May 30, 2024
By Adam Ruffner
24. Detroit Mechanix (-)
Record: 0-4
Most recent result: 27-18 at Pittsburgh (L)
Next game: June 2 at Madison
Big Likes: Carson Chamberlain is averaging 2.6 goals and 224 receiving yards per game in his first 16 starts as a pro, and has some absolutely mind-blowing highlights this season; Jake Felton nearly joined the 1,000-yard club for a single game, and continues to show off one of the deepest bags in the league as a rookie.
One Big Question: When will the streak end?
23. Dallas Legion (-)
Record: 0-3
Most recent result: 18-17 vs Houston (L)
Next game: June 1 vs Carolina
Big Likes: Alec Wilson Holliday is on pace to lead the league in goals this season, and become the first player to get 60 in a regular season since 2019; throwers Jake Floyd, Carson Wilder, and Jason Hustad will have a green light all season to try to target Wilson Holliday in single coverage deep.
One Big Question: Can Dallas get more than two wins for the first time since the 2021 season?
22. Portland Nitro (-)
Record: 0-5
Most recent result: 24-15 at Seattle (L)
Next game: June 8 vs Los Angeles
Big Likes: David Barram has infinite range from both the forehand and backhand sides, and is 10th in the league in hucks per game (2.2) among throwers with at least two starts in 2024; the Nitro as a team are completing the fourth most hucks per game (8.8) this season.
One Big Question: Can Portland find offensive success without over-relying on the huck?
21. Houston Havoc (-2)
Record: 2-2
Most recent result: 20-14 vs Chicago (L)
Next game: June 1 vs Austin
Big Likes: Kyle Kolafa is currently third among all rookies with 10 goals; Matt Bennett and Jimmy Zuraw give Houston an ability to attack from well behind the half field line on any given possession; Ben Lewis is 12th in the UFA in scores per game (5.8) after the first month of play.
One Big Question: When will the Havoc have their first sub-20 turnover performance as a franchise?
20. Montreal Royal (-)
Record: 1-3
Most recent result: 18-16 vs New York (L)
Next game: June 8 vs Toronto
Big Likes: All three of Montreal’s losses have come by just two goals; Christophe Tremblay-Joncas is on pace to have a career passing year, and is already 3-of-4 on huck attempts; Quentin Bonnaud is one of just 25 players in UFA history to register at least 200 career goals.
One Big Question: When will Montreal snap their 15-game streak of scoring less than 20 goals?
19. Pittsburgh Thunderbirds (-1)
Record: 2-3
Most recent result: 21-13 at Toronto (L)
Next game: June 2 vs Indianapolis
Big Likes: Anson Reppermund is one of just five players this season to register at least six assists, six goals, and six blocks; Reppermund is six starts away from 100 games with Pittsburgh; Jonathan Mast is in his fourth straight season of averaging at least 42 completions per game at a 95 percent mark.
One Big Question: With Max Sheppard and Carl Johnson both sidelined with injuries, who will step up into a playmaking role to keep the T-Birds playoffs hopes alive?
18. Toronto Rush (+3)
Record: 1-2
Most recent result: 21-13 vs Pittsburgh (W)
Next game: May 31 at DC
Big Likes: Akifumi Muraoka has gamebreaking speed in the open field, and leads the Rush with 375 total yards per game; Ryan Poloz hasn’t thrown a turnover in three starts to begin 2024; Toronto’s 11 break scores in Week 5 were the second most for the team in a single game since 2019.
One Big Question: Can the Rush get a win against an East Division opponent* that isn’t Montreal?
* Last non-Montreal divisional win was June 25, 2022 vs Boston
17. Philadelphia Phoenix (-)
Record: 0-4
Most recent result: 23-15 at New York (L)
Next game: June 1 vs Toronto
Big Likes: James Pollard is the best player at the buzzer right now, and it’s not particularly close; Calvin Trisolini is quietly having one of the best individual passing seasons in the league with 1.5 assists, 52 completions (97 percent), and 330 throwing yards per game, including 1.5 huck completions; the Phoenix are 22-of-26 (85 percent) inside the red zone in their past two games.
One Big Question: What happened to Philly’s ability to generate defensive pressure?
16. Los Angeles Aviators (-)
Record: 1-2
Most recent result: 18-13 vs Portland (W)
Next game: June 2 vs Seattle
Big Likes: After seven seasons away, Bryan Nguyen has returned and made an immediate impact as a receiver with a team-high seven goals, and 516 receiving yards, in just two starts; defensive captains Mitchell Steiner and Andrew Padula already have 11 blocks combined in just three games; opponents have the eighth lowest completion rate against the Aviators this season.
