2016 NLL Picks and Power Rankings: Week 12

Only three and a half back with eight weeks to go, Calgary can make a push for the division lead, albeit the teams ahead of them have at least a game in hand. But that win over Colorado at home though. Can they do it in Colorado this weekend? Not sure if Edmonton's even gotten more than 19 goals in a game (2014 would be closest, you'd think if they have), but it sure was a doozie! Perhaps they'll meet Rochester again in the final... Speaking of, Rochester may just have one more push for a playoff berth left in this group.

Week 12:

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Weekly Total: 1/3

Season Total: 31/48 (.646%)
*Away team is above the home team; underline below arrow indicates correct pick.

Week 13:

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Week 12:
1. (1) BUFFALO -  Taking smiling lessons from the Grinch.
2. (3) SASKATCHEWAN - Not adjusted for inflation.
3. (4) CALGARY -  Can you smell what the 'Necks are cookin'?!
4. (2) COLORADO - Mammoth still in shock, back end of home and home on back end of Riggers' road trip.
5. (5) TORONTO - First trip to the SaskTel will be interesting...
6. (8) ROCHESTER - Clawing their way back into looking like the K'hawks of old.
7. (6) GEORGIA - At least home arena isn't as bad as rest of Atlanta metro's sports venues to match. Still many home games left.
8. (7) NEW ENGLAND - NLL slots need to be made for Mohegan Sun - each machine payout different based on specific player's salary.
9. (9) VANCOUVER - Finally showed significant offense, but let Rush light up 24 in Batley's first game in charge.

View Brian Shanahan's picks on IL Indoor.

-Ricky

2016 NLL Picks and Power Rankings: Week 11

This was the moment, the game's best player was at the center of attention for the second-to-last time with the Hall of Fame looming. After there was Ruth, and Brown, and Gretzky, and Jordan in their respective sports - there was Tavares. A beautiful tribute was made pre-game in Buffalo on Friday night (glad to be in attendance) to honor Buffalo's other great number 11 of the NHL's Sabres on the opposite end of the First Niagara center rafters. In the wonderment of all, unlike when Rich Kilgour's number 16 went up (against the now defunct Boston Blazers II), the Bandits won 13-10 in-front of a near sellout crowd. Although teams usually find it difficult to win on a "banner night," you felt differently when Buffalo jumped out to a quick two goal opening lead. Had the two Rochester goals that followed not been on the power play, we might have been talking a different story. But Rochester's official twitter handle as well as the Saskatchewan Rush tweeted at the Bandits to congratulate JT. I'm sure the Bandits will remember that (though long departed from Rochester) when it's John Grant Jr.'s time to be raised to the Blue Cross Arena rafters.

As for the rest of the evening, the first competitive Canadian teams in the league to play each other in Calgary's formative years met in Toronto concurrent to JT night down the QEW. With the exception of the late first to early second quarters, it was relatively back and forth. when on teams scored the other answered. If two goals were scored, those were gotten back by the trailing team. Calgary won every quarter except a drawn third quarter. Back to TO in a jiffy.

Week 11:

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Weekly Total: 4/5

Season Total: 30/45 (.667%)
*Away team is above the home team; underline below arrow indicates correct pick.

Week 12:

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Week 11:
1. (2) BUFFALO -  They just had to win it for number 11 - Johnny WHO?!
2. (1) COLORADO - Nobody I don't think expected the Thieves to pull it out Friday night, but doesn't hurt though.
3. (3) SASKATCHEWAN - Exacting revenge for loss in SakTel opener is a likely possibility.
4. (7) CALGARY -  Good rebound on the road in a Canadian classic against a surging Toronto team.
5. (6) TORONTO - Vancouver was good pick-me-up after loss to Riggers.
6. (4) GEORGIA - Have the first of a month's worth of home games in a row to look forward to...
7. (5) NEW ENGLAND - Starting to look unstable, a week off to empty their minds of distractions.
8. (8) ROCHESTER - Why they lost Friday: "B-O-X, B-O-X, to the box, to the box, to the boX-bOX-BOX, WOOooOOoo!" Why they won Saturday: New England's in a funk.
9. (9) VANCOUVER - Wondering where Toronto went before Sunday... probably still wondering.

View Brian Shanahan's picks on IL Indoor.

-Ricky

We're the Eagles, Purple Eagles

As I have over the years, I was trying to find a good version of the NU Purple Eagles logo without the "NU". And boy I finally found it! The hockey team in particular has always had a sharp look on the ice. That has continued in recent years. The logo has always puzzled me in the fifteen years of it's use. But I have figured it out to be an acceptable look. Though I do like the set this institution has now, the logo has allowed me to provide concepts more freely.

The striping remains unchanged, which is to me the basis of the uniforms. I kept the Rangers road yoke and the laces and returned the diagonal "Niagara" across the chest. These to me are traditional elements in an NU uniform. The design for the pants however is entirely new, to include the corresponding design to they yoke as said Rangers team. Given that, you have a solid concept but whether this is the best option, the alternate certainly would not qualify, but that's why it's an alternate and why they stick with black uniforms on the road. But it all averages out to an appropriate level not overly traditional but not outside the box much if at all while it is neither prefect nor completely lousy. But you can soar on the idea if you really like it.

-Ricky

2016 NLL Picks and Power Rankings: Week 10

The weekend opened with a second half surge from the Bandits as the defense began to stand tall in the latter stages of regulation on top of the miss from the Saskatchewan penalty shot with twenty seconds to go. Vancouver continues to show their improvement from last season, but it wasn't enough to win against Colorado. Toronto is a mad team and they're going to beat anyone who gets in their way now that they are on a tear. After that we saw some good games between good teams on Sunday.

Week 10:

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Weekly Total: 2/3

Season Total: 26/40 (.650%)
*Away team is above the home team; underline below arrow indicates correct pick.

Week 11:

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Week 10:
1. (1) COLORADO - East met west, simply put - 5280.
2. (2) BUFFALO - Win eases necessity to win on John Tavares night. We know how most ceremonies are followed by losses for any team. But wins happen periodically.
3. (3) SASKATCHEWAN - Brought to our attention the carpet has the old logo from Rexall Place.
4. (5) GEORGIA - Swarm got their start in Duluth, now it will be the Blaze's turn soon in MLL play.
5. (4) NEW ENGLAND - Worst special teams Shanny?! Does that mean, Black Wolves will plateau now?
6. (7) TORONTO -  Only MLS First Kick to look forward to at Red Bull Arena vs. NYRB.
7. (6) CALGARY - Another winnable game gone wrong in OT.
8. (9) ROCHESTER - Making race for East look like Premier League soccer.
9. (8) VANCOUVER - They want to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but they find it, catch it, and fall back again. Maybe they'll spring forward with the clocks.

View Brian Shanahan's picks on IL Indoor.

-Ricky