2026 NLL Playoffs: Everything You Need to Know
Buffalo Bandits, 2026 NLL Cup Champions (Photo: Buffalo Bandits)
The 2026 National Lacrosse League Playoffs start on Friday, April 24 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia when the first-place Warriors host the Halifax Thunderbirds in one of four NLL Quarterfinal matches.
The Buffalo Bandits, who are attempting to become the first team in NLL history to win four consecutive NLL Cups, will travel to Duluth on Saturday, April 25 to take on the host Georgia Swarm. The Colorado Mammoth, Saskatchewan Rush, Toronto Rock and San Diego Seals have also qualified for the 2026 NLL Playoffs.
Below is this year’s playoff schedule, scores, past NLL Finals results, Finals MVPs, the postseason’s most attended games, plus various playoff statistics.
All times listed are ET. All games will be streamed on TSN.ca/live and the TSN+ app in Canada, plus ESPN.com in the US. The league’s NLL+ platform will also stream games. Select games will also be broadcast on TSN & ESPN television networks. See schedules below for further details.
Keegan Bal, Vancouver Warriors (Photo: Caroline Sherman)
NLL Playoff Seeding
League standings (playoff teams only) in order of overall playoff placement based on regular season records & tiebreakers. Seeding only used to determine quarterfinal matches and home-floor advantage. Teams will remain on the same side of bracket no matter anyone’s results during the quarterfinals. Vancouver, Halifax, Buffalo and Georgia are on one side of the bracket, while Colorado, San Diego, Saskatchewan and Toronto make up the other half.
1. Vancouver Warriors (13-5, 0-0)
2. Colorado Mammoth (12-6, 0-0)
3. Saskatchewan Rush (12-6, 0-0)
4. Georgia Swarm (12-6, 0-0)
5. Buffalo Bandits (11-7, 0-0)
6. Toronto Rock (11-7, 0-0)
7. San Diego Seals (8-10, 0-0)
8. Halifax Thunderbirds (8-10, 0-0)
*Eliminated
Las Vegas, Ottawa, Calgary, Rochester, Oshawa and Philadelphia failed to qualify for the 2026 NLL Playoffs.
Dillon Ward, Colorado Mammoth (Photo: Heather Barry)
NLL Quarterfinals
Single-elimination game
(1) Vancouver Warriors vs. (8) Halifax Thunderbirds
Date: Friday, April 24, 2026 (10pm)
Location: Rogers Arena (Vancouver, BC)
Television: TSN
Streaming: TSN+, ESPN+
Click here for tickets
(2) Colorado Mammoth vs. (7) San Diego Seals
Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026 (9pm)
Location: Ball Arena (Denver, CO)
Television: ESPNU
Streaming: ESPN+, TSN+, NLL+
Click here for tickets
(3) Saskatchewan Rush vs. (6) Toronto Rock
Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026 (9pm)
Location: SaskTel Centre (Saskatoon, SK)
Television: TSN
Streaming: TSN+, ESPN+, NLL+
Click here for tickets
(4) Georgia Swarm vs. (5) Buffalo Bandits
Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026 (7:30pm)
Location: Gas South Arena (Duluth, GA)
Television: None
Streaming: TSN+, ESPN+, NLL+
Click here for tickets
Dan Taylor, 2019 NLL Finals Game 2 (Photo: Candice Ward)
NLL Cup History
Champions
Best-of-three series started in 2014
1987: Baltimore over Washington (11-10)
1988: New Jersey over Washington (17-16)
1989: Philadelphia over New York (11-10)
1990: Philadelphia over New England (17-7)
