​After knocking off the Maryland Whipsnakes in San Diego two weeks ago, the Denver Outlaws surge to the top spot in the power rankings. Close on their heels are the California Redwoods, who continue building on the strong start to their breakout 2025 campaign. In the East, the Boston Cannons have shown clinical efficiency in their two wins, yet their four losses have been troubling, highlighting a streaky pattern that could define the rest of their season. As we head toward the All-Star break, the question remains: who will separate themselves from the pack once Chicago Weekend arrives?
Denver’s high-octane offense grabs most of the attention with its polished stick work and eye-popping plays, but what elevates this team to the pinnacle is its defense. The Outlaws have allowed an average of just 9.4 goals per game this season, a mark on track to become the second-best in PLL history behind the 2020 Whipsnakes, who surrendered 8.5 per game. The true superpower here is chemistry. Denver’s defense operates with a cohesive, team-centric mindset, funneling opponents into lower-quality shots that goalie Logan McNaney securely handles. It’s a veteran unit that understands the value of collective defense while remaining opportunistic enough to manufacture turnovers, a tendency Mike Manley leveraged to great effect against Maryland in San Diego. The irony of it all is that defense was a concern entering the season after Jesse Bernhardt’s retirement, yet veterans Ben Randall and Greg Weyl have slipped into the lineup without skipping a beat.
Next game: Saturday, July 11 vs. Boston Cannons (2 p.m. ET; ESPN+)
Meanwhile, California has emerged as a legitimate title contender following last year’s breakout, particularly after an overtime win over Carolina. The Redwoods lead the league in shots per game, averaging 44.3, with dangerous attack threats in Chris Kavanagh and Dylan Molloy, complemented by shifty midfielders in Andrew McAdorey and Sam English. Defensively, veteran netminder Dillon Ward is enjoying something of a renaissance, stopping shots at a 58% clip and turning away 12-plus attempts in every game. The offense is like a dam with multiple breaches—there are numerous scoring threats on the field, making it difficult for defenses to plug every hole at once.
Next game: Friday, July 10 vs. Philadelphia Waterdogs (6:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+)
As for the reigning champions, the Whipsnakes entered their meeting with Denver with the league’s best shooting percentage at 28.8%, yet their 13-7 loss to the Outlaws was a reminder that one off night can have outsized consequences. Maryland did outshoot Denver overall (41-32), and rookie Joey Spallina continues to gain confidence with a four-point performance (3 goals, 1 assist) that showcased him as a standout offensive weapon. Spallina’s efficiency and decision-making from a low-angle look demonstrated why he’s such a promising piece for the Whipsnakes’ future.
Even with the tough loss, I still expect Maryland to be a playoff-caliber team moving forward, and there are clear signs of growth that should translate to improved results as the season progresses. The path to the postseason remains within reach, provided the offense can tighten its execution and capitalize on high-percentage opportunities against top-tier defenses.