Before the 1998 season, the Major Indoor Lacrosse League was renamed to be the National Lacrosse League, in the process increasing the length of the regular season from ten to twelve games. The first season as the NLL and the 12th season overall, began on January 3, 1998, and concluded with the second championship game on April 28. The championship was decided by a best-two-of-three series, with the Philadelphia Wings defeating the Baltimore Thunder 16–12 in the first game and 17–12 in the second.
Team movement
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Regular season
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Reference: [1]
x: Clinched playoff berth; c: Clinched playoff berth by crossing over to another division; y: Clinched division; z: Clinched best regular season record; GP: Games Played
W: Wins; L: Losses; GB: Games back; PCT: Win percentage; Home: Record at Home; Road: Record on the Road; GF: Goals scored; GA: Goals allowed
Differential: Difference between goals scored and allowed; GF/GP: Average number of goals scored per game; GA/GP: Average number of goals allowed per game
All Star Game
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No All-Star Game was played in 1998.
Playoffs
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| Semifinals
| | | Championship (best-of-3)
| |
| | | | | | | | | |
| 4
| Buffalo
| 12
| | |
|
| 1
| Philadelphia
| 17
| |
| | 2
| Baltimore
| 0
| |
|
| |
| | | 1
| Philadelphia
| 2
| |
| 3
| Rochester
| 14
| |
| |
| 2
| Baltimore
| 15
| |
- Game 1: Baltimore 12 @ Philadelphia 16
Game 2: Philadelphia 17 @ Baltimore 12
Weekly awards
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Each week, a player is awarded "Player of the Week" honours.
Monthly awards
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Awards are also given out monthly for the best overall player and best rookie. The 1998 season was the first season that the Rookie of the Month award was given out.
Statistics leaders
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Bold numbers indicate new single-season records. Italics indicate tied single-season records.
Stat |
Player |
Team |
Number
|
Goals |
Gary Gait |
Baltimore |
57
|
Assists |
Jim Veltman |
Ontario |
40
|
Points |
Gary Gait |
Baltimore |
85
|
Penalty Minutes |
Pat Coyle |
Ontario |
48
|
Shots on Goal |
Gary Gait |
Baltimore |
156
|
Loose Balls |
Jim Veltman |
Ontario |
194
|
Save Pct |
Steve Dietrich |
Rochester |
77.9
|
Attendance
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Regular Season
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Home Team |
Home Games |
Average Attendance |
Total Attendance[2]
|
Philadelphia Wings
|
6
|
14,197
|
85,182
|
Buffalo Bandits
|
6
|
12,256
|
73,534
|
New York Saints
|
6
|
6,725
|
40,349
|
Rochester Knighthawks
|
6
|
6,706
|
40,234
|
Baltimore Thunder
|
6
|
5,378
|
32,269
|
Ontario Thunder
|
6
|
4,810
|
28,862
|
Syracuse Smash
|
6
|
4,230
|
25,378
|
League
|
42
|
7,757
|
325,808
|
Playoffs
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Home Team |
Home Games |
Average Attendance |
Total Attendance[2]
|
Philadelphia Wings
|
2
|
9,288
|
19,655
|
Baltimore Thunder
|
2
|
3,282
|
6,564
|
League
|
4
|
6,555
|
26,219
|
See also
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References
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