The group play round of the Premier Lacrosse League Championship Series is done. Just about everything that could have happened, happened.
Bill Belichick smiling during a national TV spot on NBC. Method Man releasing a new track after professing his love for lacrosse. Mic’d up shenanigans and the subsequent retaliation. Heck, the power even went out at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah, after intense temperatures blew a fuse.
Tuesday’s elimination round should be fun, right?
Before we break down what we learned about each of the league’s seven clubs over the four games of group play, check out the league standings and elimination round schedule.
STANDINGS
1. Whipsnakes 4-0 (+24)
2. Chrome 3-1 (+5)
3. Archers 3-1 (-2)
4. Redwoods 2-2 (-3)
5. Waterdogs 1-3 (-3)
6. Atlas 1-3 (-10)
7. Chaos 0-4 (-11)
ELIMINATION ROUND
Tuesday (All Times Eastern)
5:30 p.m. - (2) Chrome vs. (7) Chaos (NBCSG)
8 p.m. – (4) Redwoods vs. (5) Waterdogs (NBCSG)
10:30 p.m. – (3) Archers vs. (6) Atlas (NBCSN)
*Whipsnakes earned a first-round bye
Atlas LC
A team with this much individual talent and a savvy, young head coach shouldn’t be struggling as much as it is.
Trevor Baptiste, who led the PLL in faceoff winning percentage last season with a mark 8 percent higher than No. 2, ranks sixth in the league at 52 percent. Offensively, just Rob Pannell (11 points) and rookie Bryan Costabile (nine) rank within the league’s top 25 point-getters.
The Atlas face an incredibly tall task in the elimination round against the Archers, whose No. 3 seeding and minus-2 scoring differential are due in large part to a 17-11 loss to the Whips.
Archers LC
It’s no surprise that in an offense-heavy league, the league’s team scoring numbers are reflected in the playoff seedings. The Archers, owners of the third-best offensive, have the No. 3 seed.
Grant Ament has taken the PLL by storm, ranking second in the league with 17 points and contributing highlight after highlight. Ament has taken on the primary feeder role, and Will Manny, Christian Mazzone, Tom Schreiber and Ryan Ambler have benefited from his presence with efficient outings.
The Archers would probably like improvement at the faceoff stripe, where Stephen Kelly has won 51 percent of his draws and Brendan Fowler has won 48 percent. The team’s cumulative mark of 51 percent ranks third in the league, but considering the dominance of Nardella and the Whips, an uptick in production is necessary to have a shot at a title.
Chaos LC
Easily the biggest disappointment of the 2020 season thus far. Last season’s No. 1 seed went 0-4 in group play with the league’s worst scoring differential (-11).
Blaze Riorden has stood on his head, saving a league-best 65 percent of shots, but even his efforts have not been enough. Tied with the Redwoods as the league’s weakest faceoff team at 31 percent, the Chaos are simply giving teams far too many opportunities — even if Riorden is stopping a vast majority of attempts.
Chrome LC
Just give Tim Soudan the coach of the year award now.
After a 2-8 season in 2019, Soudan was named head coach and completely revamped the roster. Those changes are paying dividends. Seven players have scored multiple goals, and Reece Eddy (Boston U.) is making his case for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
John Galloway, motivated to improve his performance after last year, has saved 59 percent of shots — good for fourth in the league.
Redwoods LC
The Redwoods have been the biggest beneficiaries of the 2-bomb. Sergio Perkovic has already drained six shots from distance. Joe Walters, Kyle Harrison and Myles Jones have drained one apiece.
Two-point shots were the story this past weekend, as the team made four such goals in an 11-10 win over the Atlas. Is that a sustainable method of success? Clearly, it’s part of the game. But being too reliant on that lower percentage shot might not be conducive to a lengthy playoff run.
Either way, the Redwoods have a decent matchup in the elimination round against a Waterdogs club that has played better than its record indicates.
Waterdogs LC
Both Drew Simoneau and Jake Withers have taken 46 faceoffs, and the duo has helped the Waterdogs rank second in the league with a winning percentage of 60. The pair have helped the expansion team remain competitive, even with a 1-3 record.
Two of their three losses were decided by one goal. The other was decided by two goals. Their win was by one goal. Although the record is not indicative of their play, the Waterdogs are not a team that’s going to go down lightly.
Whipsnakes LC
The Whips have been dominant, leading the PLL in seven major categories after group play. The defending champs rank first in scores (57), total goals (55), 1-point goals (53), assists (31), shots (174), shooting percentage (32 percent) and faceoff winning percentage (74 percent).
Overall, there’s not a single weakness on this team. Jim Stagnitta left much of his offense from last year unprotected, yet the new-look group has been firing on all cylinders. Reigning league MVP Matt Rambo leads the league in points and assists, and Zed Williams leads the league in goals.
Joe Nardella has owned the faceoff (75 percent), and the defense is as good as ever.