The Buffalo Bandits continued their winning playoff ways by taking Game 1 of the East Division Finals with the 12-8 win over the back-to-back defending NLL champion Rochester Knighthawks Saturday night at the First Niagara Center.
It’s starting to look like the Buffalo Bandits are finally putting the specter of their eight-game winless streak behind them as they ride the winning wave of momentum through the playoffs.
With the Bandits securing the victory tonight against the Knighthawks, they will have two chances to secure the East Division final in Rochester next Saturday.
The Bandits were able to score five goals in the second half of the fourth quarter to keep the Knighthawks from making a possible comeback.
John Tavares’ four goals during the game helped lead the Bandits offense to the victory.
Tavares ended the game with six points (4 G, 2 A) and earned first star honors from the media.
Mark Steenhuis led all runners this evening with seven points (4 G, 3 A) and earned the game’s second star honors.
Earning third star honors in the win this evening was Bandits second year Transition specialist Dhane Smith. Smith earned himself the hat-trick in the fourth quarter alone and ended the evening with five points (3 G, 2 A) in the victory.
The first half of the game was an incredibly hectic one. Each team would battle back and forth with each team trading multiple-goal runs.
Steenhuis would get the Bandits on the scoreboard board first by scoring back-to-back goals on Knighthawks goaltender Matt Vinc with less than two minutes off the clock in the opening quarter.
“Throughout our struggles this year, our tendency has been to not get that good start, that quick jump on the game. We get down by four or five goals like we did last time we were home against Rochester, and then we’re fighting back and couldn’t get over that hump,” said Bandits head coach Troy Cordingley.
After eight minutes of back and forth lacrosse, the Knighthawks would answer the Bandits with a four-goal run of their own that lasted through the rest of the first quarter and the beginning of the second quarter.
Scoring for the Knighthawks during their offensive streak was Cody Jamieson, Dan Dawson, Joe Walters and Stephen Keogh.
“It seemed like there were mini-runs both ways. We’d go up by two, they’d go up by two, back and forth,” Tavares said.
While the Knighthawks were starting to pull away with the 4-2 lead due to their four goal run, the Bandits offense was struggling to find high quality scoring chances.
The offensive drought was finally answered with Chad Culp’s only goal of the game. Culp was able to send a side-armed shot to the low post and past Vinc.
Culp’s coach and teammates were well aware of how important a role he plays in the Bandits offense.
“Culp’s goal was very important,” Cordingley said. “Chad is a big part of our team and we’re comfortable with him playing at both ends. He’s a player.”
Tavares agreed and commented that, “He’s a great hustler, he’s someone we need on the left side. Me, Shawn, and Benesch are all kind of the same player, so it’s nice having a guy in there setting some picks, getting some loose balls, creating some second chances, scoring the odd goal and just bringing some energy to the left side.”
Culp’s goal was just the spark that the Bandits needed and helped lead the team to their own four goal run. The highlight of the four goal frenzy and possibly the year was Tavares jumping from behind the Rochester goal, wrapping himself around the right side of the net and “Air-Gait” his shot one handed opposite top corner past Vinc. Every single fan in the arena was left stunned and in awe.
“From what I remember, I was kind of in trouble in the corner,” Tavares said. “I got up and ran behind the net, and then with the goalie’s positioning, I knew that whatever side would be open.”
Cordingley added, “He’s the best, everybody knows he’s the best. I am amazed that a 45-year-old man can pick up a loose ball and score in one step behind the net, put it top shelf, opposite side with a man draped all over him.”
Not to let the Knighthawks go down by two before halftime, Cody Jamieson would record his second goal of the evening to make it a one goal 6-5 Bandits lead heading into halftime.
Dawson and Cory Vitarelli helped get the second half scoring started for the Knighthawks to give them their second lead of the night midway through the third quarter at 7-6. The Bandits and Knighthawks would battle back and forth through the rest of the quarter and Vinc was able to keep the Bandits off the scoreboard by stopping all of the Bandits’ 10 shots.
With the Knighthawks ahead by one goal at the end of the third, it would only take 55 seconds into the fourth for the Bandits to tie it all up at 7-7. Dhane Smith ripped a shot over Vinc’s left shoulder to even the score.
The Bandits and Knighthawks would battle back and forth over the next several minutes before Vitarelli would score his second of the game after Resetarits was called for a holding the stick penalty.
With the Knighthawks clinging to the 8-7 lead midway through the fourth, the Bandits were able to secure the victory by scoring the next five goals and came away with the 12-8 Game 1 victory.
“It was a great win. We’re huge underdogs obviously, playing against the back-to-back champions,” Tavares said. “So we gave ourselves an opportunity to win it in Rochester and that’s all we can do for right now.”
Anthony Cosmo finished the game with 36 saves on 44 shots with a save percentage of .818.
Matt Vinc finished the game with 30 saves on 42 shots with a save percentage of .714.
Buffalo’s next game will be Saturday May 17 at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester for their second of two East Division Final matchups with the back-to-back NLL champion Rochester Knighthawks. If the Bandits win the second game then they will advance to the NLL Finals. If Rochester wins the next game then the series will be decided with a 10-minute mini game.
