PLL Week 7 Preview: All 8 Teams in Action in Chicago

All eight Premier Lacrosse League head to Chicago following the All-Star break. All four games feature East vs. West matchups as the PLL enters the second half of the 2026 season.

PHILADELPHIA WATERDOGS (3-2) VS. CALIFORNIA REDWOODS (4-2)

Friday 6:30 p.m. EST | Watch: ESPN+ | Betting Lines: Waterdogs -1.5 vs. Redwoods; O/U 25.5 (25 on Caesars, 24.5 on TheScore Bet)

Key storylines: Both Philadelphia and California enter the weekend with a chance to take a commanding lead in their respective conferences. A win would give the Waterdogs the best record in the East and improve their score differential, which is currently tied for third-worst in the league. The Redwoods have the chance to become the first to win five games this season and maintain their lead over the Outlaws and Chaos in the West for another week.

Despite the best win percentage in the East, it still feels like the Waterdogs haven’t fully reached their potential. While their midfield wasn’t consistent throughout their game against Utah, the rookies of Kyle Lewis, Josh Yago, Matt Collison and Silas Richmond complement each other well and should continue to improve. Their presence has also allowed Jack Hannah to thrive off the dodge, with the vet already matching half of his goal total last year in just five games.

One thing that has been consistent is the duo of Michael Sowers and CJ Kirst. Much like how Connor Shellenberger was the beneficiary of Jeff Teat’s quarterbacking on the Atlas, Sowers’ presence has allowed Kirst to thrive. Sowers has assisted on four of CJ Kirst’s 14 goals and leads the league in assists (11) and assist opportunities (37).

However, part of why CJ Kirst is currently the favorite to win PLL MVP has been his ability to score unassisted goals. Not only does Kirst boast the most goals per game (5.3) by a wide margin, but eight of his 14 goals have been unassisted. He’s dominating his individual matchup, despite often drawing opposing teams’ top defender. He’s also incredibly efficient, owning the second-lowest turnover rate among those with a minimum of 100 touches at 1.79 percent.

His odds to win MVP have gone from +750 to +300 since I recommended betting him following week four of the season, but they could end up even shorter following his matchup with a depleted California defense. Hop on the Kirst MVP train before it’s too late.

Players to watch: While Kirst will continue to be a player to watch every week, all eyes should be on the goalies in this game. Dillon Ward faces his former team for the first time since Philly traded him this offseason. On the flip side, Matt DeLuca faces the player that the Waterdogs moved so that DeLuca could become the bona fide starter this season. This goaltending duel will be fascinating to watch from all angles.

A couple of other players to watch are veterans Kyle Hartzell and Kieran McArdle. Hartzell is set to make his second appearance this season at 40 years old and is listed at close defense this week. There is a strong likelihood he’ll be tasked with defending McArdle, who is just one assist away from 200 career assists and sole possession of eighth place all-time.

Bold prediction: This game features the highest goal total of the weekend and for a good reason. Both offenses are deep and, despite the intriguing goalie matchup, are facing defenses that have been hot and cold this season. Expect a high-scoring game with CJ Kirst leading the way with his fourth straight game with three goals or more.

Best Bet: Over 24.5 (-115 on TheScore Bet), CJ Kirst Over 2.5 Goals (-105 on BetMGM)

UTAH ARCHERS (2-4) VS. NEW YORK ATLAS (3-3)

Friday 9 p.m. EST | Watch: ESPN2 | Betting Lines: Atlas -1.5 vs. Archers; O/U 21.5

Key storylines: Both Archers and Atlas have been dealing with injuries to key starters and former league MVPs. We’ve seen both teams’ new pieces on offense start to gel, but time is running out for both teams as they enter the back half of the season.

New York has managed to get back to .500, despite not looking nearly as dominant when doing so. The catalyst has been 2025 MVP Connor Shellenberger, who has stepped up and performed in clutch moments for the Atlas. Can he do so again when facing one of the more formidable defenses in the PLL?

On the other side, Utah seems to have turned a corner on offense, but there are no moral victories in the PLL and the Archers enter the weekend as the team most desperate for a win. It’s becoming more likely that the Archers will be without both Grant Ament and Tom Schreiber this season, so Utah needs its stable of first and second-year players to continue to produce. They will have a great opportunity to do so against a New York team that is coming off a three-week layover. Can Utah’s young offense do enough to support its elite defense and get back in the Western Conference race?