1991: Detroit over Baltimore (14-12)
1992: Buffalo over Philadelphia (11-10) OT
1993: Buffalo over Philadelphia (13-12)
1994: Philadelphia over Buffalo (26-15)
1995: Philadelphia over Rochester (15-14) OT
1996: Buffalo over Philadelphia (15-10)
1997: Rochester over Buffalo (15-12)
1998: Philadelphia over Baltimore (2-0)
1999: Toronto over Rochester (13-10)
2000: Toronto over Rochester (14-13)
2001: Philadelphia over Toronto (9-8)
2002: Toronto over Albany (13-12)
2003: Toronto over Rochester (8-6)
2004: Calgary over Buffalo (14-11)
2005: Toronto over Arizona (19-13)
2006: Colorado over Buffalo (16-9)
2007: Rochester over Arizona (13-11)
2008: Buffalo over Portland (14-13)
2009: Calgary over New York (12-10)
2010: Washington over Toronto (15-11)
2011: Toronto over Washington (8-7)
2012: Rochester over Edmonton (9-6)
2013: Rochester over Washington (11-10)
2014: Rochester over Calgary (2-1)
2015: Edmonton over Toronto (2-0)
2016: Saskatchewan over Buffalo (2-0)
2017: Georgia over Saskatchewan (2-0)
2018: Saskatchewan over Rochester (2-1)
2019: Calgary over Buffalo (2-0)
2022: Colorado over Buffalo (2-1)
2023: Buffalo over Colorado (2-1)
2024: Buffalo over Albany (2-0)
2025: Buffalo over Saskatchewan (2-1)
Mark Matthews, 2018 NLL Finals Game 3
Finals MVP
1987: Buzz Sheain, Baltimore
1988: Larry Quinn & Jeff Goldberg, New Jersey
1989: John Tucker, Philadelphia
1990: Brad Kotz, Philadelphia
1991: Gary Gait, Detroit
1992: John Tavares, Buffalo
1993: John Tavares, Buffalo
1994: Paul Gait, Philadelphia
1995: Gary Gait, Philadelphia
1996: Pat O’Toole, Buffalo
1997: Steve Dietrich, Rochester
1998: Dallas Eliuk, Philadelphia
1999: Colin Doyle, Toronto
2000: Dan Stroup, Toronto
2001: Dallas Eliuk, Philadelphia
2002: Colin Doyle, Toronto
2003: Bob Watson, Toronto
2004: Curtis Palidwor, Calgary
2005: Colin Doyle, Toronto
2006: Gavin Prout, Colorado
2007: John Grant, Rochester
2008: Mark Steenhuis, Buffalo
2009: Josh Sanderson, Calgary
2010: Lewis Ratcliff, Washington
2011: Bob Watson, Toronto
2012: Cody Jamieson, Rochester
2013: Cody Jamieson, Rochester
2014: Dan Dawson, Rochester
2015: Mark Matthews, Edmonton
2016: Aaron Bold, Saskatchewan
2017: Lyle Thompson, Georgia
2018: Jeff Shattler, Saskatchewan
2019: Dane Dobbie, Calgary
2022: Dillon Ward, Colorado
2023: Dhane Smith, Buffalo
2024: Josh Byrne, Buffalo
2025: Ian MacKay, Buffalo
Ian MacKay, 2025 NLL Finals Game 3 (Photo: Caroline Sherman)
Playoff Attendance: Over 15K
Top 10 highest all-time attendance during playoffs
1989: New York at Philadelphia (16,042) NLL Finals
1992: Boston at Buffalo (15,603) NLL Quarterfinals
1993: Boston at Buffalo (16,325) NLL Semifinals
1993: Philadelphia at Buffalo (16,325) NLL Finals
1994: Detroit at Buffalo (15,836) NLL Semifinals
1994: Philadelphia at Buffalo (16,284) NLL Finals
1996: Philadelphia at Buffalo (16,230) NLL Finals
1997: Rochester at Buffalo (18,055) NLL Finals
1999: Rochester at Toronto (15,691) NLL Finals
2001: Philadelphia at Toronto (19,409) NLL Finals
2002: Vancouver at Colorado (17,129) NLL Quarterfinals
2002: Colorado at Toronto (16,733) NLL Semifinals
2004: Buffalo at Calgary (19,289) NLL Finals
