The National Lacrosse League Power Ranking formula is based completely on a mathematical formula that uses wins, loss, goals for and against, shots for and against, and how well the team has been playing lately. Any e-mail directed to me that is of the form "You obviously hate Team X, because..." or "You are so biased in favor of Team Y, since..." will be summarily ignored. So, without further ado, here are the final regular season Power Rankings:

1.  Albany Attack           13.6795 (12)
2.  Rochester Knighthawks   12.8849 ( 8)
3.  Toronto Rock	    10.8067 ( 9)
4.  Vancouver Ravens         9.1701 (13)
5.  Washington Power         7.2034 (10)
6.  Montreal Express         6.0165 ( 2)
7.  Buffalo Bandits          5.9817 ( 1)
8.  Philadelphia Wings       5.8717 ( 4)
9 . Columbus Landsharks      2.2133 ( 5)
10. New Jersey Storm         1.8183 (11)
11. New York Saints          1.6122 ( 3)
12. Ottawa Rebel             0.2669 ( 7)
13. Calgary Roughnecks       0.0000 ( 6)

The Semifinals at a glance

(3) Washington Power (10-7, 4-5 road)
    at (2) Toronto Rock (11-5, 8-0 home)

Line: Rock by 5.

                                    Washington    Toronto
Goals Scored                            265         223
Goals Allowed                           244         176
Shots Taken                             980         967
Shots Allowed                           952         771
Penalty Minutes                         423         360
Loose Balls                           1,538       1,290

Power Play Goals                         65          39
Power Play Chances                       93          72
Power Play %                           69.9%       54.2%
Shorthanded Goals All.                   11           9
Penalty Kills                            42          55
Penalty Kill Chances                    104          95
Penalty Kill %                         40.4%       57.9%
Shorthanded Goals Scored                 14          19

Best Offensive Quarter                  2nd         2nd
Worst Offensive Quarter                 1st         3rd
Best Defensive Quarter                  1st         1st
Worst Defensive Quarter                 3rd         4th

Overtime Record, this season            1-0         1-1
Overtime Record, playoffs               0-0         0-0

Playoff Record, all time                4-7         5-1
Playoff Record, home/road               3-4         5-1
Playoff Record, vs opponent             0-1         1-0
All time Record, vs opponent            5-6         6-5
All time Rec., vs opp home/away         1-5         5-1

My take: The Rock and the Power have played many close games over the past couple of years. Typically, the home side wins out, though the Power is one of the few teams to walk out of Toronto on top. Toronto will look to bury Washington early, something its tough defense has allowed the Power to do. If Washington keeps it close, it has the ability to pull a win out in the fourth, just like last week's quarterfinal victory at Philadelphia.

Prediction: Gary and Paul Gait are going to be playing their last game in Canada together (Paul is retiring at season's end), so look for them to have a big game. But Toronto will be just a little too tough at home, meaning Paul Gait's incredible career ends here. Toronto 15 - Washington 13.

(4) Rochester Knighthawks (14-3, 5-3 road)
    at (1) Albany Attack (14-2, 7-1 home)

Line: Attack by 2.

                                       Albany    Rochester
Goals Scored                            250         269
Goals Allowed                           194         210
Shots Taken                             874         974
Shots Allowed                           848         874
Penalty Minutes                         381         360
Loose Balls                           1,268       1,523

Power Play Goals                         55          61
Power Play Chances                      109         119
Power Play %                           50.5%       51.3%
Shorthanded Goals All.                   11          15 
Penalty Kills                            71          56
Penalty Kill Chances                    122         111
Penalty Kill %                         58.2%       50.5%
Shorthanded Goals Scored                 18          11

Best Offensive Quarter                  1st         4th
Worst Offensive Quarter                 4th         2nd
Best Defensive Quarter                  1st         2nd
Worst Defensive Quarter                 4th         1st

Overtime Record, this season            0-0         2-1
Overtime Record, playoffs               0-0         1-1

Playoff Record, all time                0-0         6-6
Playoff Record, home/road               0-0         4-6
Playoff Record, vs opponent             0-0         0-0
All time Record, vs opponent            1-4         4-1
All time Rec., vs opp home/away         0-2         2-0

My take: Rochester has had Albany's number this season, dealing the Attack its only two defeats. Rochester closes games strong, and the Attack have been outscored this season in the fourth, so Rochester will look to hang around in this one. Albany, however, has been excellent at dealing the knockout blow early, outscoring opponents by 32 goals in the first quarter this season.

Prediction: Albany is too good a team to lose to the same team three times. Rochester has the offensive firepower to keep up with the Attack, but the Knighthawks will fall just short. Albany 18 - Rochester 16.