Two games of contrasting styles are likely to unfold this weekend as the National Lacrosse League playoff semi-finals play out in two cities on two nights.

The first game features the NLL’s 1999 first place team, the Toronto Rock. The favorite? Consider first that their opponent is the defending league champion Philadelphia Wings who have won more titles (five) in the last 12 years of pro indoor lacrosse than any other club. What both teams bring to the table is a Rock-solid defense. In Toronto’s case, it’s a club that surrendered the fewest goals in the league (139, an average of 11.58 per game). They boast players like 6’6", 250-pound Dan Ladouceur and 6’4", 225-pound Terry Bullen to keep the area clear in front of the goal.

But, the Wings gave up the second fewest goals in the league this season (153, or, 12.75 per game) and have First Team All-Pro goalie Dallas Eliuk, this season’s NLL save percentage leader (.765). Each team won at home in the two-game regular season series, the Wings in overtime and Toronto by just two in the season's lowest-scoring game. Half of Philadelphia’s games this season were decided by one goal (they were 2-4). Their opponent went from being 1-4 in those situations a year ago (as the Hamilton-based Ontario Raiders) to 4-2 this year. Perhaps the deciding statistic could be that the league’s lone Canadian entry has yet to lose at home since moving last summer (6-0 home record this season), while the Wings are just 1-5 on the road this season.

Another troublesome record is the Baltimore Thunder having won each of the last four times they’ve played Saturday night’s opponent, the Rochester Knighthawks. Both teams finished 8-4 this season, leaving them in a second place tie, but the game ends up at Baltimore Arena thanks to the Thunder’s sweep of the season series by a combined total of 10 goals. After the Rock, Baltimore was the second most successful team on their home floor this year, losing just once in six outings. They also boast the NLL’s top offense (211 goals in 12 games, 42 more than the second highest, which was Rochester). The Thunder’s Gary Gait was named the NLL MVP yesterday after leading the league in scoring with 82 points, followed by teammate Joe Hiltz with 80. The latter was the league leader in power play goals, assists, and points. Baltimore forward Jesse Hubbard was the NLL Rookie of the Year, with teammate Chris Sanderson, a goalie, one of the runners-up.

Should Rochester be scared? Not when considering that their penalty killing unit was second in the league and that it even scored 11 goals (tied for first). Not when considering that they boast the league’s rookie scoring leader in 1999, Casey Powell (30 points in just nine games). And not when considering the story that was goalie Pat O’Toole’s season. The 27-year old from Toronto was released by the Buffalo Bandits prior to the start of the season. When the Knighthawks lost their number one goalie to a season-ending injury in just their third game, O’Toole was signed for insurance behind Derek General. Three months later, O’Toole finished the season with a 5-2 record in eight games with a goals-against average (10.93) and save percentage (.773) that would be tops in the league had he played in about four more minutes to qualify for the league minimum in those leader categories. The fifth-year pro was the Game MVP of the 1996 Championship Game. Rochester will seek to avenge last year’s post-season when they went to Baltimore and lost the semi-final playoff game 15-14.

Capsule looks at the games: