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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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Stories/Op-Ed

League’S Top Two Teams Clash With Bandits Vs. Rush To Open 2016 Nll Finals

Following a hard-fought East Division Finals victory over the New England Black Wolves, the Buffalo Bandits will continue their historic season Saturday night when they take on the defending-champion Saskatchewan Rush in Game 1 of the Champion’s Cup Finals at First Niagara Center. 

In Game 2 of the East Division Finals, the Bandits endured an exhausting battle that saw both teams playing with a true sense of desperation. After a slow start, Buffalo trailed after the first quarter, but the Bandits’ explosive offensive attack paved the way for the opportunity to play for what could be the organization’s fifth championship. 

“It was a physical game and bodies were flying all over the place all night,” said Bandits assistant coach Rich Kilgour. “We knew New England would play with a sense of desperation, and we had to go above and beyond that and we did. There were a few spots where we could’ve folded, but we kept our noses to the grindstone and took care of business.”

On a night where the defense struggled at times to contain the high-scoring New England offense, Buffalo’s offense rose to the occasion to bail them out. In the win, Dhane Smith continued his spectacular year with a nine-point (4+5) night, and Ryan Benesch (3+4) and Mark Steenhuis (3+2) both chipped in outstanding performances. 

In addition to Buffalo’s top-three regular season scorers, the Bandits’ secondary scoring also proved hugely influential in the victory. After a four-goal night in Game 1, Alex Kedoh Hill one-upped himself with a seven-point (3+4) night in Game 2. Chad Culp also had four points (3+1), which included a pair of vital fourth-quarter markers. 

“The ‘D’ struggled a little bit, but the offense bailed us out and that’s what a good team does,” Kilgour said. “They tried to just key in on Dhane, but everybody else stepped up and that’s how you win. We are a deep team and we’re an unselfish team. No one cares about who gets the great shot, our offense is always five guys working together to get the best shot on every shift.”

Although the defense did struggle in the first half against the Black Wolves, there were positives to take away from the night. When the game was hanging in the balance in the fourth quarter, the Bandits surrendered only two New England goals to slam the door shut on their opponents. 

“Our defense was caught trying not to lose early on as opposed to playing to win,” Kilgour said. “We were sitting back instead of putting the pressure on the other team. While we struggled in the first half, we settled down and in the second half and especially in the fourth. When push came to shove, the ‘D’ did step up when we really needed it.”

This coming Saturday, the Bandits will need their entire team to step up when they take on the Rush. After matching the Bandits regular season record (13-5), the Rush defeated the Calgary Roughnecks with consecutive victories in the West Division Finals. In doing so, the Rush clinched a second-straight Champion’s Cup Finals appearance, and they will have an opportunity to repeat as league champions. 

Fittingly, this year’s finals will pit the League’s two best teams against one another.

“They’re a really good team and we have a really good team,” Kilgour said. “It’s a great matchup, but we are preaching the same idea that we have all season long: just go out and do your job. We are a team. We don’t care who gets the credit. All we care about is putting the Buffalo Bandits’ name on the Champion’s Cup trophy, and that’s the attitude that we’re bringing into the finals.” 

Offensively, Buffalo will face the NLL’s stingiest defense. The Rush led the NLL in goals allowed (190) during the regular season and they possess one of the League’s best goaltenders in Aaron Bold. In the two-game series with Calgary, Bold was dominant in posting a 9.50 goals-against-average and a .796 save percentage. 

Despite the impressive resume of the Saskatchewan defense unit, the Bandits are confident in their offensive attack. Buffalo led the NLL with 251 goals for during the regular season. Nineteen of them came back on Feb. 28 when the Bandits went on the road to beat the Rush in overtime. 

“We were able to hang 19 on them in the regular season and we should have confidence going in against their defense,” Kilgour said. “We have so much depth on the offensive end and our transition game really hurt them when we played them before. I don’t want to jinx us, but we know that we can turn that red light on a lot. It’ll be a great battle.”

On the defensive end, the Bandits will have to deal with a star forward that presents a far different challenge than the one they faced against New England. While Shawn Evans’ small stature and quickness proved difficult to deal with, the Bandits will be tested when they hope to slow down Saskatchewan’s 6-foot-5, 230-pound forward Mark Matthews. 

Matthews led the Rush in regular-season scoring with 109 points (40+69) and he has paced the club with 12 points (4+6) so far in the playoffs. 

Despite the attention that Matthews will draw, the Bandits can’t fall victim to devoting the entirety of their attention to the big forward. 

“Matthews will get a lot of attention, but at the same time we can’t overlook everybody else,” Kilgour said. “They have a ton of capable scorers, and if we pay too much attention to Matthews, there are a lot of other guys that can hurt us. They were champions last year for a reason, and we’ll do our best to create and execute a plan that will take away their tendencies.”

In addition to their game plans at each end of the floor, Buffalo will hope to draw upon the emotion that comes with playing for the ultimate prize. For many of the Bandits’ players, including several of the team’s well-traveled veterans, playing for the Champion’s Cup trophy could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. 

“Andrew Watt has been in this league nine years and he’s played on a lot of good teams and never had the chance to play for a championship,” Kilgour said. “Chad Culp has been in this league 15 years, he’s been on some really good teams, but he hasn’t been here either. Anthony Cosmo has been a part of two championship teams in Toronto, but he never played a minute in those playoff runs.

“Every player on this team has to make the most of their opportunity, and we have a great opportunity. We’ve earned this chance and now we have to go play lacrosse and make the most of it.”

Saturday’s radio broadcast coverage will be on WGR SportsRadio 550 and on WGWE 105.9 in Salamanca. The pregame show will begin at 7 p.m.

Online and television coverage will be on the ESPN app in the U.S. and on TSN GO and TSN2 in Canada. 

Faceoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the First Niagara Center.

By Zac Hirschbeck for Bandits.com. Photo by Bill Wippert.

NLL