Game 1 goes to the Buffalo Bandits.
Though the defending NLL Cup champions trailed through much the 2025 Finals opener, they clawed their way back and shut the door when necessary, taking the 12-10 win over Saskatchewan in front of 16,761 fans at KeyBank Center.
Game 2 is set for Sunday night at 8 p.m. ET from Sasktel Centre, where either the Rush will extend the best-of-three series, or the Bandits will win their third consecutive championship. Watch live on TSN or stream on ESPN+, TSN+ or NLL+ (Territory Restrictions Apply).
“It was kind of like a heavyweight fight… They got the last punch; we’ll have to get the last punch Sunday,” said Rush head coach Jimmy Quinlan.
If necessary, Game 3 will be on Saturday, May 24 at KeyBank Center.
Game 1 is in the books with @NLLBandits drawing first blood with a 12-10 win over Saskatchewan. Buffalo holds Sask scoreless for the last 23 minutes for the comeback win.
GAME RECAP 👇 pic.twitter.com/YcAJrbH7Z4
— NLL (@NLL) May 17, 2025
The Bandits’ big guns came to play in Game 1. Dhane Smith broke out with a three-goal, five-assist performance, Ian MacKay contributed another four goals and Matt Vinc stopped 44 shots.
“Everybody talks about how I slowed down offensively on the scoresheet,” Dhane Smith remarked to Ashley Docking post-game. “You know what, I can score goals but I try and help out my teammates to their best of their ability. When I have the shot, I have to shoot it, so I can be a threat as well, but all my teammates are getting me open. That was for them.”
Austin Shanks was the biggest impact player for the Rush with three goals and five assists.
The Rush surprised the Bandits off the opening draw with Clark Walter squeaking a shot past Vinc 22 seconds in. Rookie Levi Anderson, in his first playoff game, made it 2-0 at 2:40 with a crease dive. The Bandits quickly responded; Josh Byrne got an outside marker and Tehoka Nanticoke launched a pass from outside the restraining line to a cutting Kyle Buchanan who went airborne over the crease. Shanks made it 3-2 at the end of the first with his first of the game, a quick-stick goal.
Brock Haley made it 4-2 Rush before the Bandits roared back with three goals in a row to take their first lead of the game 5-4. MacKay got the first two, both on excellent passes from Smith – the second of which gave him 201 career playoff points, moving him past John Tavares as the League’s all-time leading playoff scorer.
“Dhane’s one of the best players because he’s very determined to be the best,” Tavares praised. “Regardless of what the score is, he never gives up. He always wants the ball when it matters most and he showed tonight why he deserves to have the ball. He was an integral part of that comeback.”
Mike Messenger and Shanks gave Saskatchewan back the lead, but MacKay’s third of the quarter tied it 6-6 with 35 seconds left. At halftime, the Rush were leading 29-20 in shots, 50-34 in loose balls and faceoffs 9-5.
Buffalo Bandits vs Saskatchewan Rush, May 16, 2025 at KeyBank Center.
Tavares said it was a credit to his team’s experience and character that they were able to get the win.
“It would have been easy for us to fold up there. [Saskatchewan was] on a few goal runs multiple times in the first half, I thought they dominated most of the play. They had the ball for the majority of the time.”
Zach Manns scored twice in just over a minute to put the Rush up by two early in the third. The teams then traded goals twice, with MacKay and Smith tallying for Buffalo and Keenan and Shanks for Saskatchewan.
That was when the Bandits began asserting their defensive dominance. They held the Rush scoreless for the final 22 minutes of action. Meanwhile, Smith and Buchanan teamed up to swing the offensive momentum. Smith showed incredible patience, throwing several fakes after the spin move off a defender to get Buffalo back within a goal. Buchanan picked up a rebound right in front of Scigliano to tie the game, and then Smith scored on a classic overhand shot for the lead.
Buchanan scored the only goal of the fourth quarter, redirecting Smith’s attempt at the empty net with 12 seconds left.
“Two great teams,” Smith enthused. “The defense is going to be good, the offense and the goaltending; it can come down to little battles, staying out of the penalty box and loose balls. We cleaned it up in the second half.”
And now they are 60 minutes away from their dream of a three-peat: hoisting another NLL Cup.
