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Season opens on December 1st. Find 2023-24 schedules here and buy your tickets today

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WK
1
Fri, Dec 1
19:00:00
Saskatchewan
Halifax
Fri, Dec 1
22:00:00
Albany
Las Vegas
Fri, Dec 1
22:00:00
Panther City
Vancouver
Sat, Dec 2
19:00:00
Calgary
Rochester
Sat, Dec 2
19:30:00
Philadelphia
New York
WK
2
Sat, Dec 9
19:00:00
Philadelphia
Toronto
Sat, Dec 9
19:00:00
Buffalo
Albany
Sat, Dec 9
19:30:00
Colorado
Georgia
Sat, Dec 9
20:00:00
Rochester
Saskatchewan
Sat, Dec 9
22:00:00
Calgary
San Diego
Sun, Dec 10
16:00:00
Las Vegas
Panther City
WK
3
Fri, Dec 15
22:00:00
Saskatchewan
Las Vegas
Sat, Dec 16
13:00:00
Albany
Philadelphia
Sat, Dec 16
19:30:00
Halifax
New York
Sat, Dec 16
19:30:00
San Diego
Buffalo
Sat, Dec 16
22:00:00
Georgia
Vancouver
WK
4
Fri, Dec 22
20:00:00
Toronto
Panther City
Fri, Dec 22
21:00:00
Georgia
Colorado
Sat, Dec 23
19:00:00
Vancouver
Rochester
WK
5
Fri, Dec 29
18:30:00
Philadelphia
Halifax
Fri, Dec 29
19:30:00
Georgia
Buffalo
Fri, Dec 29
22:00:00
Rochester
San Diego
Sat, Dec 30
16:00:00
New York
Toronto
Sat, Dec 30
21:00:00
Las Vegas
Calgary
Sat, Dec 30
21:00:00
Vancouver
Colorado
Sun, Dec 31
20:00:00
Albany
Saskatchewan
WK
6
Sat, Jan 6
19:00:00
Halifax
Albany
Sat, Jan 6
19:30:00
Panther City
Georgia
Sat, Jan 6
19:30:00
Colorado
Buffalo
Sun, Jan 7
15:00:00
New York
Philadelphia
WK
7
Fri, Jan 12
18:30:00
Toronto
Halifax
Fri, Jan 12
22:00:00
San Diego
Las Vegas
Sat, Jan 13
19:00:00
Buffalo
Rochester
Sat, Jan 13
19:00:00
Saskatchewan
Philadelphia
Sat, Jan 13
19:30:00
Panther City
New York
Sat, Jan 13
19:30:00
Albany
Georgia
Sat, Jan 13
21:00:00
San Diego
Colorado
Sat, Jan 13
22:00:00
Calgary
Vancouver
WK
8
Fri, Jan 19
19:30:00
New York
Buffalo
Sat, Jan 20
19:00:00
Georgia
Toronto
Sat, Jan 20
19:00:00
San Diego
Albany
Sat, Jan 20
20:00:00
Vancouver
Saskatchewan
Sat, Jan 20
21:00:00
Calgary
Colorado
WK
9
Fri, Jan 26
22:00:00
Colorado
Vancouver
Sat, Jan 27
18:00:00
Rochester
Halifax
Sat, Jan 27
19:00:00
Buffalo
Toronto
Sat, Jan 27
19:30:00
Georgia
New York
Sat, Jan 27
19:30:00
San Diego
Philadelphia
Sat, Jan 27
22:00:00
Panther City
Las Vegas
WK
10
Fri, Feb 2
19:00:00
Halifax
Philadelphia
Fri, Feb 2
19:30:00
Vancouver
Georgia
Fri, Feb 2
21:00:00
New York
Calgary
Sat, Feb 3
19:00:00
Las Vegas
Albany
Sat, Feb 3
19:30:00
Rochester
Buffalo
Sat, Feb 3
20:00:00
Panther City
Saskatchewan
Sat, Feb 3
21:00:00
Toronto
Calgary
Sun, Feb 4
18:00:00
Colorado
San Diego
WK
11
Fri, Feb 9
18:30:00
Las Vegas
Halifax
Fri, Feb 9
20:00:00
Colorado
Panther City
Sat, Feb 10
19:00:00
Georgia
Rochester
Sat, Feb 10
19:00:00
Calgary
Toronto
Sat, Feb 10
19:30:00
San Diego
New York
Sat, Feb 10
22:00:00
Saskatchewan
Vancouver
WK
12
Fri, Feb 16
18:30:00
Buffalo
Halifax
Fri, Feb 16
22:00:00
Philadelphia
Las Vegas
Sat, Feb 17
19:00:00
Colorado
Albany
Sun, Feb 18
19:00:00
Halifax
Calgary
WK
13
Fri, Feb 23
