Buffalo Bandits Cruise to Playoff Victory
I would love to start this off by saying that this was arguably the best game the Buffalo Bandits have played all year. However, I do not know anyone who would argue that. The Bandits demolished the Rochester Knighthawks, in a one and done playoff game, by a score of 20-8. This is the first time since 2016 that the Bandits have scored 20 goals. It is the second highest score by one team in a playoff game in NLL history. To say that the Bandits struggling offense has found its groove is an understatement.
Often times no matter how high or low the score is, there is something to pick on. In this game, it is nearly impossible but I am going to do it. The only two negatives I saw in this game were Chase Fraser and the penalty kill. Fraser finished the game with one goal and two assists. Other players finished with similar stat lines including his righty line mate Tehoka Nanticoke (2g, 2a). However, Fraser seemed off his game in this one. Coming into the game, Fraser had back-to-back hat tricks including one against Toronto. He did not seem to have the confidence and swagger he has shown the last couple of games before this. I believe he went out with an injury so it would be interesting to know if something was bothering him all game.
The penalty kill is a little bit worrisome. In their final game of the season against the Albany Firewolves the Bandits allowed them to go two for four on the power play. Against the Toronto Rock the Bandits played great holding them to one goal on four opportunities. Against the Knighthawks they allowed three goals on four opportunities. The team as a whole seems a bit streaky on the penalty kill. In what will likely be a close competition against the Toronto Rock, the penalty kill cannot afford to allow any easy goals. Every goal will matter and the defense that held the Rock to only one goal on the power play last time will need to show up again.
As far as positives from the game against Rochester, everything else. The offense, defense and Matt Vinc all played incredibly. Vinc allowed seven goals with three of them coming on the penalty kill. The defense did a great job forcing Rochester to the outside and not allowing any easy opportunities. As for the offense, I do not know what else you can possibly say about this game. Four players finished the game with hat tricks with Josh Byrne leading the team scoring four goals. Dhane Smith had his record-breaking assist season roll into the first game of playoffs with three goals and seven assists.
The Bandits will be facing a completely different style of team in the next round. The Toronto Rock and Buffalo Bandits will clash once again. The game will be much more intense and physical. If anyone can find two teams that dislike each other more in the NLL, I would be impressed. The biggest takeaway from the game against Rochester is the confidence of the offense. They will need every bit of it against a stingy Toronto defense.