fbpx

Breaking: League Adopts Unified Standings Format & Updated Playoff Structure for 2023-24 Season

×
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
Powered By
MGM Logo
Scores / Schedule
Stories/Op-Ed

Leaving Rochvegas: Bandits Escape With 15-13 Win Over Knighthawks

Dhane Smith broke the NLL single-season scoring record with his eighth point of the night to ice the Buffalo Bandits’ 15-13 victory over the Rochester Knighthawks Saturday night at the sold-out Blue Cross Arena. Smith’s fourth goal of the night came with 5.6 seconds left in the fourth after the Knighthawks had improbably stormed back in the final two minutes after trailing by five goals. The victory by the Bandits (12-5) marked the first time they have swept the Knighthawks (6-10) in Rochester’s 20 years in the league. 

“You know what? I didn’t even realize I broke it to be honest,” said Smith of his empty-net goal. “Guys congratulating me at the end of the game but just happy with the victory… I’m thankful that I’ve got the record now and got it over with. Now there’s not much pressure on me. I just want to play my game. Last few weeks, there’s been a lot of pressure about breaking the record. That’s all people have been talking about. 

“Obviously the main focus is winning a championship and that’s all I want to do.”

“Dhane’s an awful good offensive player,” said Bandits head coach Troy Cordingley. “He’s been outstanding. The best thing I like about Dhane is he’s team first. He’s only 24 years old, and he’s got a great future ahead of him. He’s going to be a dominant player in this league for a long time as long as he keeps his head on straight and plays for the team.”

“He’s an unbelievable talent,” said Knighthawks defenseman Brad Self. “He’s been good since he came in the league. This year, he’s obviously having a breakout year. He’s a threat every time he’s on the floor, every time the ball is on his stick.”

The game was a wild one as is fitting in a battle between the fierce Thruway rivals. The Knighthawks kept the Bandits largely in check through the first quarter and held a slim 8-7 lead at the end of three, thanks in large part to the efforts of goalie Matt Vinc who finished with 45 saves on 59 shots on goal. Knighthawks forward Stephen Keogh may have turned in the highlight of the night in the second quarter after seemingly facing off against every single Bandits defender and still managing to beat Bandits goalie Anthony Cosmo.

“I was going hard to the net,” said Keogh. “I kind of just shot it at the net and luckily it went in.”

That simply does not do his effort justice as the highlight reel shows.

The Knighthawks had a golden chance to break the game open to start the third with a two-man advantage and defenseman Billy Dee Smith in the box for five minutes. Cory Vitarelli scored the first of his two goals of the third with the two-man advantage, but Steve Priolo scored shorthanded and the Bandits were able to kill off the rest of the major penalty. What was an opportunity for the Knighthawks to take a bigger lead instead turned into a possible turning point for the Bandits. 

In the fourth quarter with the Knighthawks still clinging to a one-goal lead, the Bandits went on a six-goal run that included five goals in the span of four minutes. Mark Steenhuis finished with six points (4, 2) on the night, including four points in the fourth quarter.

“We stuck around,” Cordingley said. “We weren’t playing well, but we stuck around, found a way to stay close. Then in the fourth quarter, we found our groove. We were real good in the fourth quarter. Mark Steenhuis was unbelievable offensively, and we found a way.”

“Three minutes of disjointed lacrosse,” said Knighthawks head coach Mike Hasen. “We battled for 57 minutes. Everyone did and left it on the line there. We’ve just got to clean up three minutes of lacrosse and we might be on the other side of this one tonight.”

“They took advantage of those three minutes,” Keogh said. “Their transition, they were getting some goals. For some reason all year, we’ve had those mental lapses for three, four minutes. It’s been hurting us all year. Today was no different.”

“They just got on a run,” said Knigthawks defenseman Brad Self. “Transition, some power play goals, and we didn’t do anything to stop them. They’re a good team, and that’s their strength.”

“It’s just something that we’ve got to overcome,” said Knighthawks forward Dan Dawson. “When you get in those lulls for three minutes, and they put together a run, you’ve got to answer… We did it, we just ran out of time again tonight. That’s kind of been the way the season’s gone up to this point.”

The Knighthawks fought back over the final two minutes. Joe Resetarits had his best night of the season with five points (4, 1) and four of those points came in the final 2:17 of the game. Joe Walters also helped key the four-goal run, scoring all three of his points (1, 2) during that timespan. 

“Joey Res has had kind of a tough year here,” Hasen said. “It was good to see him. Definitely good to see him get back and get those ones, especially the late ones to put us back in it.”

“He was great tonight,” Dawson said. “Joey’s a guy who’s been out of the lineup the last couple of weeks. Sometimes the rust can show, and it didn’t for him. He kept fighting until the end.”

“They’re a great team,” Smith said. “We knew they were going to keep battling. They were back-to-back champs a few years ago, and there’s a reason for that. They have a great coaching staff and great players.”

While the Knighthawks ran out of time at the end after digging themselves a hole, Dan Dawson joined elite company in the NLL during the game. When he opened the scoring 4:16 into the game, Dawson became only the fifth player in league history to amass 1,200 points in a career.

“I’ve been blessed, put in a position to be successful and be surrounded by so many great players and a coaching staff who believes in my ability,” Dawson said. “That’s all it is. It’s a team game, it’s not individual accolades. It’s a testament to the people you surround yourself with and coaches that put you in positions to be successful. I’m very thankful.

“I’ve played on numerous teams throughout this NLL career. I’m very blessed and very honored to be in the company of the guys that are up there. When I sit back and really reflect on my career when I’m done playing, maybe it’ll mean a little bit more to me, but right now, it just sucks because we lost and we’re fighting for our playoff lives.”

Three Stars of the Game:

1) Dhane Smith
2) Dan Dawson
3) Ryan Benesch

By Jeremy Pike for NLL.com. Photo by Micheline Veluvolu.

NLL