21:00:00
New York
Colorado
Fri, Feb 23
22:00:00
Georgia
San Diego
Sat, Feb 24
19:00:00
Las Vegas
Rochester
Sat, Feb 24
19:00:00
Vancouver
Toronto
Sat, Feb 24
19:30:00
Albany
Buffalo
Sat, Feb 24
20:00:00
Halifax
Saskatchewan
Sat, Feb 24
21:00:00
Philadelphia
Calgary
Sun, Feb 25
16:00:00
Georgia
Panther City
WK
14
Fri, Mar 1
19:00:00
Georgia
Halifax
Fri, Mar 1
20:00:00
San Diego
Panther City
Fri, Mar 1
22:00:00
Toronto
Las Vegas
Fri, Mar 1
22:00:00
Buffalo
Vancouver
Sat, Mar 2
13:00:00
Calgary
Philadelphia
Sat, Mar 2
19:00:00
New York
Albany
Sat, Mar 2
21:00:00
Saskatchewan
Colorado
Sat, Mar 2
22:00:00
Toronto
San Diego
Sun, Mar 3
16:00:00
Rochester
Panther City
WK
15
Fri, Mar 8
19:00:00
Vancouver
Albany
Fri, Mar 8
19:30:00
Calgary
Georgia
Fri, Mar 8
19:30:00
Saskatchewan
Buffalo
Sat, Mar 9
17:00:00
Colorado
Toronto
Sat, Mar 9
19:00:00
Albany
Rochester
Sat, Mar 9
19:30:00
Las Vegas
New York
Sat, Mar 9
22:00:00
Halifax
San Diego
Sun, Mar 10
15:00:00
Panther City
Philadelphia
WK
16
Fri, Mar 15
18:30:00
Panther City
Halifax
Fri, Mar 15
21:00:00
San Diego
Calgary
Fri, Mar 15
22:00:00
Las Vegas
Vancouver
Sat, Mar 16
19:00:00
Rochester
Albany
Sat, Mar 16
19:00:00
Toronto
Buffalo
Sat, Mar 16
19:30:00
Philadelphia
Georgia
Sat, Mar 16
20:30:00
New York
Saskatchewan
WK
17
Fri, Mar 22
20:00:00
Buffalo
Panther City
Fri, Mar 22
21:00:00
Albany
Calgary
Sat, Mar 23
19:00:00
Halifax
Toronto
Sat, Mar 23
19:00:00
Vancouver
Philadelphia
Sat, Mar 23
19:30:00
Saskatchewan
New York
Sat, Mar 23
21:00:00
Rochester
Colorado
Sat, Mar 23
22:00:00
Las Vegas
San Diego
Sun, Mar 24
17:30:00
Saskatchewan
Georgia
WK
18
Sat, Mar 30
13:00:00
Buffalo
Philadelphia
Sat, Mar 30
19:00:00
Halifax
Rochester
Sat, Mar 30
19:30:00
Toronto
New York
Sat, Mar 30
22:00:00
Vancouver
Las Vegas
WK
19
Fri, Apr 5
21:00:00
Saskatchewan
Calgary
Fri, Apr 5
21:00:00
Buffalo
Colorado
Fri, Apr 5
22:00:00
Panther City
San Diego
Fri, Apr 5
22:00:00
Halifax
Vancouver
Sat, Apr 6
19:00:00
New York
Rochester
Sat, Apr 6
19:00:00
Toronto
Albany
Sat, Apr 6
19:30:00
Las Vegas
Georgia
Sat, Apr 6
20:00:00
Calgary
Saskatchewan
Sun, Apr 7
16:00:00
Philadelphia
Panther City
WK
20
Fri, Apr 12
21:00:00
Philadelphia
Colorado
Sat, Apr 13
19:00:00
Rochester
Toronto
Sat, Apr 13
19:30:00
Calgary
Buffalo
Sat, Apr 13
20:00:00
San Diego
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 13
22:00:00
Colorado
Las Vegas
Sat, Apr 13
22:00:00
New York
Vancouver
Sun, Apr 14
16:00:00
Albany
Panther City
WK
21
Fri, Apr 19
19:30:00
Rochester
Georgia
Fri, Apr 19
22:00:00
Vancouver
San Diego
Sat, Apr 20
18:00:00
Colorado
Halifax
Sat, Apr 20
19:30:00
Albany
New York
Sat, Apr 20
20:00:00
Toronto
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 20
21:00:00
Panther City
Calgary
Sat, Apr 20
22:00:00
Buffalo
Las Vegas
Sun, Apr 21
15:00:00
Philadelphia
Rochester
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Bandits Late Momentum Carries Team Over FireWolves

