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BUF at TOR - Sat. 7pm ET Schedule

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WK
1
Fri, Dec 2
FINAL
Philadelphia
8
Halifax
18
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Vancouver
8
Toronto
19
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
San Diego
15
New York
14
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Albany
11
Buffalo
10
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Rochester
16
Georgia
11
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Colorado
6
Saskatchewan
18
WK
2
Fri, Dec 9
FINAL
Las Vegas
11
Panther City
13
Fri, Dec 9
FINAL/OT
Saskatchewan
12
San Diego
13
Sat, Dec 10
FINAL
Toronto
7
Rochester
11
Sat, Dec 10
FINAL
Vancouver
9
Calgary
11
WK
3
Fri, Dec 16
FINAL
Calgary
14
Vancouver
5
Fri, Dec 16
FINAL
Panther City
9
Las Vegas
3
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Buffalo
11
Toronto
8
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Rochester
14
Albany
13
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Philadelphia
13
Georgia
12
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Halifax
20
New York
11
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Colorado
12
Panther City
9
WK
5
Fri, Dec 30
FINAL
Halifax
13
Buffalo
18
Fri, Dec 30
FINAL
San Diego
17
Calgary
14
Sat, Dec 31
FINAL
Panther City
9
Saskatchewan
11
WK
6
Fri, Jan 6
FINAL
Philadelphia
14
Las Vegas
9
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Panther City
9
Rochester
17
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Halifax
14
Albany
11
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Buffalo
18
Georgia
9
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Toronto
15
New York
7
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Calgary
8
Colorado
9
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Vancouver
11
San Diego
16
WK
7
Fri, Jan 13
FINAL/OT
Albany
11
Halifax
10
Fri, Jan 13
FINAL/OT
Saskatchewan
10
Colorado
11
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Halifax
8
Toronto
17
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Panther City
12
Philadelphia
10
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Georgia
9
Buffalo
11
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
San Diego
10
Calgary
14
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Las Vegas
16
Vancouver
19
Sun, Jan 15
FINAL
Rochester
11
New York
8
WK
8
Fri, Jan 20
FINAL
Buffalo
12
Rochester
15
Fri, Jan 20
FINAL
Vancouver
14
Las Vegas
15
Sat, Jan 21
FINAL
Toronto
14
Philadelphia
5
Sat, Jan 21
FINAL
New York
16
Albany
10
WK
9
Fri, Jan 27
FINAL
Rochester
7
Halifax
17
Fri, Jan 27
FINAL
Buffalo
13
Philadelphia
9
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
Buffalo
16
New York
10
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
Las Vegas
10
Saskatchewan
15
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL/OT
Toronto
11
Calgary
10
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
San Diego
13
Colorado
9
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
Panther City
20
Vancouver
7
WK
10
Fri, Feb 3
FINAL
Georgia
10
Colorado
13
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL/OT
Calgary
12
Halifax
11
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
New York
14
Toronto
22
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Albany
5
Philadelphia
13
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Rochester
10
Buffalo
13
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Panther City
10
San Diego
12
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Saskatchewan
14
Vancouver
8
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Colorado
8
Las Vegas
13
WK
11
Fri, Feb 10
FINAL
Toronto
11
Georgia
10
Fri, Feb 10
FINAL
Saskatchewan
6
Calgary
13
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Halifax
14
Rochester
16
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Albany
12
New York
14
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Vancouver
13
Panther City
14
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Colorado
