NLL Buffalo Bandits

Bandits Control Play Against Rock To Earn 1st Win Of Season

December 17, 2022 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Buffalo Bandits News Release


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RECAP: Bandits control play against Rock to earn 1st win of season

Connor Pohlman and Chris Ryndak 12.17.2022

5 Bandits record at least 4 points each in road victory

The Buffalo Bandits used a five-goal second quarter to propel them to an 11-8 win over the Toronto Rock on Saturday at FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton, Ontario.

Five different Bandits found the back of the net during their 5-1 run that quarter.

Buffalo picked up its first win of the season to even its record to 1-1. The Rock fall to 1-2.

Dhane Smith led the team with six points (1+5). Tehoka Nanticoke (3+1), Chris Cloutier (2+2), Josh Byrne (2+2) and Kyle Buchanan (1+3) each recorded four points. Matt Vinc made 48 saves.

Nanticoke, who scored three times for the second game in a row, is tops on the club with six goals this season.

The Bandits had not played since opening weekend on December 3. Coming off of the long bye week, they got off to a hot start against Toronto and did not let their foot off the gas.

Buffalo started the game on a 3-0 run with goals from Smith, Nanticoke and Byrne, but the Rock responded with three of their own - including two on the power play - to tie things up. Dan Craig scored with just 2 seconds left in the first quarter to make it 3-3.

Then Buffalo had its big second quarter to control the game.

Byrne, Dalton Sulver and Nanticoke scored in a span of 1:50 to give Buffalo its three-goal edge back. Tom Schrieber broke up the Bandits offense before Cloutier and Nanticoke potted goals to give the Bandits an 8-4 lead heading into the intermission.

Sulver's goal was the first of his NLL career.

The first goal of the second half didn't come until Brandon Robinson found the back of the net with 6:35 remaining in the third quarter for his first point as a Bandit.

The Rock then opened the fourth quarter with a pair of goals. Toronto got one back 29 seconds into the fourth quarter when Corey Small tallied and then Craig scored again at the 3:39 mark.

The clubs then traded goals the rest of the way.

With 7:54 left, Smith found Buchanan in front to put Buffalo up by four. The Rock scored on the power play with 4:31 remaining when Schrieber fired one in from the slot to make it 10-7.

Cloutier scored his second of the night with 2:49 left and then with the net empty, Small scored again for his third goal and sixth point with 1:07 to go for the game's final goal.

The Bandits are back in action on Friday, December 30 against the Halifax Thunderbirds at KeyBank Center. Faceoff is at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now.

Check out the Buffalo Bandits Statistics



National Lacrosse League Stories from December 17, 2022


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