Players to watch: Both offenses will face championship-winning goaltenders as Brett Dobson and Liam Entenmann square off on Friday night. Dobson boasts the best save percentage in the league at 59 percent and Entenmann has stopped the second-most shots with 84 saves this season. One of these netminders will likely be the difference-maker for the winning team when this game is all done.

With Trevor Baptiste still injured, New York will turn to newly-acquired Zac Tucci at the faceoff stripe. He’ll contend with Mike Sisselberger, who is facing off at 55 percent so far this season.

Bold prediction: Both defenses put the clamps on their opponents and neither team has a player record more than four points in a low-scoring game. Utah grinds out its third win of the season in a tight defensive battle.

Best Bet: Bryan Costabile Under 3.5 Points (-175 on DraftKings)

BOSTON CANNONS (2-4) VS. DENVER OUTLAWS (3-2)

Saturday 2 p.m. EST | Watch: ESPN+ | Betting Lines: Outlaws -1.5 vs. Cannons; O/U 24.5

Key storylines: Needing a win ahead of the all-star break, the Cannons took care of business by defeating the league-leading Redwoods. It was a gutsy win for a young team that has dealt with some growing pains this season. The offense has been the most-productive in the league so far, but their per game average doesn’t necessarily tell the whole story. Their biggest offensive outputs have come against newly-formed defenses in Philadelphia and California, and the Cannons have yet to face the top defenses in Denver and Utah this season. They’ll get the former this weekend in a Saturday afternoon showdown.

Can Boston prove it’s the real deal against a Denver defense that is allowing just 9.4 scores per game?

Players to watch: Through three games, Andrew McMeekin has looked like one of the best faceoff specialists in the PLL. He’s winning 58 percent of his draws and has generated offense for Boston off the faceoff. He’ll face off against Luke Wierman, who is currently at just 49 percent at the stripe. Creating offense in unsettled situations could be the key for Boston when it comes to breaking this Denver defense. Likewise, limiting Wierman—who’s also a threat on the fast break—will also be critical for the Cannons.

For Denver, Brennan O’Neill and Jared Bernhardt remain the top players to watch based on how they have been utilized. O’Neill came out of the box in their last game and while his stat line wasn’t anything overly impressive, he looked dominant at midfield. However, Bernhardt’s speed is an incredible asset out of the box and we could see him utilized as a dodger up top more as well. It will be intriguing to see how both are deployed against a Cannons defense that is allowing the most scores per game (12.8).

Bold prediction: The Denver defense holds Boston under 10 goals for the first time this season, and the Outlaws overpower the Cannons defense in a multi-goal win.

Best Bet: Denver Outlaws -1.5 (-105 on BetMGM or FanDuel)

MARYLAND WHIPSNAKES (3-3) VS CAROLINA CHAOS (3-3)

Saturday 9:30 p.m. EST | Watch: ESPN+ | Betting Lines: Whipsnakes -1.5 vs. Chaos; O/U 22.5

Key storylines: Both Maryland and Carolina have lacked consistency this season. The Whipsnakes offense has looked unstoppable at times, but their inability to beat teams off the dodge has been evident when facing the better defenses in the PLL. The Chaos have the opposite problem: they have plenty of dodging threats but have been overly reliant on their ability to win individual matchups. Carolina isn’t generating enough quality scoring chances off ball movement and are currently last in assisted goals. Both offenses will have a chance to right the ship against good, but not great defenses that have been overly reliant on goaltending to bail them out.

Players to watch: Rob Pannell remains a player to watch as he sits just six points away from matching his former teammate Paul Rabil’s all-time record. He’ll have a great chance to move closer against a Carolina defense that will be without Jack Rowlett due to a quad injury.

Jarrod Neumann, Henry Bard and presumably Scott Smith will be tasked with defending Maryland’s attack on Saturday night. Will the Whipsnakes offense get back on track, or will their shooting woes and turnover issues continue against Blaze Riorden and the Carolina defense?

Both Joey Spallina and Chad Palumbo enter their matchup as the co-favorites for PLL Rookie of the Year, each at odds of +150. A strong performance in a winning effort will likely make one the odds-on favorite to win the award after this weekend.

Bold prediction: Maryland and Carolina treat fans to a back-and-forth thriller featuring plenty of goals. Pannell finishes the game one shy of Rabil’s record, setting himself up to break it against his former team in the Whipsnakes’ matchup with the Redwoods next weekend.

Best Bet: Over 22.5 (+100 on FanDuel or -105 on BetMGM), Rob Pannell Over 1.5 Assists (-110 on DraftKings)