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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
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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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Stories/Op-Ed

Jones Fracture: Bandits Put Brakes On Rush In Ot, 19-18

After blowing late, fourth-quarter leads in back-to-back losses last weekend, it appeared the Buffalo Bandits were on their way to extending that troublesome pattern to three.

However, thanks to a last-second, fourth quarter penalty shot save from Davide DiRuscio and a decisive overtime goal from Mitch Jones, the Bandits (5-4) beat the Saskatchewan Rush (4-3) 19-18 on Friday night at SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon. 

For much of the third quarter, it looked as if the Bandits were poised to coast to a victory over the reigning NLL champions. However, after the Rush erased a four-goal lead, the Bandits managed to collect themselves and finish off a well-earned victory in the extra session. 

In overtime, DiRuscio and Rush goaltender Aaron Bold traded several big stops before a 2-on-1 break yielded the game’s most important scoring chance. 

After scooping up a loose ball, Matthew Bennett fed Jones, and Jones would finish past Bold with 3:44 gone in overtime for his fifth – and final – goal of the evening. 

In a high-scoring affair, there were several offensive bright spots for both teams. 

In addition to Jones’ big night, Buffalo’s Dhane Smith continued his torrid pace with an eight-point (4+4) effort. Smith now has 76 points (33+43) through nine games and leads the League in goals, assists and points. 

Mark Steenhuis had seven points (1+6), Ryan Benesch had four goals, and Alex Kedoh Hill celebrated the recent birth of his child with a five-point (1+4) night. 

In net, DiRuscio played a vital role in the win. After relieving starting goaltender Anthony Cosmo with just 7:52 played in the first quarter, DiRuscio went on to make 37 saves on 51 shots to earn the victory. His biggest stop came late in regulation when he stoned Robert Church on a penalty shot to help send the game into overtime. 

For the Rush, the aforementioned Church (5+4) and Mark Matthews (2+7) each had nine-point nights. Ben McIntosh had six points (4+2) and Dan Taylor had five points (2+3). Bold and Tyler Carlson split the night in net, with Bold making 21 saves on 33 shots, and Carlson making eight saves on 15 shots.  

The home team opened the scoring just 49 seconds into the first when Adrian Sorichetti converted past Cosmo, but the Bandits tied the game just under a minute later after Smith fed an onrushing Jones, who then fired a quick shot past Bold. 

The Rush regained the lead 45 seconds later through Matthews’ first goal of the game, and a power-play goal 15 seconds later from Church pushed the Saskatchewan lead to 3-1. Church’s tally also triggered a quick hook for Cosmo as the veteran goaltender was pulled in favor of DiRuscio. 

Benesch responded with a power-play goal of his own to make it 3-2, but McIntosh scored to quickly put the hosts back up two.

After McIntosh’s goal, the Bandits embarked on a four-goal run that started with Smith’s first of the night coming on the power play. 

Daryl Veltman tied it at 4-4 when he picked the top corner from straightaway. Smith scored his second unassisted to give the Bandits their first lead of the night. 

Just nine seconds after Smith’s second, rookie Anthony Malcom scored after taking a pass from Steenhuis to make it 6-4. Malcom’s goal saw Saskatchewan make their own change in net with Carlson replacing Bold. 

McIntosh scored his second of the night with 32 seconds left in the quarter to make it 6-5 in favor of the Bandits heading into the second. 

The Rush opened the second quarter with a three-goal run of their own. Taylor scored his first career NLL goal with 1:09 played, and Sorichetti scored 27 seconds later to put Saskatchewan back up by one, and Nik Bilic scored unassisted to make it 8-6. 

Buffalo tied things back up with a pair of goals in quick succession. Mitch Wilde scored with 3:15 played, and Smith followed up 23 seconds later to complete his hat trick. 

A little over four minutes later, Matthews scored his second of the night to make it 9-8 in favor of the Rush, but Benesch tied things back up with his second just 28 seconds later.

A pair of special teams goals put Saskatchewan back up two. McIntosh completed his hat trick on the power play, and Church’s second, which came shorthanded, provided the highlight of the night with a beautiful, diving wraparound goal from behind DiRuscio. 

Smith wrapped up the scoring in the second with 1:19 remaining in the quarter. The tally was Smith’s fourth of the night and his seventh point of the first half, and it made the game 11-10 in favor of Saskatchewan at the break. 

Benesch opened the scoring in the third quarter and tied the game at 11-11 with just 22 seconds played, but McIntosh’s fourth of the night with 3:01 played put the Rush back up by one. 

Benesch’s fourth of the night came just 38 seconds later, and it initiated a five-goal run that helped the Bandits open up a four-goal advantage. 

Hill scored 24 seconds after Benesch to give the Bandits a 13-12 lead, and Steenhuis scored less than a minute later to push the lead to two. Wilde and Jones each scored their second goals of the night to make it 16-12. 

Saskatchewan ended the Buffalo run through Taylor’s second of the game with 2:07 left in the third. Taylor’s goal was the final tally from either team in the third quarter, and the Bandits would head to the fourth up 16-13. 

The Rush cut the lead to two through Bilic’s second of the game with 2:32 played in the fourth, but Jones completed his hat trick to restore the Bandits’ three-goal advantage. 

Church scored his third and fourth goal of the night within a minute of each other to trim the lead to one, but Jones responded yet again with his fourth of the night to make it 18-16 with just over four minutes remaining. 

Jarrett Davis scored with 3:29 left to cut the lead to one, and the late drama then ensued. 

With 35 seconds remaining, Church’s fifth goal of the night would tie the game at 18-18, and he would have an opportunity to win the game on a penalty shot after the Bandits were penalized for too many men on the floor. However, DiRuscio would come up big and keep Church’s attempt out to send the game into overtime. 

Three Stars of the Game:

1) Mitch Jones
2) Robert Church
3) Dhane Smith

Story by Zach Hirschbeck for Bandits.com. Photo by Josh Schaefer.

NLL