Washington Stealth

The National Lacrosse League has announced updated playoff scenarios heading into the games of March 25-27, Week #12 of the regular season.  The Buffalo Bandits, Minnesota Swarm and Washington Stealth each have a chance to clinch a playoff berth this weekend. There are currently six playoff berths remaining, with the Calgary Roughnecks and Toronto Rock having already confirmed their spots in the 2011 Playoffs, which begin on the weekend of April 29^th.

The scenarios are as follows:

Western Division

MINNESOTA (5-4): Clinches a playoff berth with one win this weekend.  Minnesota plays at Edmonton on Friday, hosts Buffalo on Sunday.

WASHINGTON (5-6): Clinches a playoff berth with a win this weekend. Washington hosts Boston on Friday.

CALGARY (8-3): Has clinched a playoff berth. 

Eastern Division

BUFFALO (7-3): Clinches a playoff berth with a win AND a Philadelphia loss this weekend. Buffalo plays at Minnesota on Sunday. Philadelphia plays at Rochester on Saturday. 

TORONTO (9-2): Has clinched a playoff berth.

About the 2011 NLL Playoffs

The 2011 NLL Playoffs will begin on the weekend of April 29-May 1 and will take place over three consecutive weekends. The 2011 NLL Championship Game will be played on the weekend of May 13-15.

The format remains the same, with eight teams (top four in each division) advancing to the playoffs. All playoff games are single-elimination, and hosted by the higher-seeded team. 

The four Divisional Semifinal games will open the playoffs on the weekend of April 29-May 1. The winners advance to the Eastern and Western Divisional Finals on the weekend of May 6-8. The winners advance to the 2011 NLL Championship Game. There will not be a bye weekend following the conclusion of the regular season.

Playoffs Calendar

April 23: Final Day of Regular Season

Weekend of April 29-May 1: Divisional Semifinals

Weekend of May 6-8: Divisional Finals

Weekend of May 13-15: Championship Game