The 2026 PLL playoffs began Saturday with the Denver Outlaws facing the California Redwoods at TCO Stadium in Minneapolis. The two teams split their regular season series, with the Redwoods beating the Outlaws in the final week of the regular season to clinch a playoff spot and leapfrog Denver in the Western Conference standings. However, the Outlaws got their revenge, getting out to an early lead that they never fully relinquished, and holding on for a 15-14 win. Denver advances to the Western Conference final next weekend, where they will face the Utah Archers, who swept the regular season series against the Outlaws.
Outlaws explode in second quarter for five-goal halftime lead
In typical fashion, these Western Conference rivals traded nine goals through the first quarter, with the Outlaws holding a 5-4 lead after 12 minutes. The Outlaws got goals from Dalton Young (0:40), Brennan O’Neill (3:08; 7:00), Jared Bernhardt (9:00) and Pat Kavanagh (10:22). California countered with markers from Finn Thomson (2:01), Josh Balcarcel (8:16), and two from Chris Kavanagh (4:51; 10:53).
The Outlaws went on a four-goal, five-point run to start the second quarter. Luke Wierman scored 14 seconds into the quarter, then Jake Taylor scored back-to-back goals (3:04; 4:34). Graham Bundy Jr. finished the run with a 2-point goal (4:57) to give Denver a 10-4 lead. Dylan Molloy (6:53) broke the run, followed by Thomson’s second (7:59) and Molloy again (9:41) as the Redwoods closed the gap to 10-7. However, Young’s second (10:05) and O’Neill’s hat trick goal (11:27) pushed the Outlaws’ lead to 12-7 going into halftime.
Outlaws withstand furious second half charge from Redwoods
The second half began with a significant change, as rookie Ryan Croddick relieved Dillon Ward in the Redwoods’ net. Pat Kavanagh scored his second (7:39) to make it a 13-7 game, but California found another gear and began to rally. Thomson’s hat trick goal (8:42) and Balcarcel’s second (11:33) cut the lead to four going into the fourth quarter.
The Outlaws extended their lead to 14-9 when Pat Kavanagh fed Taylor from behind the net for Taylor’s hat trick goal on a highlight reel behind-the-back shot (1:29). Denver then started to implode, getting called for offsides violations multiple times in the final frame, while Croddick continued make big saves to keep California in the game. Molloy scored back-to-back power play goals (1:59; 2:43) to cut California’s deficit to 14-11. Brian Tevlin (3:33) followed off a dispossession of Outlaws goaltender Logan McNaney while he was outside of his crease. Shortly after that, McNaney turned the ball over again, this time while on the Redwoods’ side of the field. However, the Redwoods could not advance the ball quickly enough to take advantage of a second empty-net opportunity and a possible tie game – a move which may ultimately have cost them the game.
Instead, Molloy scored again on the power play (5:44) for his fifth goal of the game, making it a one-goal game. Bernhardt stopped the Redwoods run with just under a minute and a half left in regulation (10:34), but Molloy would counter with his sock trick goal and fourth power play goal of the quarter (11:24). California went to Molloy once more in the waning seconds of the game, but he was unable to get off a quality shot for the equalizer, and the Outlaws held on for the win.
Other Stats Of Note
Outlaws: P. Kavanagh (2g, 4a); O’Neill (3g); Taylor (3g); Young (2g, 1a); Bundy Jr. (1 2-pt g, 1a); Bernhardt (2g); Ryan Terefenko (1a)
Redwoods: Molloy (6g, 1a); Thomson (3g); Balcarcel (2g, 1a); C. Kavanagh (2g); Tevlin (1g); Andrew McAdorey (5a); Ryder Garnsey (2a)
Logan McNaney (Outlaws): 15 saves; Dillon Ward (Redwoods): 3 saves; Ryan Croddick (Redwoods): 7 saves
TD Ierlan (Redwoods): 17-32 faceoffs, 8 ground balls; Luke Wierman (Outlaws): 14-32 faceoffs, 13 ground balls, 1g