One Big Question: Can LA spark a midsummer rally and make the playoffs for the second straight season?
15. San Diego Growlers (-)
Record: 2-3
Most recent result: 23-20 at Salt Lake (L)
Next game: June 1 vs Seattle
Big Likes: Travis Dunn is one big show this season, and currently leads the league in total scores (36) and receiving yards (1598), and is tied for third in huck completions (9); the Growlers as a team completed 12-of-16 hucks against a top notch Shred defense; since they converted just 10-of-16 (63 percent) red zone chances in their Week 1 loss, San Diego has converted 42-of-50 (84 percent) such opportunities in their last four games combined.
One Big Question: Can a tough-out Growlers squad pick up enough wins to stay competitive in the West playoff race?
14. Madison Radicals (-2)
Record: 2-1
Most recent result: 21-17 vs Minnesota (L)
Next game: May 31 at Chicago
Big Likes: Even in the loss, Madison’s defense still converted 6-of-10 break opportunities against Minnesota, and currently lead the league in team break rate; Anthony Gutowsky currently leads the team in scores (13) and is tied for the team lead in blocks (6) while splitting time between offense and defense; Madison hasn’t committed more than 19 turnovers in each of their past six games (5-1 record).
One Big Question: Can Madison reverse the bad mojo at Breese Stevens Field, where they’ve won just three of their past 12 games?
13. Indianapolis AlleyCats (+1)
Record: 1-1
Most recent result: 25-18 vs Atlanta (L)
Next game: June 1 vs Chicago
Big Likes: Indy has just two performances in their last 13 games where the team has committed in excess of 20 turnovers; Cameron Brock is averaging 4.5 scores (assists plus goals) per game or better for the fourth straight season, and is completing passes at the highest mark of his 12-year career; with one more start and one additional score, Brock will become the first player in UFA history to 150 career games played and 900 career scores.
One Big Question: Can the AlleyCats win against a team with a winning record?
12. Oakland Spiders (-2)
Record: 3-2
Most recent result: 25-19 vs Salt Lake (L)
Next game: June 7 vs Colorado
Big Likes: Above .500 after the first month of the season, and now set to receive a crop of young talent fresh off the college season; through his first 17 starts as a pro, Walker Frankenberg is averaging over five scores and 400 yards of offense while completing over 95 percent of his throws; Oakland’s defense is converting break scores at a five percent higher clip than in 2023.
One Big Question: Can the Spiders get below the 20 turnovers per game threshold and become an elite team?
11. Chicago Union (+2)
Record: 3-1
Most recent result: 14-13 at Austin (W)
Next game: May 31 vs Madison
Big Likes: First year Union additions John Lithio, Wilson Matthews, Jake Rubin-Miller, and rookie Nate Astrom have all been instrumental in the team’s early season success; Jack Shanahan is playing the best ultimate of his career in his fifth season, and has connected on 9-of-10 from deep; opposing offenses have the worst success rate in the league against the Union, and they’re holding opponents to the lowest team completion rating in the UFA.
One Big Question: Can the Union get at least two wins in their next four matchups—MAD, IND, PIT, IND—to stay in contention for first place in the division?
10. Minnesota Wind Chill (+1)
Record: 3-1
Most recent result: 21-17 at Madison (W)
Next game: June 8 at Indianapolis
Big Likes: Captain Bryan Vohnoutka took personal responsibility for the team’s loss against Pittsburgh, and responded with one of the best games of his career last Friday in Madison; there are no real solutions in the Central Division for Minnesota opponents when Matt Rehder gets a full head of steam in the open field; Wind Chill are third in blocks per game and eighth in break rate.
One Big Question: Can the Wind Chill improve their below average red zone conversion rate in time for the playoffs?
9. Seattle Cascades (-)
Record: 3-2
Most recent result: 24-15 vs Portland (W)
Next game: June 1 at San Diego
Big Likes: Seattle winning games handily without relying on mega performances from their individual stars; last year’s league blocks leader Lukas Ambrose has takeaways in each of his first four starts with the ‘Scades; Christian Foster, Spencer Lofink, and Derek Mourad are currently playing like the best backfield in the West Division outside of Salt Lake.
One Big Question: Can the Cascades at least split their upcoming Week 6 SoCal road trip to avoid falling under .500?
