The Buffalo Bandits picked up a 15-10 win over the Colorado Mammoth on Saturday night to guarantee themselves a home playoff game.
Buffalo played a disciplined game, not taking a single penalty to allow the Mammoth to go on the power play.
Colorado was able to keep it close, trailing 5-4 at the half. However, Buffalo outscored Colorado 10-6 in the second half for the win.
Josh Byrne had 10 points for the Bandits and hit the 600-career points milestone.
Fast Start for the Bandits
Buffalo jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in this game. Dhane Smith opened the scoring 4:55 into the first, followed by Kyle Buchanan at 7:01.
Byrne rounded out the run, burying a pass from Dylan Robinson with 3:17 remaining on the clock.
The Mammoth got on the board with 44 seconds left when Ryan Lee found the back of the net to make it 3-1 for Buffalo at the first break.
Mammoth Battle Back
Clay Scanlan opened the second-quarter scoring at 3:37 to extend the Bandits’ lead to three. However, Connor Kelly replied at 7:07 to make it 4-2.
Scanlan struck again with 2:54 left in the quarter, but the Mammoth finished the half with a two-goal run.
Lee scored with 1:43 off a feed from Thomas Vela. Then, with 40 seconds left on the clock, Jordan Gilles took a pass from goaltender Dillon Ward and scored to make it 5-4 in favor of Buffalo at the half.
Bandits Pull Away in the Third
The two teams exchanged goals to start the third quarter. Connor Robinson opened the scoring at 2:37 to tie the game 5-5, followed by Chase Fraser for Buffalo at 4:08.
Lee would tie it up again at 6:23. On the power play, Buchanan scored at 10:01 to regain the lead for Buffalo and start a three-goal run in a matter of 54 seconds.
Smith scored off a feed from Fraser 27 seconds after Buchanan’s goal, and Ian MacKay rounded out the run 27 seconds after that.
Will Malcom stopped the bleeding for Colorado with 1:58 left on the clock to make it a 9-7 ballgame.
Buffalo rounded out the scoring with goals from MacKay with 53 seconds left and Byrne with 10 seconds on the clock as the Bandits led 11-7 heading into the fourth.
Buffalo Holds On to Clinch Home Playoff Berth
The Bandits extended their lead early in the fourth quarter. MacKay scored 27 seconds into the frame, and Dylan Robinson scored at 1:54 to make it 13-7.
Kelly got one back for Colorado at 3:36, but Buchanan replied at 4:15.
Malcom scored at 6:13 and 7:28 to narrow the Bandits’ lead to 14-10.
Then, what can’t Matt Vinc do? With Colorado’s net empty, Vinc tossed one down the floor to score a goalie goal with 56 seconds left to secure the Bandits’ home playoff berth with a final score of 15-10.
Top Scorers
Buffalo Bandits
Josh Byrne, 2g 8a
Dhane Smith, 2g 5a
Kyle Buchanan, 3g 1a
Colorado Mammoth
Ryan Lee, 3g 3a
Will Malcom, 3g 2a
Thomas Vela, 4a
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