[NLL REPORT] Week 6 Recap and Week 7 Picks

Words by @BernasconiRich

Most outlets are doing power rankings. I'll save you some time, cut through all of the BS and attempt to spell things out in a language that everyone can clearly understand. 

The RUSH are head and shoulders above the league, while the ROUGHNECKS and VANCOUVER STEALTH are the two worst teams in the league.  In fact, SASK is the best squad I have seen in a number of years.  They posses the best defense, the best transition play and the best offense.  They have a league best +25 goal difference.  I, like many others,  are wondering whether they'll make it through the season unbeaten. Interestingly, they have beaten all Eastern teams and have not even faced the two worst teams out West.

Speaking of the two worst teams let’s start with CALGARY.  Their 1-3 record isn’t a complete disaster, but they are tied with VANCOUVER  as the leagues worst offense.  CURTIS DICKSON, DANE DOBBIE and WES BERG are the only three ROUGHNECKS with double digit points over the first 4 games.

VANCOUVER is a dumpster fire at this point.  After allowing the final seven goals against NEW ENGLAND a week prior, they gave up 11 consecutive goals in a row during a historically futile first half.  Things devolved after that as a number of fights broke out, where it seemed as if even coaches were challenging the TORONTO bench.
  

After that, the remaining six teams are all on equal footing.  All posses some good components and all have their weaknesses.  You have heard the cliché, "on any given day" ... well that pretty much sums up NEW ENGLAND, TORONTO, BUFFALO, GEORGIA and COLORADO.

This Week’s picks

Went 3-0 with last weeks picks - Season record so far stands at 11-5.

ROCHESTER at TORONTO  
 I’ll go with the red hot ROCK at home.  After failing to break the 10 goal mark the first two games they have broken the 20 goal mark.  TOM SCHREIBER has been on a roll, putting up 19 points in the last two games.  Rochester has the league’s best power play AND penalty kill.  MATT VINC is playing at a All-Pro level.

NEW ENGLAND at ROCHESTER
This is a great spot for the BLACKWOLVES, I’ll take them since ROCHESTER will be playing back to back.  We’ll see how the KNIGHTHAWK offense deals with the improved NEW ENGLAND defense.

VANCOUVER at BUFFALO

I’ll take Buffalo, that’s all.

GEORGIA at CALGARY

The SWARM are 1-3, but they have lost to all quality teams (NE, SASK, COL) and two have been on the road.  Look for their offense to break out against the suspect CALGARY goalies.  I’ll go with the SWARM.

SASK at COLORADO

Can’t go against the RUSH here. The MAMMOTH also come in unbeaten at 3-0, Although two of the wins are against VAN and CAL.  The loudhouse will be rocking, I still can’t bring myself to pick them.  RYAN BENESCH has been on fire on the power play for COLORADO.