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)

2002 Championship Game -- Saturday 8:15 PM

(2) Toronto Rock (12-5, 3-5 road) at (1) Albany Attack (15-2, 8-1 home)

Attack by 4.

                                      Albany      Toronto
Goals Scored                            264         235
Goals Allowed                           204         187
Shots Taken                             926       1,033
Shots Allowed                           894         818
Penalty Minutes                         395         370
Loose Balls                           1,345       1,385

Power Play Goals                         58          42
Power Play Chances                      115          77
Power Play %                           50.4%       54.5%
Shorthanded Goals All.                   11           9
Penalty Kills                            71          55
Penalty Kill Chances                    126          97
Penalty Kill %                         56.3%       56.7%
Shorthanded Goals Scored                 17          20

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

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

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

My take: Toronto is making its fourth consecutive appearance in the title game, but not only must the Rock travel away from the Air Canada Centre to play the game, it's the first time this team has ever played away from home in the postseason. After two titles in its first two years in Toronto, the Rock fell to Philadelphia in last year's title game. Blaine Manning found a way to get Toronto back into the title game this year, but the Rock dropped five games this year on the road to tough competition. With the departure of Dan Stroup for the west coast appearing imminent, will this be the Rock's last stand?

Albany, on the other hand, is a team that has risen from the ashes. Many people presumed this would be the Attack's final season in the capital of New York, but the amazing run they have had, including a winning streak of eleven games and counting, has begun to ignite fan interest in the franchise. Albany's offensive attack has found its teeth this season after being dormant for most of the previous two campaigns. Josh Sanderson is the player to watch in this game, as he is the league's new single-season assist king.

Prediction: The Attack have too many offensive weapons for the Rock to completely shut it down. Josh Sanderson will find open players, and Mike Regan and Dan Teat will be there to put away the passes. Stroup and Colin Doyle can and will keep the Rock in it for a while, but in the end, the Attack will hoist the Champions Cup in relatively easy fashion.

Albany 16 - Toronto 11.