Relief.

That’s what Buffalo Bandits’ fans felt when Steve Priolo hit the back of the empty net with 59 seconds left to play. It put the Bandits up 10-5, bringing to a close a tense one-and-done quarterfinal against the Albany FireWolves that was tied 2-2 at halftime. The league’s number one seed now moves on to face the Toronto Rock in the East Conference Finals.

“It was a great lacrosse game,” enthused Bandits’ head coach John Tavares. “The offense played well in the first half, we just didn’t put the ball in the net. Dougie Jamieson had a great game; both goalies had great games. Both teams had great chances to score in the first half, they just didn’t get it past the goalies.”

Indeed, Matt Vinc and Doug Jamieson were both incredible, with Vinc making 45 saves and Jamieson with 49.

But only Vinc was credited with making the save of the game, a moment both Tavares and defenseman Ian MacKay called the turning point. After Priolo was called for closing his hand on the ball in the crease, Vinc stoned Ryan Benesch on a penalty shot with a right shoulder save 5:34 into the fourth quarter. They were only leading 7-4 at that point.

“They put that in and it’s a much closer game and the crowd probably dies down a little bit,” MacKay said. “But Vinc made that save and the crowd went absolutely crazy and we were able to ride that momentum and close it out. He’s by far the best goalie in the world and he just continues to prove it each game.”

Albany did score the next goal of the game, closing the gap to 7-5, but by then there were less than five minutes remaining. Colton Watkinson took advantage of a two-on-one transition break. But as Vinc shut the door after that, Connor Fields scored an overhand bomb with 2:30 to go. The FireWolves pulled Jamieson for the extra attacker but Vinc stopped all their shot attempts, with the Bandits’ defense pouncing on the rebounds. That led to two consecutive empty net goals, with Frank Brown tallying the first and Priolo the second, wiring the ball past Benesch, who had jumped in to cover the net.

Priolo wears the C for a reason, MacKay said.

“He’s a vocal leader when he needs to be but he likes to lead by example. When he plays like he did tonight, it’s all confidence and momentum and when a guy like that is playing out of his mind it’s really easy to follow. Everyone tries to match his mentality and his play style.”

Tavares counted on Priolo to stop Joe Resetarits, and he was up to the task. Resetarits, the league’s third highest scorer, was held to a single goal.

“I thought Priolo did a wonderful job on Joe Resetarits. Joey’s been awesome all year long, but we put Stevie on him and he did a good job,” Tavares praised. “He stood out and it’s hard to stand out as a defenseman and that’s why he got the heavyweight belt tonight.”

Buffalo and Albany were tied 1-1 after the first quarter. Reilly O’Connor opened the scoring more than nine minutes into the game. Dhane Smith tied it with a bounce shot.

Resetarits’ only goal came at the 3:42 mark of the second. Albany had chances after that, including a power play opportunity when Chase Fraser caught John LaFontaine with a stick up high. Boos rained down from the 12,535 fans in attendance at Keybank Center. Vinc then made a big save on a Resetarits-O’Connor two-on-one.

MacKay tied the game at two with two minutes left in the second. Matt Spanger chopped the ball away from Andrew Kew (Kew’s stick went flying, too), scooped it up and passed it to MacKay who scored a fast-break goal.

“That was just a great pass by Spanger that hit me up there,” MacKay said. “I’ve played with [Jamieson] in the summer, and he likes to try and play mind games with you a bit. Maybe he thinks us D guys don’t have the touch like some of the O guys. I knew he was baiting me and I wanted to put it short side… it was definitely a momentum boost for the team, being such a low scoring game.

“Obviously it’s defense first but we emphasized getting some transition tonight because we pride ourselves on our transition… that helped push us over the edge.”

The pace picked up slightly in the second half, kicked off by Smith’s goal 14 seconds in. Smith bullied his way past his man to get to the goal. Josh Byrne scored an overhand blast just over a minute later. It was the first two-goal run of the game. Albany responded with Jacob Ruest sneaking a sidearm shot through traffic.

Byrne’s second tally was the goal of the game. With his back to the goal and a defender draped all over him, he faked a backwards shot to the left, then quickly moved to shoot from the right – still facing away from the net.

O’Connor got that back for Albany with a quick stick, but Connor Fields put Buffalo up 6-4 at the end of the third with a crease dive goal.

“Getting that two-goal lead definitely gave us some momentum,” said Tavares. “That helped us settle down and take control of the game. We relied on our defense and Vinc to stop them and they did a great job five-on-five,” and he noted that Albany scored just one power play goal and one transition goal.

Buffalo outscored Albany 4-1 in the fourth quarter.

Although it was 1 vs 4 heading into the quarterfinal, the Bandits knew they couldn’t underestimate the FireWolves.

“Credit to Albany and their defense and Jamieson. He’s a world class goalie and can help them win games and stay in games and that’s what he did tonight,” said MacKay. “He gave them a really good chance. We just wanted to trust the process and stay with it.”

The fans were out in force, wearing their orange and black, holding up homemade signs and cheering their heads off. They’ll be even rowdier next Sunday, May 15th when the Rock visit for game one of the East Conference Finals.

“The crowd has gotten better and better each game,” acknowledged MacKay. “This is by far the best arena to play in and the best fans to play in front of. When you can get them into the game it’s an advantage for us. They definitely helped us out and as goals started to go in it got louder and louder.”

Game two will be in Hamilton. It’s a best-of-three series, and Tavares said to expect a battle.

“Toronto is a great team. It’s going to be a great series and we’re going to focus on that first game and try to win here in Buffalo and try to maintain home floor advantage.”

Game time is 6pm ET at Keybank Center. If you can’t make it to the game, you can tune in on ESPN+ and TSN.

NLL