9
Calgary
13
WK
12
Fri, Feb 17
FINAL
Calgary
14
Vancouver
9
Fri, Feb 17
FINAL
Saskatchewan
16
San Diego
11
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL
Georgia
7
Toronto
16
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL
Las Vegas
12
Albany
10
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL/OT
Philadelphia
12
Buffalo
13
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL
Colorado
7
Panther City
13
Sun, Feb 19
FINAL
New York
12
Halifax
13
WK
13
Fri, Feb 24
FINAL
Panther City
12
Colorado
14
Fri, Feb 24
FINAL
Calgary
9
Las Vegas
11
Sat, Feb 25
FINAL/OT
New York
10
Rochester
11
Sat, Feb 25
FINAL
Albany
4
Georgia
20
Sat, Feb 25
FINAL
Vancouver
16
Saskatchewan
12
WK
14
Fri, Mar 3
FINAL
Buffalo
10
Halifax
9
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
New York
12
Philadelphia
19
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
Las Vegas
12
San Diego
15
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
Rochester
8
Toronto
9
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL/OT
Georgia
9
Albany
8
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
Saskatchewan
10
Panther City
16
Mon, Mar 6
FINAL
Toronto
10
Philadelphia
11
WK
15
Fri, Mar 10
FINAL/OT
Halifax
9
Buffalo
10
Fri, Mar 10
FINAL
Calgary
16
Colorado
10
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
Albany
6
Toronto
12
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
Philadelphia
10
New York
13
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
San Diego
12
Saskatchewan
11
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
Vancouver
14
Las Vegas
5
Sun, Mar 12
FINAL
Rochester
19
Georgia
18
WK
16
Fri, Mar 17
FINAL
Saskatchewan
6
Calgary
11
Fri, Mar 17
FINAL
San Diego
16
Vancouver
9
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Georgia
13
Philadelphia
12
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Toronto
12
Halifax
14
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Albany
10
New York
13
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Colorado
13
Buffalo
8
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Las Vegas
8
Panther City
11
Sun, Mar 19
FINAL/OT
Philadelphia
9
Rochester
8
WK
17
Fri, Mar 24
FINAL
San Diego
17
Panther City
9
Sat, Mar 25
FINAL
Toronto
11
Albany
9
Sat, Mar 25
FINAL
Halifax
14
Philadelphia
10
Sat, Mar 25
FINAL
Georgia
13
New York
8
Sat, Mar 25
FINAL
Calgary
14
Saskatchewan
6
Sat, Mar 25
FINAL/OT
Buffalo
7
San Diego
6
Sat, Mar 25
FINAL
Colorado
12
Vancouver
14
Sat, Mar 25
FINAL
Rochester
7
Las Vegas
12
WK
18
Fri, Mar 31
FINAL
New York
7
Georgia
12
Fri, Mar 31
FINAL
Las Vegas
9
Colorado
11
Fri, Mar 31
FINAL
Calgary
8
San Diego
14
HT
00:00
Buffalo
5
Toronto
11
Q1
08:25
Albany
2
Panther City
0
Sat, Apr 1
21:30:00
Vancouver
Saskatchewan
Sun, Apr 2
13:00:00
Georgia
Halifax
Sun, Apr 2
18:00:00
Rochester
Philadelphia
WK
19
Sat, Apr 8
19:00:00
Albany
Rochester
Sat, Apr 8
19:00:00
Saskatchewan
Georgia
Sat, Apr 8
21:00:00
Panther City
Calgary
Sat, Apr 8
21:00:00
Vancouver
Colorado
Sat, Apr 8
22:30:00
San Diego
Las Vegas
WK
20
Fri, Apr 14
21:00:00
Las Vegas
Calgary
Fri, Apr 14
21:00:00
San Diego
Colorado
Sat, Apr 15
19:00:00
Philadelphia
Toronto
Sat, Apr 15
19:00:00
Georgia
Albany
Sat, Apr 15
19:30:00
New York
Buffalo
Sat, Apr 15
21:30:00
Halifax
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 15
22:00:00
Panther City
Vancouver
WK
21
Fri, Apr 21
20:30:00
Calgary
Panther City
Sat, Apr 22
18:00:00
New York
Halifax
Sat, Apr 22
19:00:00
Georgia
Rochester
Sat, Apr 22
20:00:00
Toronto
Buffalo
Sat, Apr 22
21:30:00
Colorado
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 22
22:00:00
Las Vegas
San Diego
Sun, Apr 23
15:00:00
Philadelphia
Albany
WK
22
Sat, Apr 29
19:00:00
Philadelphia
Rochester
Sat, Apr 29
19:00:00
Buffalo
Albany
Sat, Apr 29
19:00:00
Halifax
Georgia
Sat, Apr 29
22:00:00
Colorado
San Diego
Sat, Apr 29
22:00:00
New York
Vancouver
Sat, Apr 29
22:30:00
Saskatchewan
Las Vegas
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Game PreviewsPlayoffsStories/Op-Ed