8. Austin Sol (-4)
Record: 2-1
Most recent result: 14-13 vs Chicago (L)
Next game: May 31 vs Carolina
Big Likes: Saturday ended Duncan Fitzgerald’s 16-game streak with multiple scores, but his zero throwaways helped up his completion rating to a career-best 95.7 percent; Sol opponents have the fourth worst offensive success rate this season; Austin has given up just nine combined goals in the first quarter this season.
One Big Question: With 53 combined turnovers in their last two losses, can Austin avoid compounding on mistakes against good teams?
7. Colorado Summit (+1)
Record: 1-1
Most recent result: 20-15 vs Salt Lake (L)
Next game: May 31 vs Atlanta
Big Likes: Jonathan Nethercutt and Conor Tabor are the most dangerous deep throwing duo in the league when they’re in rhythm; Colorado is middle of the pack in O-line efficiency, but fourth in hold rate, which speaks to the toughness and transition defense of the offense; Noah Coolman is third in the league in yards per game (664).
One Big Question: With three losses in their last four home games, can the Summit get back the home field advantage that saw them go undefeated hosting games in 2022?
6. Boston Glory (+1)
Record: 3-2
Most recent result: 17-15 vs New York (L)
Next game: May 31 at New York
Big Likes: Jeff Babbitt, Tannor Johnson-Go, and Orion Cable are all active against New York and DC this coming weekend, and could provide a size mismatch in favor of Boston in both games; Glory opponents have the fifth lowest hold rate against the Boston defense in 2024; Tyler Chan might be the biggest x-factor in the East Division, and could be a nightmare for defenses dealing with the towering trio of Babbitt-Johnson-Go-Cable, to say nothing of emerging receiving star Simon Carapella.
One Big Question: Can Boston finally get a win against either New York or DC?
5. New York Empire (+1)
Record: 4-1
Most recent result: 23-15 vs Philadelphia (W)
Next game: May 31 vs Boston
Big Likes: Jack Williams running the show on offense with just six throwaways compared to 22 scores in his first five starts this season; Empire committed the second fewest turnovers in a game in their franchise’s history in Week 5 against Philly; Antoine Davis and John Randolph playing like the best defensive tandem in the UFA.
One Big Question: Is the league on notice with the champs looking more and more like themselves as they work into the season?
4. Atlanta Hustle (+1)
Record: 2-2
Most recent result: 25-18 at Indianapolis (W)
Next game: May 31 at Colorado
Big Likes: Brett Hulsmeyer is playing like the best big in the league, and is completing a career-best 97 percent of his throws while averaging nearly 34 completions per game; big chuckers Austin Taylor and Bobby Ley playing at altitude in Colorado this Friday; Atlanta has the third highest red zone success rate this season (89 percent).
One Big Question: Justin Burnett has 26 blocks in his last 13 regular season starts. By the end of this season, can he become just the sixth player in UFA history to average two blocks per game for his career*?
* Minimum 10 career starts
3. DC Breeze (-)
Record: 3-1
Most recent result: 24-23 vs Philadelphia (W)
Next game: May 31 vs Toronto
Big Likes: Cole Jurek and Thomas Edmonds doing a little bit of everything on both lines for the Breeze; DC ranks first in offensive success rate through the first five weeks of the season; college champion Jacques Nissen makes his 2024 debut, and adds another elite offensive playmaker and arm to the Breeze O-line.
One Big Question: Can the Breeze focus on their Week 6 matchups against Toronto and Boston with their first game against New York looming on June 8?
2. Carolina Flyers (-)
Record: 2-0
Most recent result: 22-19 vs Atlanta (W)
Next game: May 31 at Austin
Big Likes: Lead the UFA in deep passing (75 percent huck completion rate), with Anders Juengst already 4-of-4 from range; going back to last season, Carolina has five straight games with 17 or fewer turnovers; the Flyers are 8-2 against Austin in the regular season since the start of the 2017 season.
One Big Question: Can the Flyers —currently ranked 21st in blocks per game—generate more takeaways?
1. Salt Lake Shred (-)
Record: 6-0
Most recent result: 23-20 vs San Diego (W)
Next game: June 8 vs Colorado
Big Likes: Four out of last five games with a 60 percent or higher offensive success rate; Jordan Kerr with 12 scores, 13 hockey assists, and two turnovers in his last three starts; Tony Mounga turning into a two-way star for Salt Lake defense, 12 blocks in last 11 games.
One Big Question: Is Salt Lake peaking too early with another two months still to go until the start of the playoffs?
