The Buffalo Bandits broke open a 7-7 Halftime time with a huge 7-0 third stanza to seize control over the defending NLL Champion, Calgary Roughnecks.
TO THE ACTION
A back and forth opening quarter saw Dhane Smith (3g,6a) put one by Christian Del Bianco on the man up at the 5:18 mark with helpers going to Josh Byrne and Chris Cloutier.
Calgary had an answer supplied by Jesse King (2g,4a) just over three minutes later.
The back and forth continued when Josh Byrne (4g, 3a) buried a transition set fueled by Matt Vinc and Justin Robinson at 10:50.
Once again, the Roughnecks had a response, and it would be King once again with help from Dan Taylor (1a) and Curtis Dickson to close the opening quarter at a 2-2 game.
THIS IS SHAPING UP TO A CLASSIC
Josh Byrne and rookie,Tanner Cook (1g) exchanged markers to keep it knotted at 3-3.
Tehoka Nanticoke (3g) pushed it to 4-3 Buffalo
Del Bianco added a second helper when he hit Zack Currier (1g) at 4:43 to Knott things up again.
Haidan Dickson (1g) put Calgary up, 5-4.
The Bandits got their legs with Nanticoke, Dhane Smith and Chris Cloutier (1g, 2a) each getting the best of CDB to switch the lead to the Buffalo favor at 7-5.
The man they call, “Superman” Curtis Dickson (4g, 1a) put two past Matt Vinc thirty seconds apart with the second on the advantage, to end the entertaining half with a 7-7 score.
The Game Would Change
After the very even first half, the Bandits found their MOJO and took complete control with a seven goal quarter.
Byrne, Connor Fields (4g, 1a), Tehoka Nanticoke (3g), Chase Fraser (1g, 3a), Byrne and Fields again and finally, Dhane Smith turned a 7-7 game into a 14-7 Buffalo domination.
How is this for production? Dhane Smith had a hand in all seven tallies with a goal and half dozen helpers.
Wind it down Time?
Calgary wasn’t going quietly into the night and cut it 14-9 courtesy of Curtis Dickson scoring a man advantage goal followed by Dickson again at even strength set up by Liam LeClair (1a).
Connor Fields said, “Hold my beer” and rattled off a pair of his own to close the scoring on an impressive 16-9 Buffallo win.
More Schtuff
Calgary went 2 for 5 with Buffalo 1 for 5 on the man advantage.
Calgary had the advantage I’m shots on goal, 58-43. Matt Vinc stopped 49 Roughnecks chances.
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.