Bandits Are Ready for the Playoffs

The Buffalo Bandits have a date with destiny this Saturday, and destiny’s name is the Albany FireWolves. The Bandits, the NLL’s top seed heading into the Chase For the Championship, will face, perhaps, their biggest obstacle in the quarterfinals.

Referring to destiny in a quarterfinal? Maybe overly dramatic for this stage?

Not when it’s a one-and-done situation and anything can happen. It’s win or go home. The Bandits, who have been primed for a championship run all season, aren’t infallible, and they know that. They’re the best team in the league, to be sure, but they’re heading into the playoffs on a low note after losing 10-7 to the Toronto Rock this past Saturday night, putting their regular season record at 14-4.

That ties their franchise record for wins from 2019, a year they made it to the NLL Finals but lost to the Calgary Roughnecks. There had been much hope that this year would set a new record.

“I wish it was 15-3,” said head coach John Tavares. “But like I told the guys, be proud of your regular season.”

Be proud, but move on, was the message.

“We need to turn the page quickly here. It was a missed opportunity and no one’s going to remember we were 14-4. It’s what happens in the playoffs that you remember.”

Putting aside Albany and any future opponents, whether it be their rivals in Toronto or an eventual rematch with Calgary, captain Steve Priolo said the Bandits’ biggest opponent will be themselves this postseason.

On Saturday, Buffalo led Toronto 5-1 at halftime but let the Rock score six unanswered goals in the fourth quarter. That’s generally atypical of a strong defensive core, but it brought the Bandits’ last month of the regular season to a close with a 1-3 record.

“These streaks that we let teams go on, where we have breakdowns of five or six minutes, have really hurt us,” he said. “Mostly our offense has been able to bail us out and give us time on defense to address those issues. We just happened to lose to Toronto twice, we lost to the Riptide who did the same to us, and Colorado. We go on these streaks where we get a little bit panicky, maybe.”

Their three April losses came as they were trying to secure a home playoff game. It took them three tries: they lost to Colorado 15-14 on April 2 and then to New York 15-12 on April 9. It was an 18-9 win over Georgia that finally secured them not only a home Quarterfinal game, but also home floor advantage throughout the playoffs as the league’s number one overall seed.

It was surprising it took Buffalo so long to confirm their top status considering just how solid the team had been until that point. Their only loss in their first 13 games came against Toronto on February 12th. Earlier in the season Buffalo was far and away the top team, but the Rock kept winning, too, and ended up right behind them at 13-5.

“Our mood is good. It’s positive, energetic and focused,” said Bandits’ rookie defenseman Jordan Stouros. “Getting that home playoff game was all a part of the process, but for us the goal isn’t just [home-floor advantage], it’s going all the way. We don’t have a plan to stop.”

Chasing a championship in his first year in the league is something Stouros is used to. As a rookie with the MSL’s Peterborough Lakers in 2019, he won the Mann Cup Canadian national championship. He was part of three long, gruelling playoff series to capture that title. That experience brought a little extra pedigree to Buffalo than you might expect from a rookie.

Fellow Bandits Matt Vinc, Kyle Buchanan, Nick Weiss and Bryce Sweeting were part of that team, too.

As a rookie Stouros made it into 10 regular season games for the Bandits, scooping up 24 loose balls and causing six turnovers.

“I’m looking forward to any opportunities I get, and to be there for my teammates, whether that is on the floor or off of it,” he said. “We have an incredible group of guys that I can learn from and have been learning from this whole season. Playoffs are a whole new animal and everyone has the opportunity to win so we have to control what we can control.”

