With 2 weeks left there are 6 teams in the running for the 4 playoff spots. LA, Utah and Austin in the West and Atlanta, NOLA and NY in the East.
There’s 3 weeks left in the regular season with some teams down to 2 matches left. LA and Utah continue atop the West division with Austin still in with a chance if Utah stumble in their remaining two matches. It’s looking a high probability of a LA and Utah 1/2 finish in the West. Utah play Atlanta and LA in their remaining matches, two tough games. Austin finish against LA and DC while LA have NOLA, Austin, Utah. LA needs to win 2 of those 3 matches to assure top spot.
Next weekend will be the last MLR action for many of the internationals who will be leaving for the July tests in Europe right after their matches. Some may be back in action for the final regular season weekend on July 17th.
Eight of the teams have 4 matches left, with four teams having 5 matches left. Houston and Seattle are already mathematically eliminated from the playoffs in the West. LA and Utah are in firm control as the top two but Austin still has a fighting chance and San Diego an outside chance.
It’s 3 more weeks before teams will lose their national team players as they jostle for the top two positions in the East and West.
Home teams won four of the five matches on the weekend. If the playoffs were this coming week it would be LA and Utah in the West and Atlanta and New York in the East. The Atlanta v LA match, won by 5 points by the home team, Atlanta, may have been a preview of the final at the end of July.
Each team has seven matches left in the regular season with the top two in each division going into the playoffs.
A few Canadian highlights in the wins this week. For San Diego, Michael Smith helped his national selection chances with a strong 80 minutes at openside flanker in their strong win over NOLA. For Toronto, Will Kelly put his hand up for consideration as he got his first start at #10. At LA Corey Thomas continues to impress going a full 80 in the engine room and scoring a try. At DC, Doug Fraser marked his return to the lineup at #13 with a try.
There are four games on Saturday and two on Sunday for Week 8.
Looking at recent Canada U20 graduates, Lockie Kratz continues his starting role with NOLA at outside centre, Mason Flesch keeps his second row position for Toronto. On Sunday, Michael Smith gets his first start with San Diego at blindside flanker and Quinn Ngawati continues on the wing for New York.
LA go to 6-0 and have a point differential of +146. They are favourites to claim the 2021 title if their key players stay healthy.