Week 20 of the 2024-25 National Lacrosse League (NLL) season delivered high-stakes action, playoff implications, and a few memorable milestones. As the regular season winds down, the Vancouver Warriors joined the postseason party while the defending champions, the Buffalo Bandits, etched their name in the history books.
Friday Night Lights: Warriors Secure Postseason Berth
Vancouver Warriors 12, Toronto Rock 10
For the first time since 2017, the Vancouver Warriors are playoff-bound. Their 12-10 win over the Toronto Rock extended their win streak to five and punched their ticket to the postseason. Adam Charalambides had a monster game, tallying four goals and four assists, while Keegan Bal contributed two goals and five helpers in the statement win. Vancouver is peaking at the right time—and they’re doing it with confidence.
Saturday Showdowns: Stars Shine Bright
Ottawa Black Bears 13, Las Vegas Desert Dogs 10
Jeff Teat continues to be must-see lacrosse. The Ottawa Black Bears’ phenom erupted for eight goals (plus one assist), pushing his season tally to 53. It’s the third time he’s crossed the 50-goal mark in a season—a feat reserved for the elite. Ottawa’s victory keeps them firmly in the playoff hunt, while Las Vegas slides further off track.
Philadelphia Wings 16, Georgia Swarm 13
The Wings completed the sweep of their home-and-home with Georgia, led by a 10-point night from Joe Resetarits (three goals, seven assists). Rookie goalie Deacan Knott stood tall in his first career start, stopping 41 shots. With back-to-back wins, Philadelphia is gaining momentum at a critical point in the season.
Albany FireWolves 12, San Diego Seals 10
Albany stayed hot with a hard-fought road win over the Seals, crashing Pat Kavanagh’s NLL debut in San Diego. Tye Kurtz was unstoppable with a sock trick (six goals) and three assists. Kavanagh showed flashes of his potential with a goal and two assists, but the FireWolves had just a little more bite. These teams will run it back in Week 21—expect fireworks.
Buffalo Bandits 15, Halifax Thunderbirds 12
The Bandits locked up home-floor advantage throughout the playoffs in front of a record-breaking crowd, defeating the playoff-bound Thunderbirds in an electrifying battle. Dhane Smith dished out 10 assists (plus a goal), and Josh Byrne added eight points of his own (four goals, four assists). On the Halifax side, Cody Jamieson hit a historic milestone, becoming the first Indigenous player to reach 1,000 career points. A moment bigger than the game, and one that will resonate for years to come.
Sunday Statement: Rush Keep Rolling
Saskatchewan Rush 11, Colorado Mammoth 6
The Rush continue to dominate down the stretch, notching another win with a balanced effort. Austin Shanks powered the offense with four goals and three assists, and Frank Scigliano was a wall in net, turning aside 38 shots. Saskatchewan may not catch Buffalo for the top seed, but they’re looking every bit the contender.
Looking Ahead
With just a couple of weeks left in the regular season, the playoff picture is coming into focus—but plenty is still on the line. From individual milestones to crucial seedings, Week 21 promises to keep the intensity sky-high.
Stay tuned—the chase for the Champion’s Cup is just heating up.
