Philadelphia, PA, April 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Lacrosse League (@NLL) closed out its record-setting 2022-23 regular season in dramatic fashion yesterday, as the Halifax Thunderbirds defeated the Georgia Swarm, 17-11, to claim the final spot in the 2023 NLL Playoffs.
The Buffalo Bandits (14-4) and San Diego Seals (14-4) repeated as the East and West Conference regular season champions, respectively, and will have home floor advantage in next week’s single-elimination NLL Quarterfinals game. The Bandits earned the #1 overall seed by virtue of its win over Albany.
Each conference's second seeds – the Toronto Rock (13-5, East) and Calgary Roughnecks (13-5, West) – will also host games next weekend.
This season’s playoff contenders include six teams from last year’s postseason, including the defending champion Colorado Mammoth (9-9). New this year are the Rochester Knighthawks (10-8) and Panther City Lacrosse Club (10-8), both making their franchise debuts in the postseason.
TSN will carry two games: Toronto’s home tilt versus Halifax on Friday, May 5, at 7:30pm ET, and the Panther City-Calgary matchup on Saturday, May 6, at 9:30pm ET. ESPNU will also carry the Saturday playoff doubleheader starting with Buffalo hosting Rochester followed by the game at Calgary.
Here is the complete single-elimination NLL Quarterfinals broadcast schedule:
- Friday, May 5
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- Halifax (E3) vs. Toronto (E2) at 7:30pm ET, TSN, TSN+, ESPN+
- Colorado (W4) vs. San Diego (W1) at 10pm ET, ESPN+, TSN+
- Saturday, May 6
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- Rochester (E4) vs. Buffalo (E1) at 7pm ET, ESPNU, ESPN+, TSN+
- Panther City (W3) vs. Calgary (W2) at 9:30pm ET, TSN, TSN+, ESPNU, ESPN+
Next week’s winners advance to their respective best-of-three Conference Finals, with Games 1 and 2 scheduled for May 12-15, and any necessary Game 3 played between May 19-22. Conference champions will face off in the best-of-three NLL Finals starting the final weekend of May.
Exact dates and broadcast schedules for TSN and ESPN for the Conference Finals and NLL Finals rounds will be announced after the pairings and dates are set. To view the 2023 NLL Playoffs bracket, visit https://www.nll.com/standings/.
About the National Lacrosse League
The National Lacrosse League (NLL) is North America's premier professional lacrosse league. Founded in 1986, the NLL is comprised of 15 franchises across the United States and Canada: Albany FireWolves, Buffalo Bandits, Calgary Roughnecks, Colorado Mammoth, Georgia Swarm, Halifax Thunderbirds, Las Vegas Desert Dogs, New York Riptide, Panther City Lacrosse Club (TX), Philadelphia Wings, Rochester Knighthawks, San Diego Seals, Saskatchewan Rush, Toronto Rock, and Vancouver Warriors.
For the latest scores and developments in the National Lacrosse League, please visit: NLL.com and find the NLL on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.
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Media inquiries contact: Ryan Ireland, rireland@nll.com, 303-902-3373
| ROUND | GAME/SERIES | DATE(S) | LOCATION(S) |
| Quarterfinal | Halifax at Toronto | Friday 5/5 at 7:30pm ET | FirstOntario Centre |
| Quarterfinal | Colorado at San Diego | Friday 5/5 at 10pm ET | Pechanga Arena |
| Quarterfinal | Rochester at Buffalo | Saturday 5/6 at 7pm ET | KeyBank Center |
| Quarterfinal | Panther City at Calgary | Saturday 5/6 at 9:30pm ET | Scotiabank Saddledome |
| East Conference Finals (best-of-three) | Games 1-2 Game 3, if necessary | May 11-14 May 18-21 | TBD |
| West Conference Finals (best-of-three) | Games 1-2 Game 3, if necessary | May 11-14 May 18-21 | TBD |
| NLL Finals (best-of-three) | Games 1-2 Game 3, if necessary | May 26-30 June 2-5 | TBD |
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