Week 2 of the National Lacrosse League season featured a wild comeback, the debut of the league’s 15th franchise and the continued emergence of a contender in the East Division.
With every team now having played at least one game, the pecking order is starting to get more defined.
1. SAN DIEGO SEALS
The Seals’ place atop the power rankings was in serious trouble in the closing stages of the third quarter, when Saskatchewan’s Robert Church scored from up top to put the Rush up 10-3. Yet San Diego bounced back, scoring nine straight while getting stabilizing play from backup goalie Chris Origlieri to take a two-goal advantage. The Rush forced overtime, but that gave Curtis Dickson the opportunity to serve as the hero in his first home game with the Seals. Last week: 1
2. ROCHESTER KNIGHTHAWKS
The K-Hawks are the NLL’s best story through two weeks, a seriously doubted bunch that now has a pair of East Division wins after an 8-7 victory against championship contender Toronto. Rylan Hartley continues to make a name for himself after a 48-save performance, and Connor Fields is an early MVP candidate, now up to 18 points in two games. Rochester has won twice in a row for the first time in this iteration of the franchise. Last week: 8
3. HALIFAX THUNDERBIRDS
The T-Birds had the week off and return Saturday at the New York Riptide. Last week: 3
4. ALBANY FIREWOLVES
The FireWolves had the week off and return Saturday when they host the Rochester Knighthawks. Last week: 5
5. SASKATCHEWAN RUSH
The Rush may have lost, but they continued to prove they are right there with the top teams in the West after a down season in 2021-22. The Seals were able to take advantage of Alex Buque during their game-changing run both from inside and out after he put up a strong first half. Offensively, Church had seven points and scored to force overtime in the final minute of regulation. Last week: 4
6. TORONTO ROCK
The Rock’s seven goals against Rochester are the fewest the team has scored in nine games, including last year’s playoffs, and a far cry from the 19 they put up on Vancouver in Week 1. Toronto had just one goal in the first 13 minutes of action and then allowed the Knighthawks to really pull ahead with a 12-minute dry spell stretching from the first quarter deep into the second. Last week: 2
7. BUFFALO BANDITS
The Bandits had the week off and return Saturday for a major East clash at the Toronto Rock. Last week: 6