax
8
Toronto
17
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Panther City
12
Philadelphia
10
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Georgia
9
Buffalo
11
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
San Diego
10
Calgary
14
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Las Vegas
16
Vancouver
19
Sun, Jan 15
FINAL
Rochester
11
New York
8
WK
8
Fri, Jan 20
FINAL
Buffalo
12
Rochester
15
Fri, Jan 20
FINAL
Vancouver
14
Las Vegas
15
Sat, Jan 21
FINAL
Toronto
14
Philadelphia
5
Sat, Jan 21
FINAL
New York
16
Albany
10
WK
9
Fri, Jan 27
FINAL
Rochester
7
Halifax
17
Fri, Jan 27
FINAL
Buffalo
13
Philadelphia
9
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
Buffalo
16
New York
10
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
Las Vegas
10
Saskatchewan
15
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL/OT
Toronto
11
Calgary
10
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
San Diego
13
Colorado
9
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
Panther City
20
Vancouver
7
WK
10
Fri, Feb 3
FINAL
Georgia
10
Colorado
13
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL/OT
Calgary
12
Halifax
11
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
New York
14
Toronto
22
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Albany
5
Philadelphia
13
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Rochester
10
Buffalo
13
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Panther City
10
San Diego
12
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Saskatchewan
14
Vancouver
8
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Colorado
8
Las Vegas
13
WK
11
Fri, Feb 10
FINAL
Toronto
11
Georgia
10
Fri, Feb 10
FINAL
Saskatchewan
6
Calgary
13
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Halifax
14
Rochester
16
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Albany
12
New York
14
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Vancouver
13
Panther City
14
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Colorado
9
Calgary
13
WK
12
Fri, Feb 17
FINAL
Calgary
14
Vancouver
9
Fri, Feb 17
FINAL
Saskatchewan
16
San Diego
11
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL
Georgia
7
Toronto
16
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL
Las Vegas
12
Albany
10
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL/OT
Philadelphia
12
Buffalo
13
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL
Colorado
7
Panther City
13
Sun, Feb 19
FINAL
New York
12
Halifax
13
WK
13
Fri, Feb 24
FINAL
Panther City
12
Colorado
14
Fri, Feb 24
FINAL
Calgary
9
Las Vegas
11
Sat, Feb 25
FINAL/OT
New York
10
Rochester
11
Sat, Feb 25
FINAL
Albany
4
Georgia
20
Sat, Feb 25
FINAL
Vancouver
16
Saskatchewan
12
WK
14
Fri, Mar 3
FINAL
Buffalo
10
Halifax
9
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
New York
12
Philadelphia
19
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
Las Vegas
12
San Diego
15
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
Rochester
8
Toronto
9
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL/OT
Georgia
9
Albany
8
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
Saskatchewan
10
Panther City
16
Mon, Mar 6
FINAL
Toronto
10
Philadelphia
11
WK
15
Fri, Mar 10
FINAL/OT
Halifax
9
Buffalo
10
Fri, Mar 10
FINAL
Calgary
16
Colorado
10
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
Albany
6
Toronto
12
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
Philadelphia
10
New York
13
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
San Diego
12
Saskatchewan
11
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
Vancouver
14
Las Vegas
5
Sun, Mar 12
FINAL
Rochester
19
Georgia
18
WK
16
Fri, Mar 17
FINAL
Saskatchewan
6
Calgary
11
Fri, Mar 17
FINAL
San Diego
16
Vancouver
9
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Georgia
13
Philadelphia
12
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Toronto
12
Halifax
14
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Albany
10
New York
13
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Colorado
13
Buffalo
8
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Las Vegas
8
Panther City
11
Sun, Mar 19
FINAL/OT
Philadelphia
9
Rochester
8
WK
17
Fri, Mar 24
20:30:00
San Diego
Panther City
Sat, Mar 25
19:00:00
Toronto
Albany
Sat, Mar 25
19:00:00
Halifax
Philadelphia
Sat, Mar 25
19:30:00
Georgia
New York
Sat, Mar 25
21:30:00
Calgary
Saskatchewan
Sat, Mar 25
22:00:00
Buffalo
San Diego
Sat, Mar 25
22:00:00
Colorado
Vancouver
Sat, Mar 25
22:30:00
Rochester
Las Vegas
WK
18
Fri, Mar 31
19:00:00
New York
Georgia
Fri, Mar 31
21:00:00
Las Vegas
Colorado
Fri, Mar 31
22:00:00
Calgary
San Diego
Sat, Apr 1
19:00:00
Buffalo
Toronto
Sat, Apr 1
20:00:00
Albany
Panther City
Sat, Apr 1
21:30:00
Vancouver
Saskatchewan
Sun, Apr 2
13:00:00
Georgia
Halifax
Sun, Apr 2
18:00:00
Rochester
Philadelphia
WK
19
Sat, Apr 8
19:00:00
Albany
Rochester
Sat, Apr 8
19:00:00
Saskatchewan
Georgia
Sat, Apr 8
21:00:00
Panther City
Calgary
Sat, Apr 8
21:00:00
Vancouver
Colorado
Sat, Apr 8
22:30:00
San Diego
Las Vegas
WK
20
Fri, Apr 14
21:00:00
Las Vegas
Calgary
Fri, Apr 14
21:00:00
San Diego
Colorado
Sat, Apr 15
19:00:00
Philadelphia
Toronto
Sat, Apr 15
19:00:00
Georgia
Albany
Sat, Apr 15
19:30:00
New York
Buffalo
Sat, Apr 15
21:30:00
Halifax
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 15
22:00:00
Panther City
Vancouver
WK
21
Fri, Apr 21
20:30:00
Calgary
Panther City
Sat, Apr 22
18:00:00
New York
Halifax
Sat, Apr 22
19:00:00
Georgia
Rochester
Sat, Apr 22
20:00:00
Toronto
Buffalo
Sat, Apr 22
21:30:00
Colorado
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 22
22:00:00
Las Vegas
San Diego
Sun, Apr 23
15:00:00
Philadelphia
Albany
WK
22
Sat, Apr 29
19:00:00
Philadelphia
Rochester
Sat, Apr 29
19:00:00
Buffalo
Albany
Sat, Apr 29
19:00:00
Halifax
Georgia
Sat, Apr 29
22:00:00
Colorado
San Diego
Sat, Apr 29
22:00:00
New York
Vancouver
Sat, Apr 29
22:30:00
Saskatchewan
Las Vegas
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Stories/Op-Ed

