Last week, I told you to roll with Kieran McArdle and CJ Kirst — and if you listened, your weekend kicked off with a bang. McArdle went off for six goals in the Philadelphia Waterdogs’ quarterfinal win, while Kirst poured in four goals and an assist. Sometimes you’ve just got to pat yourself on the back when the picks hit.
Now we’re on to semifinal Monday, where everything changes. This is the stage where certain players flip a switch. They take matters into their own hands, dodge with more purpose and want the ball in their stick when it matters most. I’m looking for guys with playoff experience, guys who aren’t afraid of the big moment and guys willing to leave it all out on the field.
Boost ‘Em: Chris Kavanagh, A, California Redwoods (44 → 55 coins)
Chris Kavanagh just wills teams to win. When the Redwoods were in a tight one against the Carolina Chaos, you could see it in his body language — he wanted to take matters into his own hands. Plays like the one where he slipped under a pick, flipped his hips and stung one near-side are exactly why you boost him.
Kav thrives in pressure moments. He’s aggressive, relentless, and in a playoff game, he’s almost guaranteed to ride one back and turn it into a momentum play. Add in his résumé of college playoff battles and national championships, and you know the lights won’t be too bright. If anything, he wants the stage.
PLL playoffs, the fate of the universe on the line, or the Martians have the death beam pointed at Earth, you’d better hit it? I want the Kavanaghs… and I’ll take as many as I can get. With the boost, Chris costs just 55 coins. The math is simple: If he puts up 50 points, that boost turns it into 75. That’s basically two-and-a-half Kavanaghs in your lineup.
Boost ‘Em: Pat Kavanagh, A, Denver Outlaws (44 → 54 coins)
There’s just something about the Kavanaghs in playoff settings. Not to throw a jab at Brennan O’Neill, but during big moments, he sometimes gets buried in the spotlight. This week, I think it’s Pat Kavanagh who will elevate the Outlaws’ offense and carry them over the hump.
Some players just want the ball in their stick — they love the feeling when the game is on the line. That’s Pat. He thrives in these moments, and I don’t see the Outlaws going home this week because this guy won’t let them.
Boost ‘Em: Jake Piseno, D, Denver Outlaws (27 → 34 coins)
Piseno is the type of defender who tries to take over a playoff game — as much as a defender can. He’s going to be involved in every aspect of the contest. Look for him on the wing delivering takeaway checks, pushing transition and setting the tone defensively. In my opinion, he’s the LSM of the Year, and he’s not going out quietly. Piseno will make sure he’s at the center of every play.
Boosting a bargain-bin guy might look tempting, but it comes with a high chance of flopping. Last week, I found success leaning on players with playoff pedigree and a high ceiling — the ones where you watch them and think, “That’s the best player on the field.”
That’s also why it makes sense to boost the best player at a position. They’re the best for a reason — their floor is higher, but their ceiling is game-breaking.
