(Photo courtesy of the Buffalo Bandits Instagram Page)
The Buffalo Bandits (2-1) visited the Calgary Roughnecks (0-3) in NLL action Sunday evening at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta in front of a packed house.
Both teams were coming off one goal losses. The Bandits lost in overtime to Halifax two weeks ago, and off a bye week were raring to get back at it. Calgary, who dropped a close one to the Toronto Rock on the road, were also ready to get going after a bye week.
The goaltending match-up had Matt Vinc in net for Buffalo facing Aden Walsh in net for the Roughnecks.
While Buffalo dictated the pace early jumping out to a 4-1 lead, the Roughnecks would show their resilience as the first half wore on. Goals from Weiss, Scanlan and Nanticoke had the Bandits flying early. Calgary would get moving in the second quarter with Pace, Pepper and Cook tying the game. Only a late power-play goal from Clay Scanlan would separate the teams at the half. Buffalo led 5-4.
The second half was more fitting to the regular Bandits script. Josh Byrne (1g,7a), Dhane Smith (3g,6a), and Ian MacKay (1g,3a) got on track to put this game out of reach. Buffalo outscored the Calgary squad 8-3 in the second half for a convincing 13-7 victory.
To The Game:
Calgary got on the board first when Harrison Matsuoka opened the scoring converting a Tyler Pace feed at 4:25.
After being held off the board for over ten minutes, the Bandits erupted for four goals in 3:01. Nick Weiss got Buffalo on track in transition finishing a Dhane Smith pass at 10:07, followed by Clay Scanlan blasting a Josh Byrne feed at 11:35 to take the lead.
Weiss got his second of the quarter being sent in on Aden Walsh off a lead pass from Steve Priolo at 12:33, followed by Tehoka Nanticoke with an in close beauty off a Dhane Smith pass at 13:08.
After one quarter, Buffalo 4 Calgary 1.
Second Quarter:
Tyler Pace got the Roughnecks rolling in the second quarter with a power-play marker off a Tanner Cook pass at 0:20 seconds.
Kyle Pepper got the Roughnecks within one on a great individual effort unassisted at 6:59, followed by Tanner Cook tying the game off a Braydon Mayea feed at 11:38.
Buffalo got back on track on the power-play when Clay Scanlan scored his second of the game with a laser that beat Walsh at 14:19.
At the half, Buffalo 5 Calgary 4.
Third Quarter:
After half a quarter of end to end action, Josh Byrne finally solved Aden Walsh with a sidearm snipe off an Ian MacKay pass at 7:42, but Haiden Dickson would bring the Roughnecks back within one finishing a Tyler Pace feed at 8:13.
Ian MacKay gave the Bandits a two goal lead with a goal from in close off a Tehoka Nanticoke pass at 9:29, followed by Dhane Smith with his first of the game off a Josh Byrne pass at 11:06. Kyle Buchanan then added a late power-play goal at 13:40 giving Buffalo a four goal lead heading to the fourth.
After three quarters, Buffalo 9 Calgary 5.
Fourth Quarter:
Tyler Pace opened the fourth quarter scoring with a blast from the side of the net off a Braydon Mayea pass at 1:19, but back to back goals from Dhane Smith broke the game wide open.
The first Smith goal came off a few fakes, finishing a Josh Byrne pass at 2:17, followed by a high to low laser off a Kyle Buchanan feed at 4:58. Ryan Benesch then fired a low to low shot off a Tehoka Nanticoke pass at 9:01 to open a six goal Bandits lead.
Tanner Cook kept pressing for the Roughnecks converting a Tyler Pace feed at 9:25, but was answered by a blast from Kyle Buchanan finishing a Dhane Smith pass at 10:43.
Final score, Buffalo 13 Calgary 7.
The Three Stars:
1. Dhane Smith
2. Josh Byrne
3. Tyler Pace
Game Stats:
- Shots on goal favored Buffalo 53-48.
- The faceoff battle went to the Roughnecks 16-8.
- The loose ball battle was win by the Bandits 69-65.
- The Bandits went 2 for 2 on the power-play, while Calgary went 1 for 3.
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