Having previous relationships with several members of the squad, and the closeness of the team as a whole, made the transition to the professional ranks an easy one for the Ottawa native.

“There have been a lot of veterans who have helped me this year,” Stouros said. “You learn different tricks, and different ideas that you only get from experience… As a collective group on the defensive end I’ve learned that trusting your teammates and knowing they have your back has been most helpful.”

Like the Bandits, the FireWolves are “pretty deep with a group that has been together for a while,” said forward Kyle Buchanan, who scored a hat trick against Toronto. “They trust each other a lot and they want to work really hard so we have to match and then exceed that… We had two good games with them (this season), we snuck out a couple wins and we’re going to be ready for them.”

The FireWolves had a shaky start in Albany but finished with a respectable 9-9 record, going 3-0 in April. They got the wins exactly when they needed them. The Bandits cannot underestimate them.

“Albany is a great team. They’re coming into our building thinking they’re going to win, just like Toronto thought that, and they beat us,” Tavares cautioned. “You don’t want to go in too comfortable.”

“It’s funny, the one and done; anything can happen,” said Buchanan. “One bad quirk and you don’t stop the bleeding and [it’s over].”

Preparation is the Bandits’ best chance to advance to the semifinals.

“If someone’s checking tape and watching what we did in transition or how they stopped certain shots or got in lanes [against Toronto], we gotta be ready for that,” Buchanan pointed out. “Teams are going to adjust, especially knowing our record and our strategies so we have to be ready for that.”

Priolo knows that Albany’s offense, featuring Joe Resetarits and his 111 points, will capitalize on every opportunity they’re given.

“They move very quickly off ball and they are a very talented team,” he acknowledged. “They want to push the ball and play at a fast pace and that fits with us. Resetarits is their big gun and we’ve seen a lot of video on him. We know Ryan Benesch pretty well. He’s always a threat. You always need to know where he is. If he gets time and space he’s going to pick his corners.”

It’ll be on Dhane Smith to counter anything Resetarits does on the score sheet. Smith finished first in league scoring to Resetarits’ third, at 135 points compared to 111. Resetarits tied for the league lead in goals (47) with Tom Schreiber and Lyle Thompson, while Smith led in assists (94), as the Bandits boasted a more balanced attack. Smith was held pointless against Toronto, the only time all season he failed to register at least four points in a game this season.

Matt Vinc led the league in wins (14), saves (747) and save percentage (.807), and saw more rubber than anyone other goaltender save for Christian Del Bianco. He played all but 18 minutes and was only replaced twice – only one of those was during a loss, the other was just to give him a well-earned rest. He finished third in GAA at 10.18. Doug Jamieson’s stats are similar: A .787 save percentage and a 10.34 GAA. Where Vinc wins is in experience, but both goaltenders will be relying on the men in front of them to let them see the shots they want and are prepared to stop.

A playoff game in Banditland is a dream come true for the team, not to mention the fans, who are hungry for a return to the finals. Keybank Center can barely contain the emotions that explode out during intense moments.

The veterans on the Bandits are used to it, but it’ll be a new experience for Stouros, who is looking forward to feeding off the energy the fans bring to the building.

“I think I can speak for all of us that we thrive off of the fans in Buffalo,” he said. “I haven’t been around long in Buffalo but I would say Banditland is the best crowd to play in front of. I wouldn’t want to hear their boos. I’m blessed to be on the home side.”

So, we’re in for a dramatic quarterfinal. A one game, winner advances and keeps their championship dream alive. The Bandits’ rookies and veterans are spending the week preparing for the biggest game of the season.

Tavares said nobody will remember the 14-4 record. In time, they’d forget about a quarterfinal loss, too. But everybody will remember a playoff win, especially if it leads to another, and then another, and then a championship, and that’s what Banditland wants.

Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. this Saturday, May 7th. If you’re not lucky enough to be in the crowd in person, you can catch the game on ESPN+ and TSN.ca.

NLL