The Bandits once again saw a game escape their grip, despite their early lead. Rochester rode a six to nothing streak in the first half on route to a 10-9 lead, giving the Knighthawks the second seed in the east and eliminating the Buffalo Bandits. This marks the first time the Bandits have missed the playoffs since 2002, two years before Darris Kilgour became the head coach in Buffalo.
The start of the game couldn’t have gone better for the Bandits, as they got the 18,070 fans rocking with an early 4-1 lead. However, that lead disappeared due to the previous mentioned six goal streak which featured two goals from both Craig Point and Cody Jamieson. Point would go on to score four goals in the game.
“I sat out a few games this season but came back strong,” said Point. “Whenever I got the ball they gave me a lot of space and room so whenever I had a chance I took it.”
“The guy can hit a dime on the top of the crossbar,” said Kurtis Wagar, who started in the place of the injured Anthony Cosmo. “He was hot and he had my number tonight. When you focus so much on the other guys like Dan Dawson and [Jamieson] a guy like that will squeak in.”
The Bandits, finishing with a 6-10 record, are the one of nine teams to not make the playoffs in the NLL. It marks the first time that a Kilgour steered team has missed the post-season, certainly a frustrating end to a frustrating season.
“You always expect to play for a championship and that’s your goal at the beginning of the season,” said Kilgour. “At the same time with all the turnover that there would be growing page and we knew we’d have to get this team on the same page. I thought we did a good job at the start of the season and then things went south for a little while. We just didn’t have it by the end of the season.”
It’s a very forgettable season for the Buffalo Bandits, certainly not ending the way that fans had hoped. A young roster suffered from incredible inconsistency, but many of the greenhorns were able to get some solid experience.
“It’s awesome, [John Tavares] and I talk about it, watching the young kids come in and progress and get better,” said Shawn Williams. “Lucky there aren’t enough of them to come in and take our jobs.”
Despite the offense looking rather lackluster for a majority of the game, Buffalo was in it until the end. Mark Steenhuis scored with only fourteen seconds left in the game to make it a one goal game, and Jay Thorimbert won the following face-off to give the Bandits one last chance. Unfortunately for Buffalo, they were unable to even get a shot off. At the center of the play was John Tavares, who played a limited amount of time in the game due to an injury.
“Maybe he could have went to the crease, maybe he could have done this, or do that,” said Kilgour. “But it worked out the way it did. We just wanted an opportunity to tie the game or win the game at the end, and we had that.”
“The last won at the end that will be with me for the next couple of days,” said Tavares. “I’m not sure if anyone was open or not.”
Tavares wouldn’t commit to another return or retirement just yet, not unlike what he has done in previous seasons.
“I love playing lacrosse,” said Tavares. “This year was tough on me because I was hurt a lot, right from training camp. [It was] my knee, my hamstring, my calf, my other calf. It definitely played havoc with my mind especially when you’re losing. I don’t know what’s going to happen for next season.”
“I know my kids want me to play,” continued Tavares. “Whenever I talk to them [they say] ‘one more year dad, one more year,’ because they love coming to Buffalo and they love coming to Peterborough.”
Williams, age 38, didn’t leave any question on whether or not he’ll be back next season.
“Without a doubt,” said Williams. “I’m excited. When I got the opportunity it’s basically like coming home. Without a doubt it’s the best place to play.”
As the Bandits season ends, the Knighthawks are on their way to a home playoff game with the win, clinching the number two seed. They will play the third place Philadelphia Wings next week. Craig Point ended his time with the media with one last quote.
“Hopefully we can just continue on from last year and beat everybody.”
