The more things change, the more they stay the same. The latest example of this famous saying centers around the two-time defending champion Buffalo Bandits, who clinched homefield throughout the 2025 playoffs, thanks to a 15-12 win over the also postseason-bound Halifax Thunderbirds. More than 19,000 Western New Yorkers packed KeyBank Center to bear witness to their beloved Bandits.
This matchup was a seesaw affair, with Halifax leading 11-10 early in the fourth. From that point forward, the champs showed why they’re the champs, delivering five of the final six goals, en route to the three-score reward.
Dhane Smith was in a highly charitable mood, doling out a gigantic 10 assists, alongside one goal. Josh Byrne also brought the goods, scoring four and helping on four additional. Kyle Buchanan matched the 2024 MVP with his own robust four-goal showing.
1st overall! @NLLBandits clinch home floor throughout the playoffs after a 15-12 win over Halifax in front of a sold-out Banditland.
🚨 GAME RECAP 🚨 pic.twitter.com/Xluryvlrnd
— NLL (@NLL) April 13, 2025
On the losing Thunderbirds side, Randy Staats scored four goals and five assists, with Clarke Petterson adding three goals and four successful passes to his resume. Cody Jamieson carried a solid effort in defeat, posting four total points.
Between the pipes, the ageless Matt Vinc had his typical night at the office, separating 51 of 63 attempts at paydirt.
Buffalo closes out the regular season at Georgia, while Halifax treks west to Toronto.
Las Vegas Desert Dogs at Ottawa Black Bears 04.12.25
This just in! Jeff Teat is a pretty good lacrosse player. That is, if scoring eight goals in one game is considered a noteworthy accomplishment. That is not a misprint. The Ottawa Black Bears superstar notched eight goals and one assist in the Canadian capital’s 13-10 triumph over the Las Vegas Desert Dogs. Teat enters the final weekend of regular-season play with 53 goals to his name, marking the third straight campaign he reached the half-century plateau.
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Ottawa moves to 8-9, leaving open the possibility of clinching a playoff berth during the final weekend. At 4-13, Las Vegas has long been eliminated from contention.
The Sin City fellas led 5-3 in the second stanza. That was until Teat took matters into his own hands, scoring five of his six second-quarter goals, with the Black Bears suddenly owning a 9-7 lead at halftime. Ahead 9-8, the Cornell alum once again worked his magic, scoring back-to-back second-half goals, distinguishing any hope of a Vegas royal flush.
While Teat did most of the scoring, Reilly O’Connor and Travis Longboat collaborated on eight assists, in what was a total team effort.
Teat EXPLODES for a career-high 8 goals as the @ottblackbears take down Las Vegas 13-10. Game Recap ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/FQgZzEGEu9
— NLL (@NLL) April 13, 2025
As far as the Vegas deck of cards, Adam Poitras etched a hat trick, with the great Jack Hannah scoring two and providing three helpers.
Zach Higgins was strong in the crease for the victors, stopping 41 of 51 Desert Dog offerings.
Next weekend, Ottawa travels to Saskatchewan, while Vegas welcomes Calgary to southern Nevada.
San Diego Seals vs Albany Firewolves
MVP Arena in the New York state capital of Albany was the setting for an immensely entertaining melee between the FireWolves and the road-weary San Diego Seals, who have not taken the field near the shores of the Pacific Ocean in close to a month. On this Albany evening, it was the defending NLL runner-up’s who came out on the winning end of the equation, 12-10.
Despite allowing two separate San Diego three-goal barrages, this gathering of skillful offensive talent remained close throughout. The tide turned for the FireWolves when Tye Kurtz scored with less than a second remaining in the third. Moving forward, Albany would gather three of the final frame’s four combined goals, earning the hard-fought two-goal win.
Tye Kurtz BEATS THE BUZZER for his 5th goal of the day!! 🚨@AlbFireWolves pic.twitter.com/9Q5oW61rnN
— NLL (@NLL) April 13, 2025
The aforementioned Kurtz had an unbelievable night, attaining a sock trick as part of an effort that included three assists. Dyson Williams, Alex Simmons and Ethan Walker were the definition of benevolent, uniting on an astonishing 13 assists.
On the sullied San Diego side, Ben McIntosh, Zach Currier and Jake Govett supplied two goals apiece in defeat. Rookie Pat Kavanagh made his long-anticipated debut, leaving Albany with one goal and two assists on the stat sheet.
