Photo courtesy of the Buffalo Bandits Instagram
The Toronto Rock (0-5) traveled west along the QEW to face the Buffalo Bandits (4-0) in NLL action Friday night. The KeyBank Center had 17,000+ to watch this long standing rivalry.
These teams have been traveling in opposite directions this season, with the Bandits looking to stay undefeated, while the Rock were looking for their first win of the year.
Buffalo has looked in playoff form scoring an average 15 goals per game, while only giving up less than 7. Dhane Smith (7g,28a) and Josh Byrne (6g,20) have led the way. But there are so many more weapons with Kyle Buchanan, Ian MacKay, Tehoka Nanticoke, and Chase Fraser as well. Matt Vinc has been outstanding so far this season and is looking to do something Noone has ever done – Three-peat with two different teams.
The Injury bug has decimated Toronto in the early stages with Tom Schreiber, Challen Rogers, TD Ierlan, Latrell Harris, Chris Corbeil all spending time on the IR. Now finally Challen Rogers and Chris Corbeil are back, but NLL Ironman Mark Matthews is now on the IR, missing the first games ever in his career.
The goaltending match-up had Nick Rose in net for the Rock facing Matt Vinc in net for the Bandits.
A spirited affair from the start saw back and forth play all through the first half. Things got edgy with Bill Hostrawser and Nick Weiss mixing it up on and off the floor.
The insertion of Challen Rogers sparked the Rock offense. They seemed more relaxed and creative as the half moved along. Josh Byrne and Dhane Smith were also spearheading the Bandits with a combined 9 points. At the half Toronto led 8-7.
The second half had just as much intensity as the first. These teams matched each other shot for shot, punch for punch all the way through the half. The Bandits scored two goals in 0:30 seconds to take the lead with less than a minute left, followed by a Dhane Smith empty netter to win 15-13.
To The Game:
The Rock got on the board quickly when Brian Cameron scored from in close off a Dan Craig pass at 1:56, followed by a howitzer from Challen Rogers on the power-play off a Dan Craig pass at 2:24.
The Bandits got rolling when Josh Byrne scored from in close to the shortside off an Ian MacKay feed at 5:11, followed by a tic-tac-toe play of Byrne to Smith to Buchanan for the tying goal at 7:00.
Josh Dawick regained the lead for Toronto with a high to high laser off a Chris Boushy pass at 8:30, but Tehoka Nanticoke found the corner while falling down off a Dhane Smith pass at 9:22.
https://twitter.com/NLL/status/1877883356307771408?t=AIXd_v0h-19OXzkhcBMXbg&s=19
Josh Dawick regained the lead for the Rock with a shovel shot off a Challen Rogers pass at 10:19, followed by Chris Boushy with a spin-a-rama shot from in close off a Bill Hostrawser pass at 10:40.
Ian MacKay brought the Bandits within one with a shot to the top corner off a Dhane Smith pass at 14:05, then tied it with a buzzer beater shorthanded at 14:59.
https://twitter.com/NLL/status/1877887347166949738?t=M7T6OWCzzGVvE6a7a3GtXQ&s=19
After one quarter, Toronto 5 Buffalo 5.
Second Quarter:
On a delayed penalty Dhane Smith gave Buffalo their first lead of the night off a Kyle Buchanan pass at 3:45, but Corey Small evened the game with a blast to the shortside on the power-play off a Chris Boushy pass at 5:20. Then Small added another laser to the top corner off a Brian Cameron pass at 7:27.
Josh Byrne fired a laser to the top corner from the outside shorthanded at 3:57. The play was challenged by the Rock but was deemed inconclusive and the goal stood to tie the game again.
Brian Cameron came back for Toronto with a blast from the outside high to low off a Josh Dawick pass at 13:37.
At the half, Toronto 8 Buffalo 7.
Third Quarter:
Buffalo tied the game when Ian MacKay blasted his third of the night on the power-play from the outside off a Dhane Smith pass at 6:47, followed by another blast from in close for his fourth of the night again on the power-play at 9:23.
Justin Martin came back immediately for the Rock in transition fighting his way to the net scoring while crashing to the turf at 9:41. Toronto then grabbed the lead when Chris Boushy fired a missile to the far corner off a Chris Weier feed at 12:13.
After three quarters, Toronto 10 Buffalo 9.
Fourth Quarter:
The Rock got on the board on the power-play when Dan Craig finished a Corey Small pass from in front at 0:42 seconds.
Josh Byrne brought the Bandits within one with a dribbler at 1:02, followed by Ian MacKay’s fifth of the night finding the far corner 0:22 seconds later to tie the game again. Kyle Buchanan then gave Buffalo the lead with a skip shot off an Ian MacKay pass at 2:08.
The Rock replaced Nick Rose with Troy Holowchuk.
Chris Boushy with a great individual effort dove from behind the net and placed it behind Matt Vinc for the tying goal at 4:42, followed by Mitch de Snoo in transition off a long lead pass from Josh Jubinville at 9:29.
https://twitter.com/NLL/status/1877914772554883486?t=Xy9siLZxKeA2oIUsw4u98g&s=19
Chase Fraser’s great individual effort tied the game with a dive across the crease off a Dhane Smith pass at 13:47, followed by Nick Weiss finding the shortside in transition off a Steve Priolo pass at 14:17. Dhane Smith scored an empty netter to finish the game at 14:53.
https://twitter.com/NLL/status/1877918680681513033?t=QNUeStms5iXzhtFKBRgCow&s=19
Final score, Buffalo 15 Toronto 13.
The Three Stars:
1. Ian MacKay
2. Dhane Smith
3. Chris Boushy
Game Stats:
- Shots on goal favored Buffalo 56-36.
- The faceoff battle was dominated by the Bandits 22-9.
- The loose ball battle was won by Buffalo 88-61.
- The Rock went 3 for 7 on the power-play.
- Buffalo went 2 for 5 on the power-play, also scoring two shorthanded goals.
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