2005: Rochester at Toronto (17,289) NLL Semifinals
2005: Arizona at Toronto (19,432) NLL Finals
2006: Colorado at Buffalo (16,104) NLL Finals
2007: San Jose at Colorado (16,309) West Semifinals
2008: Calgary at Colorado (15,554) West Semifinals
2008: Portland at Buffalo (18,690) NLL Finals
2014: Rochester at Calgary (16,541) NLL Finals Game 1
2015: Calgary at Colorado (16,027) West Semifinals
2016: Calgary at Saskatchewan (15,192) West Finals Game 2
2016: Buffalo at Saskatchewan (15,182) NLL Finals Game 2
2019: Calgary at Buffalo (15,747) NLL Finals Game 1
2019: Buffalo at Calgary (17,038) NLL Finals Game 2
2022: Colorado at Buffalo (19,060) NLL Finals Game 3
2023: Colorado at Buffalo (18,296) NLL Finals Game 3
2024: Georgia at Buffalo (17,865) NLL Quarterfinals
2024: Toronto at Buffalo (16,312) NLL Semifinals Game 2
2024: Albany at Buffalo (19,070) NLL Finals Game 2
2025: San Diego at Buffalo (17,703) NLL Quarterfinals
2025: Saskatchewan at Buffalo (16,761) NLL Finals Game 1
2025: Saskatchewan at Buffalo (19,070) NLL Finals Game 3
KeyBank Center, Buffalo NY, 2025 NLL Finals Game 3 (Photo: Buffalo Bandits)
Most Goals Single Playoffs
Zed Williams, Colorado (2022) 20
Eli McLaughlin, Colorado (2022) 20
Connor Robinson, Colorado (2022) 18
Austin Shanks, Saskatchewan (2025)
Eli McLaughlin, Colorado (2023) 16
Ian MacKay, Buffalo (2025) 16
Tehoka Nanticoke, Buffalo (2023) 15
Dhane Smith, Buffalo (2023) 15
Josh Byrne, Buffalo (2023) 15
Dan Dawson, Portland (2008) 15
Curtis Dickson, Calgary (2014) 14
Josh Byrne, Buffalo (2022) 14
*Alex Simmons, Albany (2024) 14
Shawn Evans, Calgary (2014) 13
Dhane Smith, Buffalo (2022) 13
Chris Cloutier, Buffalo (2023) 13
Mark Matthews, Edmonton (2015) 13
Dhane Smith, Buffalo (2016) 13
Adam Jones, Saskatchewan (2017) 13
Dhane Smith, Buffalo (2025) 13
*Rookie
Chris Wardle & Zed Williams, 2022 NLL Finals Game 3 (Photo: Jack Dempsey)
Most Assists Single Playoffs
Dhane Smith, Buffalo (2023) 34
Dhane Smith, Buffalo (2024) 27
Ryan Lee, Colorado (2023) 24
Josh Byrne, Buffalo (2022) 24
Chris Wardle, Colorado (2022) 22
Dhane Smith, Buffalo (2022) 22
Josh Byrne, Buffalo (2024) 22
Josh Byrne, Buffalo (2025) 22
Eli McLaughlin, Colorado (2022) 21
Connor Robinson, Colorado (2022) 20
Mark Matthews, Saskatchewan (2017) 20
Dhane Smith, Buffalo (2025) 19
Ethan Walker, Albany (2024) 19
Mark Matthews, Saskatchewan (2018) 19
Shawn Evans, Calgary (2014) 18
*Alex Simmons, Albany (2024) 18
Josh Byrne, Buffalo (2023)18
*Rookie
Dhane Smith, 2025 NLL Finals Game 3 (Photo: Caroline Sherman)
Most Points Single Playoffs
Dhane Smith, Buffalo (2023) 49
Eli McLaughlin, Colorado (2022) 41
Connor Robinson, Colorado (2022) 38
Josh Byrne, Buffalo (2022) 38
Zed Williams, Colorado (2022) 37
Ryan Lee, Colorado (2023) 35
Dhane Smith, Buffalo (2022) 35
Josh Byrne, Buffalo (2024) 34
Dhane Smith, Buffalo (204) 34
Eli McLaughlin, Colorado (2023) 33
Josh Byrne, Buffalo (2023) 33
*Alex Simmons, Albany (2024) 32
Austin Shanks, Saskatchewan (2025) 32
Dhane Smith, Buffalo (2025) 32
Shawn Evans, Calgary (2014) 31
Dan Dawson, Portland (2008) 31
Chris Cloutier, Buffalo (2023) 30
Josh Byrne, Buffalo (2025) 29
Matt Vinc, 2012 NLL Championship Final (Photo: Ward Laforme Jr.)
