PLAYOFFS! We back baby, the PLL is back! Thank goodness, that week with no lacrosse was tough. September 3rd will see the three quarterfinal games arrive to Gillette Stadium. An all-day lacrosse marathon, get your chips and dip ready, call up your friends, it's gameday!
Game 1 will feature the 2nd seed Chrome and the 7th seed Chaos. This is the second time the 'Aos Boys will face the Men of Chrome. The first matchup ended in a 13-9 victory for the Chrome, a game that saw Josh Byrne score a VICIOUS goal against a shorty, seriously the shot and move were disgusting. The Chaos have had their full complement of players back, but their offense still ranks last in the league in total scores. However, they are shooting at 31% 3rd highest in the league, so when they get shots they score, but the trouble is getting shots. The reason for the lack of possessions is partly due to the faceoff stripe where, as a team they are facing off at 43% this season, which is third worst in the league. One reason for that low percentage is because they've been missing their top faceoff man Max Adler who has only played in four of their ten games. Chaos haven't done themselves any favors either, as they have a league high 176 turnovers. If the Chaos offense can get the ball and limit their turnovers, they have shown an ability to score goals led by Josh Byrne and Dhane Smith.
The Chrome's resurgence this season is in large part is due to the infusion of young talent. Rookie attackmen Brendan Nichtern, Logan Wisnauskas and second year defenseman J.T. Giles-Harris have BALLED OUT this season. Nichtern and Wisnauskas sit 5th and 7th respectively on the points chart this season and the two are in the running for the Rookie of the Year Award. Giles-Harris who is playing his first season of professional lacrosse after being drafted in 2021, but not suiting up due to injury, is showing everyone what we already knew, that he is a dominate defender. The former Duke defenseman is in the running for the Dave Pietramala Defender of the Year Award. The Chrome offense is shooting at 32%, highest in the PLL, while having 168 turnovers, which is middle of the road. At 55% from the stripe, Connor Farrell is in the running for the Paul Cantabene Faceoff Athlete of the Year Award. The Chrome defense is much improved, last season they gave up 12.8 scores against per game (SAA). In 2022, they're giving up 10.2 SAA, second only to the Whipsnakes. The Chrome earlier this season held the Redwoods to only THREE goals, the lowest total in PLL history. That was a rough week for this Redwoods fan...
I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't mention the men in cage for this matchup. Blaze Riorden, last season's MVP and Goalie of the Year is saving 54% of the shots he sees and has the most total saves at 137. His opponent Sean Sconone, the Hefty Lefty, also has a 54% save average, but has a lower saves total at 113. Also, don't shoot from the righty side of the offense against Sconone, he's saving 73.7% of those shots! (PLL Stats) That number is 15% higher than the next best goalie. If it was just a battle of goalies my money would be on Blaze, but this ain't that and 9 other players have to suit in front of the keepers. When the playoffs roll around, the level of competition gets ratcheted up, and the records don't matter anymore. The Chaos have the upper hand when it comes to playoff experience in the PLL. The last two seasons the Chaos played in the last game of the season and last year they were the team to hoist the championship trophy. While their opponent, the Chrome have never made the playoffs in a full PLL season. The safe choice says to pick the Chrome off of their performance this season, but history tells me not to go against the Chaos. I've given you the facts, and told some of the history, now the choice is up to you, you get to decide who you pick to win. I'm picking the 'Aos Boys and Andy Towers to win and move one step closer to repeating.
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