The Buffalo Bandits Drop a Deuce in Banditland
The Buffalo Bandits dropped a deuce in Banditland on Saturday night losing to the Vancouver Warriors 13-12. A deuce can be taken as both a bad performance, or their second straight loss, see what I did there. This game was in reach, out of reach, headed to a victory, and finally fell apart ending in a loss. Christian Del Bianco made his triumphant return against the Bandits with a solid performance making 40 saves and arguably stealing this game from Buffalo. The Bandits are now 4-4 in their last 8 games. It is not time to panic, but it is time for answers.
The offense was okay. The Vancouver defense is one of the best in the league. Del Bianco is one of the best in the game. It was going to be a tough game to find goals. The final score looks a bit deceiving as the Bandits only scored 8 even strength offensive goals. The offense had too many shots off target and too many uncharacteristically sloppy possessions throughout the game. In Dhane Smith’s last 5 games he only has a 13 percent shooting percentage. He is no longer the goal scorer who once broke the record with 72 goals in a single season. I completely understand that his shots are what allow him to set up the 6 assists he had in the game. However, if Smith can find his scoring touch even a bit more, it would be a big boost to this offense. Josh Byrne (2g, 3a) is not immune to this either. In his last 5 games he has been held to a 15.6 shooting percentage. On the season he is shooting 23.4 percent. If the dynamic duo can get back to their early season dominance, this team will be unstoppable. Two players who have been a surprising boost to the offense have been Ian MacKay (3g, 1a) and Kyle Buchanan (2g, 1a). MacKay become just the second player on the team to reach 30 goals this season. Buchanan has tied Smith with 27 goals, good for third on the team. Last season, it was Chris Cloutier with 30 goals, Chase Fraser with 31 goals and Tehoka Nanticoke with 27 goals that were leading the secondary scoring. Cloutier is on pace for 24 goals, Fraser is on pace for 27 and Nanticoke is on pace for 23. These numbers aren’t wildly off their pace from a season ago, but it would be a combined 14 goals less. That is almost a goal a game less from three of the team's best forwards. On the positive side MacKay finished last season with only 12 goals as he was still a relatively full-time transition player. He is currently on pace for 36 goals, a massive jump in offensive production as he has been the missing link for the left side of the offense. Buchanan finished last season with a respectable 27 goals. He is currently on pace for 33, not a major jump, but an impressive jump nonetheless for the 37-year-old righty forward. Like Smith, if Cloutier, Fraser, and Nanticoke can find the scoring touch they had from a year ago, this offense can get back to the elite level we know they can reach.
The defense played an okay game overall. It looked like they were thrown off by the physicality that Vancouver brought, and they couldn’t bring it themselves. There were defensive lapses throughout the game that arguably cost the win, but you can say that about every aspect of the game. However, that is my frustration with the team in this loss. Vancouver’s 10th goal of the game scored by Kevin Crowley is a prime example of what I mean. The Bandits were on a four-goal run, had just taken a two-goal lead, and had all the momentum to bury the game. Instead, the Bandits had four defenders stand in place while Crowley ran across the field, planted his feet and ripped a shot over Vinc’s shoulder. Not one of the four players decided to pressure the ball. After that goal, Vancouver would go on a four-goal run of their own that would decide the game. If the defense is playing tough on the play, maybe Crowley doesn’t score, maybe the Bandits get another goal, and it leads to a win. We’ll never know. As for Matt Vinc, it was not his best game, but it was not his worst. On paper, the 71.1 save percentage does not look good. There were certainly a few weaker goals that he would want back, and not enough big time saves down the stretch. However, I don’t believe Vinc was the reason they lost, but like much of the team, he could have been the reason they won, and he wasn't.
The special teams were another factor that arguably lost the game for the team. I know causing penalties aren’t technically part of special teams, but I am including it here. The 5-minute major’s against both Nick Weiss and Dylan Robinson were inexcusable. Both were the correct calls by the referees. Neither were accidents and both were committed by players who know better. While attempting to kill the 5-minute majors, the Bandits allowed 3 goals, the max number of goals they could allow on the penalties. Take those 3 goals out, and there is a good chance the Bandits win the game. On the other side, the Bandits went 2-for-5 on the powerplay. It’s not terrible, but when the Bandits needed a goal at the end of the game to tie it up, they could not cash in on the powerplay. That is a problem. In their previous game, the Warriors allowed the Georgia Swarm to score 5-of-6 on the powerplay. As great as Del Bianco is, if the Swarm could be that efficient, there is no reason the Bandits couldn't figure it out at the most crucial time in the game.
