January 21, 2026
Week 8 brought several notable results across the League. Saskatchewan was the only team among the top-ranked group to secure a win, while Buffalo, Rochester, and Vancouver were defeated by their respective opponents. The outcomes led to meaningful movement in the Power Rankings, reflecting the continued growth and confidence of teams throughout the League as the season progresses. Let’s take a closer look.
On the Rise and Put on a Show in Edmonton: Georgia Swarm
Everything went right for the Georgia Swarm during their NLL UnBOXed game in Edmonton. They posted a massive 19-9 win over Calgary, moving up to ninth in League standings. Lyle Thompson broke out offensively with a 10-point night (4G/6A). Thirteen players had at least a point. With the score 16-4, Devlin Shanahan spelled Brett Dobson and got some valuable minutes in net. Sophomore forward Toron Eccleston returned to the lineup and scored four times with one assist, while rookie Kean Moon got the first two goals and assists of his career. Overall, it was a banner night for the Swarm, who needed a statement win.
8) Toronto Rock
Toronto Rock @ Rochester Knighthawks 01/17/26 (Credit: Jonathan Tenca/NLL)
Week 8 Result: Beat Rochester 11-10
Week 9 Opponent: vs. Georgia (3-3)
Previous Ranking: N/A
With their Syracuse University teammates and coach Gary Gait in the stands, former Orange player Owen Hiltz and Sam English showed off in the Rock’s win over Rochester. Hiltz had three goals and one assist while English produced one goal and one assist. Fellow rookies Hugh Kelleher and CJ Kirst also scored. Because they started out 1-2 with a big loss to Vegas after a disappointing 2024-25 campaign, fans and writers were cautious in their assessment of the Rock. However, the team is now on a two-game win streak, having beaten San Diego by five and taking a piece of a top-rated Knighthawks team. Toronto’s future is now – their four rookies are having an absolute masterclass of a season. Oh, and their veterans still have it too – Mark Matthews delivered the game-winner during a five-point night, the defence was quiet but effective and Troy Holowchuk held it down in the second half in place of an injured Nick Rose.
7) Las Vegas Desert Dogs
Henderson, USA – Jan. 17, 2026: Philadephia Wings vs Las Vegas Desert Dogs at Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson, USA. (Photo by Candice Ward/National Lacrosse League)
Week 8 Result: Beat Philadelphia 10-7
Week 9 Opponent: Bye Week
Previous Ranking: 8th
The Desert Dogs recovered this week from a two-game skid with a solid win over Philadelphia, bringing their record back to .500. Philadelphia is now on a four-game losing streak, but the Desert Dogs didn’t have an easy task shutting down Resetarits, O’Neill, Sowers and Riorden. But shutting them down was exactly what goaltender Landon Kells did with 37 saves. The win was clearly a weight off his shoulders and should instill some needed confidence heading into a bye week. The team moved the ball around offensively, and Adam Poitras was the beneficiary with a hat trick, while captain Connor Kirst contributed a pair of goals and a pair of assists as the team fired 58 shots at the Wings.
6) Vancouver Warriors
Week 8 Result: Lost to San Diego 11-9
Week 9 Opponent: at Ottawa (4-3)
Previous Ranking: 4th
The Warriors were expected to challenge Buffalo and Saskatchewan for the top spot, but despite a star-studded offence, they’ve struggled to score and sit last in total goals. Their biggest win came by a six-goal margin over Las Vegas, while their other victories were by two and one goals, alongside losses of three and two. They never led against San Diego this week and waited too long to push for the equalizer. Keegan Bal leads the way with 31 points, ranking 18th in league scoring. If they can find their scoring touch and add more dynamism, the outlook will change, but right now, the Warriors look like a middle-of-the-pack team.
