Compiled and Written by “Muffler” Mike Kostiuk
LaxPhilly- A Division of the Edge of Philly Sports Network
The Buffalo Bandits visited Nassau Live Center on Sunday afternoon to play the New York Riptide.
With the Halifax Thunderbirds losing the night before, Buffalo was looking to stay undefeated, and many thought a win would come relatively easily against a Riptide team struggling at 1-4.
New York had other ideas, overcoming deficits of 7-4, 10-6, and 14-10 to force overtime.
FAST AND FURIOUS, PART 1
Ultimately, the Bandits prevailed 18-17 in the highest scoring game in the NLL this season to stay undefeated (5-0) and take sole possession of first place in the East Division.
The Riptide (1-5) remain in last place in the East.
Both teams traded 3 goals each for the first ten minutes.
Tehoka Nanticoke (0:43), Nick Weiss (3:09), and Josh Byrne (5:09) for Buffalo; Jake Fox (1:12), Larson Sundown (4:43), and Kieran McArdle (10:02; shorthanded) for New York.
The Bandits then took the proverbial driver’s seat over the last five minutes: Brad McCulley (11:56), Kevin Brownell (12:05), Nanticoke’s second (12:51), and Chase Fraser (14:59; power play).
New York could only respond with Jeff Teat (14:30) for a 7-4 deficit at the end of the first quarter.
FAST AND FURIOUS, PART 2
Crawford joins elite group.
The Riptide pulled within two on McArdle’s second (3:20; power play) before the Bandits fired off another 3-goal run.
Dhane Smith (7:27), Byrne’s second (9:22), and Connor Fields (11:25) made it 10-5.
At 14:08, New York’s Callum Crawford fired a shot past Bandits netminder Matt Vinc to become just the 16th player in NLL history to score 400 career goals.
FAST AND FURIOUS, PART 3
New York would outscore Buffalo 5-4 in the third quarter.
Tyson Gibson (0:27; power play), Teat’s second (1:24; power play), Crawford’s second (7:15), Fox’s second (10:08), and Sundown’s second (14:17; power play).
Buffalo countered with Nanticoke’s third (6:23; power play) and fourth (9:47), Fields’s second (10:25), and Smith’s second (11:03).
As the third quarter ended, it was a three-goal game again at 14-11, but a whopping six other players were about to join Nanticoke in the hat-trick club.
HiGH TIDE
The Sundown goal at the end of the third quarter ignited a 7-goal Riptide run.
Fox (2:53), Crawford (3:41), Sundown (5:07; power play) and Teat (7:52) each netted their third of the night, with goals from Jay Thorimbert (3:45) and Connor Kearnan (6:00; power play) sandwiched in between. Suddenly, New York had a 17-14 advantage with 8 minutes to play.
Buffalo, not used to playing from behind late in the game, responded to a pair of untimely Riptide penalties as the clock wound down.
Fraser’s second (11:09), Fields’s hat trick (13:41; power play), and Byrne’s hat trick (14:38; power play) sent the game to overtime.
Still on the power play, Chris Cloutier ended the game at 1:11, putting a low shot past the Riptide’s Steven Orleman to punctuate the narrowest of escapes for the Bandits.
THREE STARS OF THE GAME
1st Star: Cloutier (GWG, 1a)
2nd Star: Crawford (3g, 8a)
3rd Star: Jeff Teat (3g, 7a)
OTHER STATS OF NOTE
Sundown (3g, 3a); Nanticoke (4g, 2a); Fields (3g, 3a); Smith (2g, 9a).
Power Play: BUF 3 of 6; NY 6 of 10
Thorimbert: 13 loose balls (led all players); 1,642 for his career (5th all-time in NLL history)
Thorimbert: 15 of 29 on faceoffs
Vinc (BUF): 32 saves; Orleman (NY): 39 saves.
Buffalo’s Steve Priolo scooped his 1.000th loose ball.
Kevin has followed and promoted the game of lacrosse since May 19, 1974.
The same day the Philadelphia Flyers won the Cup, the Philadelphia Wings were introduced to Neibauer and Philadelphia.
Kevin has covered many sports, including baseball, football, basketball, and.. lacrosse. A former licensed football referee and baseball umpire, Kevin brings a unique insight to his game coverage.
A published writer in JustHockey Magazine, Kevin covered the American Hockey League as well as a monthly story on a pugilist where Kevin used the pen name, The Rink Rat. Neibauer turned his attentions to lacrosse for a few years and does his part, whether podcasting or writing to grow the game. Kevin branched out to his roots and currently provides insight for all Philadelphia teams for Edge of Philly as well as his full-time duties with LaxPhilly.
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