This was the most frustrated I have been watching a Bandits game in a long time. There are times that the referees frustrate me, or the opposing team, but not often the team and not to this level. To see the Bandits throw away a very winnable game was disappointing to watch. The Bandits outscored the Warriors 7-2 from the start of the second half, until 8 minutes left in the 4th quarter. That is the Bandits team we know they can be. If any aspect of the team, the offense, the defense, the goaltending or the special teams played just a bit better, or played to the level this team can play, I believe they win the game. However, that is also the silver lining of the loss. The Bandits played poorly and still only lost by one goal. If the Bandits can put together a full team, full 60-minute effort, they are still arguably the best team in the league. They simply need to do it.
Goaltender Breakdown
In this segment, I will breakdown how the goalies, offense and defense all performed on the goals in the game. How many were impressive goals, breakdowns in the defense or on the goalie.
Christian Del Bianco
Inside – 6
Mid-Range - 4
Outside – 2
Transition - 1
*2 goals were on the penalty kill
*0 empty net goals
Matt Vinc
Inside – 4
Mid-Range - 7
Outside – 2
Transition - 1
*3 of the goals were on the penalty kill
Goal 1 – A great transition play finished by an impressive twist bounce shot that sneaks past Vinc
Goal 2 – Crowley with a nicely placed shot over Vinc’s left shoulder, but Vinc should have been able to get there in time (V)
Goal 3 – Bal shoots around his defender and the ball gets through Vinc’s 5-hole, one he needs to have (V)
Goal 4 – This shot is a little deceiving as it looks like a twister, and I’m honestly not sure how any goalie is expected to save those
Goal 5 – PP goal – Robinson was picked out of the play allowing Ball to walk down and take a great shot
Goal 6 – PP goal – Sneaky pass, sneaky goal, looked too easy as Vinc was just a bit slow getting to side post on the quick stick shot
Goal 7 – The defense cannot lose track of Ball who takes a hard shot off Vinc and rolls in the net, good play by the Vancouver offense (D)
Goal 8 – The defense was not physical enough allowing Klarich to get to the middle and bury a side arm shot (D)
Goal 9 – SHG - Incredible quick stick by Lowen but the Bandits should not be getting picked on the power play and losing a player, play harder (D)
Goal 10 – Crowley has a great wrong side shot as four Buffalo defenders watch him shoot (D)
Goal 11 – Charalambides lets the offense know that Fraser is stuck on defense. They immediately use that to their advantage and attack it for an inside goal
Goal 12 – PP goal – Vinc just missed this one as it squeaks through his pads, one he wants back (V)
Goal 13 – Simply cannot allow Ball time and space to pick his spot and fire, nice fake pick by Crowley (D)
3/13 on Vinc
6/13 on the defense
Challenges by the Bandits – 0/1
Referee Corner
Like many of the fans out there, I find myself often questioning what the refs are doing on the field. From no goals and players being ejected, to calls that simply do not make sense. In this segment, I will attempt to use the rulebook and my best judgement to understand some hot topics from the previous game.
Bandits – 2-5 on the PP
Warriors – 3-5 on the PP
J. Byrne – Dead Ball Foul – To me this was a horrible call. Dilks checks Nanticoke after the goal had already gone in, but there is no call. Byrne returned the favor to Dilks by giving him a soft cross check of his own, and Byrne is called. I understand the second man in is often called, but neither check was a penalty – bad call
T. Dooley – Illegal Cross Check – Dooley got his stick up high on accident and the Vancouver player did a nice job selling the call – good call
N. Weiss – Boarding - A bad play by a veteran player. There is no reason to fly into a guy who is that close to the boards and already engaged in a loose ball battle with another player. Throw a slash at the ball, help get the loose ball, but there is no reason to deck him into the boards – good call
D. Robinson – Illegal Cross Check – Another bad decision. After Martel scores a goal Robinson drives his stick into his head. I am not exactly sure why Vancouver did not get a chance to score two goals on the major penalty, but the call was correct – good call
3/4 – good calls
The referees were consistent early with what I would consider weak cross-checking calls against both teams. Even if I don’t agree with the calls, all we ask for is consistency and they were consistent. The two major penalties were clearly major penalties and horrible decisions by the Weiss and Robinson.