2016 NLL Picks and Power Rankings: Week 8

On Saturday, history repeated itself. On Saturday March 4, 2006 (a gam I attended) John Tavares in the second quarter broke the all-time point-scoring record (then held by Gary Gait). Buffalo lost that game, Minnesota's first ever win against the Bandits home or road. Minnesota won one more game in Buffalo in 2009 before finally winning at home in 2012. In Minnesota during the 2014 season, the Swarm won the only game contested in overtime between the two. Two nights ago, Anthony Cosmos needed forty saves. He broke that record and got a standing ovation, but was pulled early in the fourth quarter after the first five goals in a row in a ten Georgia goal final frame. It would be wise to note that at the end of the third quarter, it appeared as though Cosmo re-tweaked his previous injury and was down for a short period of time. Many penalties were given in this game and as many as four Swarm players and three Bandits were in their respective penalty boxes at the same time near the end of the first period.

So for the first time as the Georgia Swarm, on an NLL record-setting night by a Bandit in Buffalo, the visitors defeated the Thieves (which I also attended). Georgia had a flat opening second period, but did well compared to last weekends home thrashing by Buffalo. Buffalo also lost a tighter affair the precious night north of the border as their QEW rival Toronto Rock earned (and I mean earned) their first win of the season, in which Buffalo wore their throwback uniforms with the players names across the side panels. Not surprisingly, A very entertaining second game in Saskatchewan gave the host Rush a win over Rochester. The weekend was topped off by an overtime winner by Corey Small for the Vancouver Stealth to beat the Calgary Roughnecks and surely one of the more memorable games that will be held at the LEC in Langley.

Week 8:

    

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Weekly Total: 2/4

Season Total: 22/32 (.688%)
*Away team is above the home team; underline below arrow indicates correct pick.

Week 9:

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Week 8:
1. (3) SASKATCHEWAN - Starting to find good home form.
2. (2) COLORADO - Big test against seemingly surging Stealth.
3. (5) GEORGIA -  Definitely were out for revenge this week.
4. (4) CALGARY - Last season's start a distant memory, but repeated by TO.
5. (1) BUFFALO - Alex Kedoh Hill and the Great Dhane shining points aside from Cozzy's new building record.
6. (7) NEW ENGLAND - The two early season surprises meet again, but New England has the fresh legs.
7. (8) VANCOUVER - Big win for the Stealth an a showdown to be remembered in franchise history.
8. (9) TORONTO - Finally cracked goose egg; Rose even got a goal from his own crease though his intent is up for debate.
9. (6) ROCHESTER - Tough road loss  for first game in SaskTel don't gain much ground on anyone.
View Brian Shanahan's picks on IL Indoor.

-Ricky