Warriors advance to NLL semifinals with first playoff win in franchise history

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The Vancouver Warriors knocked off the Rochester Knighthawks 15–10 Saturday night to win their first home playoff game in franchise history. Vancouver extends its winning streak to seven games, carrying over from the regular season. The Warriors remain undefeated in the Christian Del Bianco era as well.

In the second half of the season, the Warriors’ recipe for success was to build a solid lead going into halftime, limit the opposition’s runs, and help Del Bianco shut the door. That remained the same in the postseason. Vancouver got out to a 9–3 lead heading into halftime. Even though Rochester cut its deficit to three in the fourth quarter, Vancouver didn’t break and got a pair of insurance markers from Keegan Bal. The Warriors’ roster is built with a mix of young players, some making their playoff debut Saturday, and veterans who have won NLL championships before. Head coach and general manager Curt Malawsky feels it’s important to have players with playoff experience on his roster.

“You can’t buy (experience), our guys have been through the grind, they know what it takes to be successful in the National Lacrosse League. I think we can lean on that experience. I think that ‘calm is contagious’ attitude comes from our veterans and how hard they compete. Our young guys just follow their lead, but it’s a group effort.”

“Everyone’s got to be pulling on the rope. We can’t just rely on a group of veterans. This is a team effort, and I think that’s what has made us successful. Everybody, every given night, everyone’s going to step up,” added Malawsky.

One of those veterans is defenceman Ryan Dilks, who has built quite the résumé for himself over his 13-year career. He’s won three championships with the Saskatchewan Rush and two NLL Defensive Player of the Year awards, including one with Vancouver last season. The first round of the NLL playoffs is single elimination, and Dilks knows how nerve-wracking single elimination games are.

Related: The Warriors anchor – Ryan Dilks

“Those one-and-done games are so scary. Anything can happen, their goalie can get hot, we could hit five or six posts, you just never know. I’ve been on the wrong side of these games and it sucks. (Tonight) was the first playoff game for a lot of guys in this room. To come out and (play) like we’ve been (in the playoffs) for five (or) six years, it was really impressive and fun to watch.”

The Warriors’ reward for winning their first playoff game is a matchup with the first seed and two-time defending champion Buffalo Bandits. In the NLL, Buffalo is arguably the most hostile environment to play in. However, the Warriors beat the Bandits 13–12 on Mar. 29 in Buffalo. Dilks thinks that already beating the Bandits this season provides a huge mental advantage.

“It’s probably one of the toughest places to play in the league, and knowing that we can go in there and compete and not only make a game out of it, but we can win in that building. So right now, that season win is looking pretty good for us.”

Bal was the Warriors’ best forward all season, and that continued in the playoffs. Bal had a team-high 11 points and was making jaw-dropping plays all night, including an impressive pass without his helmet to set up Dylan Macintosh for a goal. Bal is the longest-tenured Warrior and has been with the club through some tough times. He explains how much the culture changed when the franchise hired Malawsky.

“When we got Curt last year, you just saw a momentous change within the organization, top down. From that (point), I don’t think there’s been a moment where things clicked, it’s been a gradual progression. I think that (getting Curt) was the moment you started to see things had changed — drastically changed. We know we’re on a trajectory to be a franchise that should do well long term, and that’s all you can hope for.”

Vancouver has a tough task ahead of it, but the Warriors are playing confidently, and no team wants to play a team as hot as they currently are, even the two-time defending champs. Game one is Friday night in Buffalo.