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NLL Buffalo Bandits

Game Notes: January 14 vs. Georgia

January 13, 2023 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Buffalo Bandits News Release


LAST TIME OUT

The Bandits secured their third win of the season with an 18-9 victory in Duluth against the Georgia Swarm on Jan. 7.

Tehoka Nanticoke scored the first goal of the game just over a minute into the first quarter to give the Bandits the game's first lead, but Georgia followed with a goal of their own to tie the game. Buffalo responded with four straight goals with Kyle Buchanan scoring twice for the Bandits and the team held a 5-2 lead at the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter, the Bandits added five goals to lead 10-6 after the first half. After scoring twice in the second quarter, Josh Byrne completed a hat trick when he added a shorthanded goal to open the scoring in the third quarter.

Brandon Robinson, who tallied two goals in the first half, scored three consecutive goals for the Bandits in the third quarter to give the team a 14-6 lead. In the fourth quarter, Buffalo held an eight-goal lead over Georgia (14-6). The Bandits managed to net four more goals in the final quarter, while holding the Swarm to only three. Goaltender Matt Vinc stopped 30 of the 38 shots he faced in the game to record his third win of the season. Brandon Robinson finished the game with a team-leading five goals while Buchanan (3+5), Nanticoke (4+4) and Dhane Smith (0+8) were tied for the team lead in points in the game.

THIS WEEK'S MATCHUP

The Bandits and the Swarm will wrap up their season series this weekend at the KeyBank Center.

Buffalo has won the last four meetings against Georgia and will look to extend its win streak to five games on Saturday night. Last season, the Bandits defeated the Swarm by a final score of 12-10 at home on Jan. 14 and by a mark of 18-9 in a road game on April 16.

IN THE HISTORY BOOKS

Heading into the fifth game of the season, several Bandits have made moves to climb up the ranks in the franchise's all-time records while others are poised to make moves in the all-time franchise records.

Dhane Smith ranks third in Bandits franchise history in goals (314), assists (534) and points (848), and is one assist away from tying Mark Steenhuis for second place (535) all-time in Bandits history.

Josh Byrne, who ranks seventh all-time in points for Buffalo (287), moved above Mike Accursi (163) for sixth all-time in assists after his four-assist performance last week (168). With nine more goals, Byrne will tie Darris Kilgour (128) for sixth all-time in franchise goals. After recording another win last Saturday, Bandits goalie Matt Vinc tied Anthony Cosmo (38) for second all-time in franchise history in the category. With a win this weekend, Vinc will gain sole possession of second place. Head coach John Tavares currently ranks third all-time in team history with 38 wins. With eight more wins, he will tie Troy Cordingley (46) for second all-time.

IN-VINC-IBLE

Goaltender Matt Vinc, who stopped 30 of 38 shots from the Swarm last week, enters the second game against Georgia with a 10.14 goals-against average and a 79% save percentage. This season, the Bandits goalie is tied for second in the NLL in wins (3) and fourth in saves (153).

Vinc, the reigning NLL Goaltender of the Year, currently leads all NLL goalies in career wins (136), saves (9,199) and minutes played (13,927).

THE GREAT DHANE

Through the first four games of the season, Dhane Smith leads the Bandits in assists (26) and points (30).

Smith has recorded eight assists in a game twice this season, including last weekend's game against the Georgia Swarm. He currently leads the league in assists and sits in second place in total points. The Kitchener, Ontario native, who is in his 10th season with the Bandits, is the reigning NLL MVP after posting a league-high 135 points (41+94) in 2021-22.

MEET THE ROBINSONS

Brothers Brandon and Dylan Robinson are playing for the same NLL team for the first time in their careers.

Brandon is coming off a career performance against the Swarm last week, recording six points (5+1) in the game to lead the Bandits to the road win.

Dylan, who has played in all four games for the Bandits this season, netted his first NLL goal against Halifax on Dec. 30.

UPCOMING MILESTONES

Kyle Buchanan needs three goals to reach 200 in his career.

Steve Priolo needs four loose ball recoveries to reach 1100 in his career.

Matt Vinc needs three games played to pass Shawn Williams for 10th place and tie Anthony Cosmo for 9th place on the NLL's all-time list with 258.

Vinc needs one win to pass Anthony Cosmo (38) for sole possession of second place in Bandits franchise history.

NEXT GAME

The Bandits will travel to Rochester, New York for their next game on Friday, Jan. 20 as the team is set to take on the Rochester Knighthawks at Blue Cross Arena at 7:30 p.m.

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