5) Ottawa Black Bears
Buffalo Bandits against the Ottawa Black Bears on Jan. 16, 2026 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY. (Caroline Sherman/NLL)
Week 8 Result: Beat Buffalo 10-9
Week 9 Opponent: vs. Vancouver (3-2)
Previous Ranking: 7th
Ottawa’s had more ups than downs this season, which has them sitting at the higher end of the middle of the pack. Beating Buffalo is certainly a feather in their cap and they can thank leader Jeff Teat for the win. Not only did Teat score the game winner, but he also had three goals in the fourth quarter and five overall, plus two assists. With 51 points, Teat continues to lead the league in scoring. Additionally, Zach Higgins had a monster game against Buffalo, stopping 45 shots, including 15 in the fourth quarter.
4) Buffalo Bandits
Buffalo Bandits @ Rochester Knighthawks 01/10/26 (Credit: Jonathan Tenca/NLL)
Week 8 Result: Lost to Ottawa 10-9
Week 9 Opponent: Bye Week
Previous Ranking: 3rd
The Bandits are on a rare two-game losing streak. Along with an earlier season loss to Halifax, this has the Bandits clinging to eighth place in League standings. However, we know they’re better than that. In their one-goal loss to Ottawa, the game was tied after the first and second quarters, and Buffalo held a 7-6 lead after the third. If they were playing a team that didn’t feature Jeff Teat, they might have pulled off the win, but the fourth quarter is when Teat does his best work and he scored three goals, including the game-winner. Buffalo’s defence was quite impressive, on a night when the offence was quiet: Paul Dawson, Steve Priolo, Cam Wyers and Kiel Matisz each blocked two shots each.
3) Colorado Mammoth
Colorado vs Halifax 01-16-2026
Week 8 Result: Beat Halifax 11-6
Week 9 Opponent: vs. Oshawa (2-5)
Previous Ranking: 5th
After their third consecutive win, the Mammoth jumped up two spots. With a 4-2 record, they’re in second place in League standings and showing no signs of slowing down. They added Andrew Kew back to the lineup and he immediately clicked with Jack Hannah and Will Malcom. Kew and Hannah had five points each while Malcom, who had been working on a six-assist night, scored the final three goals of the contest for a natural hat trick and a nine-point outing. Dillon Ward made 50 saves, and it was an impressive night for captain Robert Hope, who scooped up 11 loose balls, blocked three shots and contributed a rare assist.
2) Rochester Knighthawks
ROCHESTER, NEW YORK – JANUARY 17 :: Rochester Knighthawks v Toronto Rock :: January 17, 2026 in Blue Cross Arena, Rochester, NY, USA (Photo by Micheline Veluvolu)
Week 8 Result: Lost to Toronto 11-10
Week 9 Opponent: Bye Week
Previous Ranking: 2nd
What a wild ride: the Knighthawks beat Buffalo a week ago and then lost a one-goal home-floor heartbreaker to Toronto this week. A 6-2 halftime lead slipped away as the Rock’s rookies took over the game. It was back-and-forth for nearly 30 minutes until Mark Matthews broke a 10-10 tie with 58 seconds to go. The Knighthawks threw everything they had at the Rock in the dying seconds, looking for the equalizer, to no avail. There were great individual performances, though: Connor Fields had four goals on 14 shots, Rylan Hartley made 35 excellent saves, Matt Gilray scooped up 12 loose balls, Jake Piseno caused three turnovers and Nathan Kapp won 16 of 21 faceoffs. They’ll take this week to rest up for a Week 10 tilt against Vancouver.
1) Saskatchewan Rush
The Saskatchewan Rush host the Oshawa FireWolves at SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, January 17, 2026
Week 8 Result: Beat Oshawa 15-10
Week 9 Opponent: Bye Week
Previous Ranking: 1st
A five-game win streak has the Rush solidly in first place in both the League standings and Power Rankings. This team will find a way to beat any opponent, whether it’s 7-4 or 21-15. This week, they handled a pumped-up Oshawa squad easily with a five-goal run in the first half, leading to an 8-3 lead. Oshawa came within a pair of goals twice, but the Rush just don’t know how to let up and scored the final three goals of the game in the final minute and 19 seconds. Twelve members of the team had at least one point, and Ryan Keenan, who sits fifth in League scoring, led with eight points in the game. Week 9 sees the Rush on a well-deserved bye week.
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