For the second year in a row, the Buffalo Bandits are the NLL Champions. The phrase “back to back” applies in multiple ways here as the Bandits are the back-to-back champions, of course, winning the NLL Cup last year as well. It also applies because they had to win back-to-back games in order to get to raise the new and improved NLL Cup this year.
“I always think the most recent one is my favourite one,” said Bandits’ head coach Tavares said. “After a few days or months pass by, you always think back to the first one in ’92. But they are all special in different ways. Being 5-6 made this special. Last year we were dominant. I think where we came from during the year makes this special.”
Credit to the Albany FireWolves, as they did a complete turnaround from their season last year, and boy, they are going to be scary for years to come. Let’s talk Friday night first.
If we are comparing the two games, Friday night’s game was definitely more back and forth. Buffalo walked out of The Den with a 12-8 victory, but Albany did not make it easy. The first quarter was a track meet and we were so here for it. Both teams buried four goals, so the pace was fast and furious right out of the gates. Albany goal scorers were Tye Kurtz twice and Ethan Walker twice. Buffalo goal scorers were Tehoka Nanticoke, Josh Byrne twice and Dhane Smith, making it 4-4 after one.
The pace slowed down in the second, as there were only three total scored, one from Buffalo, specifically Chris Cloutier. The two Albany goals were scored by Travis Longboat and Alex Simmons. 6-5 FireWolves at the break.
The tides changed in the third quarter, as Buffalo very much dictated the pace of the game, and really slowed it down. Cloutier and Chase Fraser scored the only two goals of the frame, and the Buffalo defense stifled the young Albany offense. 7-6 Buffalo after three.
Buffalo went on a four-goal run in the fourth quarter, which really put this one to bed. Ian MacKay and Simmons then traded goals, but Simmons’ goal was the last one they’d score until there was two seconds left in the game, which was scored by Sam Firth. The Buffalo run started at the 7:56 mark and stretched until 2:20. Scorers were Kyle Buchanan, Byrne, Smith and Dylan Robinson. All of that to say, Buffalo takes game one 12-8. Now, we head to Banditland, and boy, was it rocking.
If you ever have a chance to get to a Bandits game in Buffalo, I highly suggest you do so. The Bandits’ faithful is the pinnacle of NLL fanbases, and the KeyBank Center is ready to explode at any point. Albany had a tough task coming into this building with their season on the line. With the backing of the home crowd, and the use of multiple multi-goal runs throughout, the Buffalo Bandits successfully defended their NLL crown, winning game two, 15-13.
Kyle Buchanan got the scoring started with a shorty, but was answered by Patrick Kaschalk. Cue the first Buffalo run. Three-in-a-row by Dhane Smith, Brandon Robinson, and Tehoka Nanticoke sent Banditland into a frenzy. Alex Simmons and Sam Firth closed the quarter out with goals to make it 4-3 Buffalo after one.
The beginning of the second quarter saw the next Buffalo run, only this time, it was four-straight. Scorers were Nanticoke, Chase Fraser twice, and Chris Cloutier. The rest of the quarter, Albany turned on the jets outscoring Buffalo 4-1. The other Buffalo goal was scored by Cloutier, while the Albany goals were by Simmons, Travis Longboat, and Sam Firth twice. 9-7 Bandits at the break.
We’ve said it all year, the Bandits are a second half team. The third quarter was more evidence of that. Longboat scored the only Albany goal in the frame, the rest of it was all Buffalo. How about a five-goal run? Scorers in that run were Smith, Byrne, and Fraser three more times. Fraser’s last goal was a disgusting hidden-ball trick with Byrne, that deserves a chef’s kiss. Blink your eyes and it was 14-8 Bandits after three. Right when you think Banditland can’t get any louder, guess again.
Albany proved their grit in the fourth, as they made a valiant attempt at a comeback. However, the veteran Buffalo defense held them scoreless from the 10:01 mark until the 2:39 mark, which you’d think ultimately was the decider. Firth and Robinson traded goals at the beginning, which was followed by Longboat. Simmons buried the next at 10:01, and Kurtz had the goal at 2:39. Firth scored again in the waning seconds, but it wouldn’t be enough. For the second year in a row, and the sixth time in franchise history, the Buffalo Bandits are your NLL Champions. Not too shabby for a team that was 5-6 in March.
“Winning last year, there was a target on our back,” said MacKay. “The storm we had this year, it’s not that no one had a chance, because the parity in the league is incredible. Look at the Albany team. They had three wins last year, and they’re in the Finals. I think after this, there will be a bigger target on our back. We’ll enjoy it, celebrate it. I’m happy for everyone.”
Players of the game for Buffalo in game two were Fraser (5+2), Smith (2+5), and Byrne (1+8). Matt Vinc showed why he is the GOAT, stopping 73 of 94 in two games. For Albany, Firth (5+2), Simmons (3+4), and Longboat (3+1) led the way. Jamieson did everything a goalie could, ultimately coming up short. Dougie stopped 80 of 106 in two games.
Byrne had an insane Finals appearance (4+12), en route to not only league MVP, but Finals MVP as well.
“I’m exceptionally proud,” Albany coach Glenn Clark said. “There was a lot of uncertainty going into this season. This game was emblematic of our season. We were down 9-4, in their building. We had every opportunity to say it’s not our night. We got ourselves back to a position where we were within striking distance.”
The party continues in Banditland, and like Mickey said, the target only gets bigger. Until next year.