Off To The Races: Rock Vs. Black Wolves

The Toronto Rock (12-4) might be welcoming legendary captain Colin Doyle back into the lineup as the team’s trek toward a first-place finish in the East Division continues on Friday against the New England Black Wolves (4-9), who are fighting to stay in the playoff race, at Air Canada Centre at 7:30 p.m. ET. Watch on NLL LIVE in the U.S. and TSN GO in Canada.

According to TorontoRock.com, the long-time Rock forward Doyle was added to the active roster on Wednesday afternoon, marking Friday night as potentially his first game since the 2014 playoff loss to Buffalo on May 3.

“He looked very good in practice last night [Tuesday], he took full contact,” said Rock head coach John Lovell.

The Doyle injury, suffered during the offseason, looked sure to leave a gapping hole in the Toronto offence, but the Rock persevered and found compensation with the successes of Rob Hellyer (86 points) and Brett Hickey (41 goals) this season. But that solace was partly taken away on March 21 when Hellyer fell to injury against the Edmonton Rush. It was a sudden exit of 86 points from the Rock lineup.

Cue the acquisition of Kevin Crowley ahead of the trade deadline. The deal sent league all-star and multi 100-point man Garrett Billings to New England in the blockbuster one-for-one trade.  For two weeks, Toronto carried a conventional six-man offense including Stephan Leblanc, Kasey Beirnes, Kevin Ross, Josh Sanderson, Crowley and Hickey. As Doyle prepares to make his long-awaited return, the Rock are faced with the decision of whether or not to carry seven guys on the offensive front. Doing so would leave just nine guys on the backend, an unconventional lineup approach not at all explored by Toronto this season.

“If that’s what we end up doing, we can do it,” said Rock owner and general manager Jamie Dawick after last Friday night’s win over the Stealth. “We’re typically a six [forwards] and 10 [defenders] team, so I imagine we’ll go seven and nine for a least a game.”

Whatever the case may be on Friday, Toronto’s only focus will be a potential first place finish and the obstacle standing in the way – in this case the floundering New England Blackwolves. The Rock are in the midst of a trench war with the Edmonton Rush (10-5) and the Rochester Knighthawks (10-4) for that first place overall spot, a position which awards the holder with a first-round post-season bye and home floor advantage throughout the playoffs.

“Mathematically, we still have a chance to get first place…so we just got to take care of business ourselves,” said Lovell. “We’re expecting a tough game because New England is fighting for similar things, they are trying to get into the playoffs.”

While there are a number of possible scenarios to which a first place position could be earned, Toronto’s best chance is to win their last two remaining games (both against New England) to give them a 14-4 regular season record. If done, the Rock would fend of a surging Edmonton Rush team who cannot finish better than 13 wins. Rochester however, could still leap-frog the Rock as the they hold the tiebreaker should the two teams finish with identical 14-4 records.

