There was only one game this week, but the excitement made it feel like a full slate of games. The Buffalo Bandits held off a late Stealth rally to win 14-13. The Stealth were dominated on the faceoffs, only winning eight of 32, and were decimated on the loose balls 79-39. Full slate of games next week.
Three Stars.
1—Dhane Smith (Buffalo) Smith scored five times (one power play) and added three assists, and was a complete force out on the floor. Smith now has 16 points and is second on the team (8 G, 8 A). Smith is becoming that force that Buffalo knew he would be when they drafted him.
2—Ryan Benesch (Buffalo) Benesch tallied 3 G, 5 A including an assist on the game winner. Benesch is the team leader in points with 17 (9 G, 8 A). It seems the combination of Benesch and Smith are going to be a force this season.
3—Rhys Duch (Vancouver) registered two goals and six assists and grabbed five loose balls in defeat. Duch is obviously the main cog that makes this team run. Stealth are a bit of a better team this season, and Duch will do what ever it takes.
Honorable mention.
Buffalo-
Jay Thorimbert goes 24/32 (75 percent) on faceoffs and scoops up 21 loose balls (Stealth had 39 as a team).
Joe Resetartis tallied a hat trick including the game winner, John Tavares had four assists some of which looked as if he was performing magic.
Vancouver
Tyler Digby had three goals and one assist, Lewis Ratcliff may be getting back on track with 3 G, 1 A, and the two new additions from Rochester, Joel McCready (2 G, 2 A) and Johnny Powless (6 A). Powless has 11 assists so far this this in three games (23 total last year), but only has one goal compared to his career high of 30 last year.
