NLL Playoffs: Eli McLaughlin Silences San Diego

The defending National Lacrosse League champions are still alive, having pulled off the stunner of the quarterfinals.

In a weekend that mostly saw expected results — including favorites Buffalo, Toronto and Calgary all moving on — Colorado toppled the West’s top seed in a performance that looked more like last year’s postseason run than the Mammoth’s inconsistent 2023.

Eli McLaughlin silenced the San Diego faithful with a go-ahead power play goal with 1.8 seconds on the clock, weaving through defenders to make it 13-12 and all but end the Seals’ hopes of the franchise’s first championship.

Eli McLaughlin!!!!!!

With 1.8 seconds left in the 4th, McLaughlin buries the game-winning goal and Colorado advances to the Conference Finals.

What. A. Finish. pic.twitter.com/QOnPFVUaiM

— NLL (@NLL) May 6, 2023

“I was supposed to pass it behind the net, but I just said, ‘I’m going to take this myself,’” McLaughlin said. “I missed two right before then, so I thought, ‘Third time’s the charm.’”

Dillon Ward, who finished with 52 saves, slowed down the frightening San Diego offensive unit in the first half to help his squad take a 7-3 lead into the break. But the Seals eventually broke through, scoring five times in the fourth quarter to tie the score at 11 and 12.

Colorado was given a stellar opportunity when San Diego’s Drew Belgrave was called for holding with 31 seconds remaining, and McLaughlin made the most of it.

“That’s playoff lacrosse,” Ward said. “We don’t have to be the better team; we just have to be the better team tonight. We came out here, executed our gameplan, weathered the storm at the end and Eli is as clutch as they come.”

BANDITS GET BRAGGING RIGHTS

The first-ever playoff matchup between Buffalo and this iteration of the Rochester Knighthawks wasn’t exactly an instant classic, instead representing how these two teams have gone in opposite directions in the second half of the season.

The Bandits went on a 12-1 run stretching about 15 minutes in the second half to secure a 20-8 blowout against their Western New York rivals. They’re headed to the East final for a third straight time, still with the goal of finally getting over the hump for the franchise’s first title since 2008.

Ian MacKay was one of five Bandits with at least five points, notching two goals and three assists in addition to 11 loose balls.

“I thought he was one of our best, if not best player,” Bandits head coach John Tavares said. “He played 200 feet, great defense. He played power play. Five on five. He was great for us.”

MacKay was joined on the scoresheet by Dhane Smith (three goals, seven assists), Josh Byrne (four goals, five assists), Chris Cloutier (three goals, four assists) and Kyle Buchanan (three goals, two assists). Smith had three points in Buffalo’s 4-0 run to close the first half, a spurt that put the team up for good.

Rochester was the talk of the league after starting the year 6-0, a stretch that included a win against Buffalo. But there were struggles as the season wound down, with the K-Hawks losing six of their final seven games.

“It’s a step in the right direction,” Knighthawks coach Mike Hasen said. “We competed all year to get this opportunity. It’s tough the way it ended here, but big picture, we’re taking the right steps.”

SHORTHANDED TORONTO COMES THROUGH

The Toronto Rock shared tough news hours before their quarterfinal matchup with Halifax, announcing leading scorer and 100-point producer Tom Schreiber had been placed on injured reserve with an upper body injury. The team had to turn to its offensive depth, and those players delivered.

Zach Manns had six points — a new season best — Corey Small added five points and four each came from Dan Dawson and Stephen Keogh in a 15-11 victory. It marks a second straight year the Rock have eliminated Halifax in the postseason, setting up an East Final rematch with Buffalo.

“Unfortunate circumstance, not having what we think is the best offensive player in the league,” Rock coach Matt Sawyer said. “Out of that comes opportunities for others. It just shows that we’re a complete team.”

After heading into the break tied at 5, Toronto opened the second half strong to take an 11-6 advantage. Halifax got as close as two twice in the fourth quarter but couldn’t get the revenge it hoped for.

RIGGERS UPEND PANTHER CITY

For the third time in less than a month, Calgary and Panther City squared off. Unfortunately for PCLC — making its first playoff appearance — Saturday’s results were consistent with the first two meetings.

Tyler Pace notched three straight in the fourth quarter as part of Calgary’s game-closing 4-0 run, helping his team erase a one-goal deficit for a 12-9 triumph.

“He’s huge for us,” Roughnecks coach Curt Malawsky said. “He puts a lot of pressure on himself. He’s a perfectionist, and he’s a big game player. He proved it today.”

Pace finished with four goals and four assists, while Christian del Bianco blanked the Panther City offense for the final 15:06 of play. Calgary’s mental fortitude was on display, as the team bounced back from Matt Hossack’s go-ahead, shorthanded goal with six seconds remaining in the third quarter.

“That could have been a backbreaker,” Malawsky said. “But we just keep grinding and grinding and grinding.”

UP NEXT
ALL TIMES EASTERN

Thursday — West Final

Calgary at Colorado, 9:30 p.m.

Friday — East Final

Toronto at Buffalo, 7:30 p.m.