Thunderbirds' Comeback Falls Short against Bandits
Published on February 15, 2026 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Halifax Thunderbirds News Release
HALIFAX, NS -- A second-half comeback by the Halifax Thunderbirds fell just short on Saturday night, as they fell 11-10 to the Buffalo Bandits at Scotiabank Centre.
Clarke Petterson and Randy Staats each finished the game with seven points apiece, with Jason Knox posting two goals and four points.
Cody Jamieson had three points, and both Stephen Keogh and Bo Bowhunter finished with two points.
Warren Hill had 14 saves, but he was relieved by Drew Hutchison, who finished the game with 24 saves of his own.
The game opened with the Bandits jumping out to a two-goal lead, courtesy of goals from Kyle Buchanan and Clay Scanlan. But Halifax got those back from Staats, who went back-to-back to knot the game at two. But Tehoka Nanticoke buried a pair to end the frame, sending the visitors into the second with a 4-2 advantage.
From there, Buffalo opened up a big advantage, with three straight goals Ryan Benesch, Josh Byrne, and Matt Spanger, making it 7-2.
Petterson got his first of the night to end the run, but an Ian MacKay power-play marker gave the Bandits back their five-goal lead.
Jamieson and Petterson got a pair back for the Thunderbirds to end the first half, leaving Halifax with an 8-5 deficit to chip away at.
They would begin to do just that in the third, as the defence and goaltending helped the Thunderbirds win the quarter. Knox got on the board with his first before Petterson completed his hat trick on the man advantage. Byrne got the lone Buffalo goal in the third, as the Bandits held a 9-7 lead with 15 minutes remaining.
Cam Wyers started the fourth with a transition tally. However, Halifax rifled off three straight to tie the game back up. Keogh got his first back with the Thunderbirds on a dunk from behind the net, Bo Bowhunter hammered a shot past Matt Vinc, and Knox scored on a great diving effort to bring The Nest to its feet.
But with just over two minutes remaining, Dhane Smith scored his first of the night in what would be the eventual game-winner.
Halifax now sit at 3-6 with the loss. They'll return to action next weekend when they head on the road for a West Coast clash with the San Diego Seals. Opening face-off is set for 11:00 p.m. AT.
National Lacrosse League Stories from February 15, 2026
- Warriors Push NLL's Best to the Brink, Adam Charalambides Nets Hat Trick in OT Heartbreaker - Vancouver Warriors
- Ottawa Native Liam Aston Scores in NLL Debut - Ottawa Black Bears
- Thunderbirds' Comeback Falls Short against Bandits - Halifax Thunderbirds
- Rock Suffer 16-8 Loss to Colorado - Toronto Rock
- Mammoth Defat Toronto Rock, 16-8, Set New Franchise Win Streak Record with Seventh-Straight Victory - Colorado Mammoth
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