The NLL’s final-week playoff race comes down to interdependent clinching scenarios that will decide the last two playoff berths and which teams host quarterfinal games. Four clubs, Halifax, Ottawa, Las Vegas and San Diego, are battling for those final spots. Ottawa visits Halifax on Saturday at 6:00 PM ET in a winner-takes-all matchup. Las Vegas and San Diego meet twice in Week 21, on Friday at 10:30 PM ET and Saturday at 10:00 PM ET; a sweep by either team would immediately clinch a playoff berth for the sweeper. If Las Vegas and San Diego split the two-game series, Las Vegas would rely on Rochester’s result versus Georgia to advance, and San Diego could advance with at least one Georgia loss. Other combinations of results between Las Vegas and San Diego would make the Saturday rematch decisive for playoff qualification.

Six teams have already clinched playoff berths, and Colorado and Vancouver have locked in quarterfinal home sites. Colorado, Vancouver and Buffalo remain in contention for the top overall seed. Colorado holds the simplest path. A win or certain combinations of rival losses would give it the top seed. Vancouver can clinch the top overall seed with a win plus a Colorado loss. Buffalo needs a win plus several other specific results to claim the top seed. Buffalo, Toronto, Saskatchewan and Georgia each have defined paths to host first-round home games depending on wins and losses elsewhere.

Recent Week 20 results provided context: Buffalo beat Rochester 12-6 to extend a seven-game winning streak; Vancouver edged Halifax 8-7; Colorado defeated Saskatchewan 13-11; San Diego topped Georgia 9-7; and Toronto beat Ottawa 10-6. Earlier this week Philadelphia upset Las Vegas at Xfinity Mobile Arena, selling out the lower bowl and winning 11-5. Lukas Nielsen had seven points; Kyle Jackson had two goals and four assists; Sam LeClair had two goals and three assists. Philadelphia’s Nick Damude and the team combined for a franchise-record 60 saves. An on-ice fight occurred between Eric Fannell and Rhys Blake. The Week 21 StubHub Power Rankings list Buffalo atop the board at 11-6, Vancouver and Colorado at 12-5, Toronto at 11-6, Saskatchewan slipping to fifth after its third straight loss, and lower-ranked San Diego and Halifax still alive in the postseason race.

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