Doug Jamieson played well in net for the home club, prohibiting 39 of 49 projectiles.
With both teams still alive in the postseason chase, remarkably, these two franchises meet yet again next weekend, this time 3,000 miles southwest in beautiful San Diego, California.
April 12, 2025: The Georgia Swarm vs Philadelphia Wings
Though the odds of the Philadelphia Wings making the postseason are slim with one week left and lots of ground to make up, the team is showing true character late in the season. The Wings beat Georgia 16-13 on Saturday night at Wells Fargo Center in their regular-season home finale, just a week after beating them 15-13 down south. No matter where the Wings sit in the standings, there’s always a buzz when they face the Swarm – Philadelphia has now won eight of their last nine matchups against each other.
Making this one even more special was the first-ever start in goal for Deacan Knott, the Wings’ heir apparent goaltender who has seen a fair bit of relief action as the season has stretched on. Knott was impressive early, and the Wings led 14-4 at the end of three quarters.
“I got the call last night that said I was going,” Knott said in a post-game interview as he was showered with water by his teammates. “All excitement for sure. I got the W and it’s a great feeling. The guys came out hot and played an amazing game.”
2 in a row for @NLLwings! They hold off a 4th-quarter rally from Georgia to win 16-13 and keep their season alive.
GAME RECAP 👇 pic.twitter.com/CpYncSOLGJ
— NLL (@NLL) April 13, 2025
The Swarm, who have now lost five of their last six, finally solved Knott in the fourth, scoring nine times in the frame as the Wings’ energy waned. Captain Jordan MacIntosh finished with five goals, including a natural hat-trick in a span of 1:10 to end the game. The last time MacIntosh scored five in a game was on February 22, 2014. Andrew Kew and Bryan Cole each scored twice and added a pair of assists.
Joe Resetarits scored three goals for Philadelphia, including the 350th of his career, plus seven assists. Phil Caputo contributed a season-high four goals, while Sam LeClair, Brennan O’Neill and Dalton Young had two each. Mitch Jones had one goal, a smooth behind-the-back marker worthy of SportsCenter. Knott finished with 41 saves.
MISSISSAUGA, CANADA – APRIL 11: the NLL regular season game between the Vancouver Warriors and the Toronto Rock at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre on April 11, 2025 in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Christian Bender/NLL)
The penultimate weekend of the NLL regular season premiered in the Toronto suburb of Mississauga, where the red-hot Vancouver Warriors secured their first playoff appearance since 2017, courtesy of a 12-10 victory over the now 5-11 Rock. Curt Malawsky’s club stands at 10-7 for the season, amid riding a five-game winning streak.
With Bal and Charalambides combining for 15 points, the @VanWarriors punch their ticket to the postseason with a 12-10 win over Toronto.
GAME RECAP 👇 pic.twitter.com/FSuXvyALcO
— NLL (@NLL) April 12, 2025
Christian Del Bianco remains unbeaten, since arriving on Canada’s Pacific Coast, knocking down 34 of 44 blasts directed at the twine he is tasked with protecting.
With the game tied 2-2 in the first, the Warriors rattled off five consecutive and seven out of the next eight scores, ending the stretch owners of a 9-3 lead. Up 12-6 in the fourth, the Rock made the festivities a bit more interesting, connecting on four straight blasts, bringing the score to an eventual 12-10 final.
Adam Charalambides led the charge for the postseason-bound British Columbians, notching four goals and four assists. Keegan Bal continues to speed down the tracks, scoring two and helping on five more.
Chris Boushy played well in defeat for the Rock, collecting a hat-trick, to go along with four assists.
Vancouver finishes the season at home versus the Wings, while the Rock play out the string with a back-to-back versus Halifax and Rochester.
Then there were 5. @VanWarriors are returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2017! pic.twitter.com/Oyv7hwGHyG
— NLL (@NLL) April 12, 2025
Saskatchewan Rush v Colorado Mammoth 04-13-2025 Jack Dempsey Ball Arena National Lacrosse League
Austin Shanks led the charge with 4 goals as the Rush secured an 11–6 win over Colorado. Game Recap ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/6F3SILpmMk
— NLL (@NLL) April 13, 2025