Most Saves Single Playoffs
Dillon Ward, Colorado (2022) 289
Dillon Ward, Colorado (2023) 285
Matt Vinc, Buffalo (2023) 248
Matt Vinc, Buffalo (2025) 239
Matt Vinc, Buffalo (2022) 238
Frank Scigliano, Saskatchewan (2025) 235
Matt Vinc, Buffalo (2018) 227
Matt Vinc, Buffalo (2024) 224
Doug Jamieson, Albany (2024) 210
Mike Poulin, Calgary (2014) 191
Christian Del Bianco, Calgary (2019) 181
Mike Poulin, Georgia (2017) 165
Aaron Bold, Saskatchewan (2016) 164
Anthony Cosmo, Buffalo (2016) 164
Matt Vinc, Buffalo (2019) 160
Brandon Miller, Toronto (2015) 159
Frank Scigliano, San Diego (2022) 149
Evan Kirk, Saskatchewan (2018) 145
Aaron Bold, Edmonton (2015) 143
Curtis Palidwor, Calgary (2004) 140
Steve Priolo, 2025 NLL Finals Game 3 (Photo: Caroline Sherman)
Most Loose Balls Single Playoffs
Steve Priolo, Buffalo (2022) 59
Steve Priolo, Buffalo (2023) 58
Robert Hope, Colorado (2022) 57
*Jake Withers, Rochester (2018) 56
Zach Currier, Calgary (2023) 54
Graeme Hossack, Rochester (2018) 50
Robert Hope, Colorado (2023) 49
Jake Boudreau, Saskatchewan (2025) 49
Steve Priolo, Buffalo (2025) 48
Jordan Gilles, Colorado (2023) 47
John Wagner, Albany (2024) 47
Nick Weiss, Buffalo (2025) 46
Tim Edwards, Colorado (203) 44
Jay Thorimbert, Buffalo (2014) 44
Jeremy Thompson, Saskatchewan (2017) 44
Ian MacKay, Buffalo (2022) 43
Brodie Merrill, Portland (2008) 43
Mike Messenger, Saskatchewan (2025) 43
Max Adler, Buffalo (2023) 41
Jay Thorimbert, Buffalo (2016) 41
Geoff Snider, Calgary (2013) 41
*Rookie
Zach Currier, 2019 NLL Finals Game 2 (Photo: Candice Ward)
Most Caused Turnovers Single Playoffs
Zach Currier, Calgary (2023) 19
Cam Wyers, Buffalo (2025) 12
Kyle Rubisch, Saskatchewan (2018) 12
Ryan Dilks, Saskatchewan (2016) 11
Robert Hope, Colorado (2023) 10
Eli Salama, Calgary (2023) 10
Robert Hope, Colorado (2022) 9
Warren Jeffrey, Colorado (2022) 9
Matt Hossack, Saskatchewan (2025) 9
Kyle Rubisch, Edmonton (2012) 9
Geoff Snider, Calgary (2013) 9
Joey Cupido, Colorado (2022)
Steve Priolo, Buffalo (2025) 8
Kyle Rubisch, Edmonton (2015) 8
Chris Corbeil, Saskatchewan (2016) 8
Steve Priolo, Buffalo (2016) 8
Ryan Dilks, Saskatchewan (2017) 8
Ryan Dilks, Saskatchewan (2018) 8
Zach Currier, Calgary (2019) 8
Brodie Merrill, San Diego (2022) 8
Mike Grimes, Washington (2011) 8