Lovell preaches the mantra of self-awareness and nothing else ahead of the final steps of battle. The second-year coach looks only within the confines to which the Rock can control. The Rock’s successes this season can be attributed to a well-balanced lacrosse game, a good offense (12.8 goals per game), a better defense (10.37 goals against average) and nearly the league’s best goaltending (third at a combined .790 save percentage).

A big pat on the back has to go to coach Lovell, who has successfully managed a two-goalie system in Toronto. Perhaps not by design (Miller started the Rock’s first three games), Miller and Rose have shared the load almost equally over the second half of the season. Sharing identical 6-2 records thus far, Rock and Miller each have turned away 250 shots this year.

“It’s been different for me, but it’s something that most teams don’t have the luxury of. It’s something new and it’s something quite advantageous,” said Rock goalie Brandon Miller. “The two goalie system is probably a good reason why we’ve been so successful.”

For the Black Wolves, the team hopes to use the game as a springboard in their push for the playoffs. In the team’s previous game against the Rock on February 20, the Black Wolves lost 13-12 in overtime. With their postseason hopes slowly fading, the pack will look to bounce back from a tough loss to the Stealth and get a much needed win against the Rock.

“It is a disappointing loss,” said Black Wolves head coach Blane Harrison. “Last weekend, we thought we were good enough to win that game. Other than face offs, we loose-balled them, we outshot them, and we got good quality shots. Unfortunately, we couldn’t finish and that was the determining factor in the game. Otherwise, it was a game that I thought we played well enough to win, but we didn’t and that’s the bottom line. The final score is the only metric that matters.”

During their Week 8 matchup, the Black Wolves outshot the Rock by almost ten shots on goal, and picked up 77 loose-balls. The production continued in face-offs, with the pack taking 21 of the 29 face-offs in the game. However, the Black Wolves’ defense could not hold up, allowing the Rock to score 5 goals in the fourth quarter tying the score at 12.

“That was a solid game for us,” Harrison said. “Unfortunately, we couldn’t hold onto a lead and we let it get away from us in overtime. We’ll look at the lineup; there are a couple of things we’ve got to tweak up. I did like the shot production. I think Brett Hull once said that he doesn’t care if he scores, just as long as his chances are there he’ll shoot his way out of it. I feel the same way here.”

“We’ve got to continue to generate our chances. Start burying them. Shoot our way out of our offensive slump, and then have our defense hold serve. Then we’ll give ourselves a pretty good chance to be competitive,” added Harrison.

A player that has started to generate more shots for the Black Wolves since his debut is rookie forward Mark Cockerton. Cockerton averages about 6.5 shots on goal per game, hitting the back of the net at least once each game. He also averages about 2 assists a game, helping his teammates to get more shot opportunities. Though he started the 2015 season late due to an injury, Cockerton continues to work on improving in all aspects of the game.

“I just feel like I’m trying to get better each week,” Cockerton said. “At the beginning of the year, I was playing a lot of field lacrosse, just trying to get in the mode of box lacrosse again. I feel like every week in practice, I’m trying to go as hard as I can, and just trying to get better each and every practice. Really come back into the fold of box lacrosse and finishing.”

“The speed of the game is a lot different, but I’ve made a lot of progress. The coaches do a great job and I’ve been following them a lot. I really like to play with Garrett Billings; he really opens it up for the lefties. He’s faster and I feel like that’s going to help me out a lot too,” noted Cockerton.

The Black Wolves are fighting to earn the third and final playoff spot in the East Division and the real battle comes in their final games of the season. Each opponent in their next matchups are East teams, and with the pack’s dreams of the postseason dangling by a thread, they will need to win out in order to guarantee themselves a playoff spot. It all starts with their Friday night rematch in Toronto.

“We do have five games left, and mathematically we’re still in it,” Harrison said. “It can be, in totality, a pretty daunting challenge. We’re going to have to go into these next five games playing one shift at a time, and give our best effort to give ourselves a chance.”

“We have five games left, and mathematically we have got to win them all,” added Cockerton. “We’re still in it, we play Buffalo two more times, so if we can get those wins we’re right there, we’re right back in it. We have a big one this weekend at Toronto, against the number one team in the league right now. We’ve got to come to play and get that win first and foremost and move on from there.”

By Justin Millerson (@RockBeatToronto) and Alyssa McLaughlin (@BlackWolvesBeat) for NLL.com. Photo by Graig Abel.

NLL