The Buffalo Bandits are facing adversity after taking a drubbing, 20–9, at the hands of the Colorado Mammoth on Saturday night at Ball Arena.
It is uncharted territory for the three-time defending champions, who have now dropped three straight games.
Also unheard of was the night from Bandits starting goaltender Matt Vinc. He stopped 21 of 32 shots before being replaced twice by Evan Constantopoulos, who was making his first appearance in the NLL. Constantopoulos stopped 17 of 26 shots.
Dillon Ward was once again stellar for the Mammoth, allowing just seven goals on 37 shots. Nathan Whittom came on in relief in the fourth quarter and allowed two goals on 12 shots.
Andrew Kew had a massive night for Colorado, scoring seven goals and finishing with 11 points and went over the 400 point mark for his career. Dylan McIntosh added four goals, while Braedon Saris recorded a hat trick.
First Quarter
The Bandits’ potent offence was completely shut out in the opening quarter as the Mammoth jumped out to a 4–0 lead.
Kew opened the scoring just 30 seconds into the game and found the back of the net again at the 2:04 mark.
Jack Hannah, settling into his new home with the Mammoth, made it 3–0 at 3:35.
Thomas Vela rounded out the first-quarter scoring with four seconds left on the clock to give Colorado a 4–0 lead.
Second Quarter
Colorado kept coming in the second quarter, extending its lead to 6–0.
Hannah scored unassisted at 1:16, and Kew converted on a pass from Jordan Gilles on the power play at 3:59.
Tehoka Nanticoke broke Buffalo’s 20:26 goalless drought at 5:26. Dylan Robinson followed with a goal off a Steve Priolo pass at 6:15 to make it 6–2.
Colorado responded just 14 seconds later, with Jalen Chaster finding the back of the net.
Nanticoke pulled the Bandits back within four with a power-play goal at 8:18.
However, McIntosh answered with a pair of goals, scoring at 9:43 and again at 10:35.
Ian MacKay got Buffalo back on the board 21 seconds later to make it 9–4.
From there, the Mammoth took full control, scoring six straight goals spanning the second and third quarters.
Saris set up Kew with 2:39 left in the half, then McIntosh picked up a rebound off of Saris’ shot with 2:06 remaining to make it 11–4.
Saris capped off the run by scoring himself with 1:35 left, giving Colorado a commanding 12–4 lead at halftime.
Third Quarter
The wheels continued to fall off for the Bandits to open the second half, as they were outscored 5–2 in the third quarter.
Kew continued his big night just 42 seconds in. Connor Nock added an unassisted goal at 1:50, and Tim Edwards scored unassisted at 7:27 as the Mammoth built a 15–4 lead.
Josh Byrne ended another Buffalo scoring drought at 8:23.
Colorado kept pulling away. Kew completed his sock trick on the power play at 10:43, and Saris followed with another power-play goal a minute later to push the lead to 17–5.
Dhane Smith scored on the power play with 14 seconds left, but Buffalo still trailed 17–6 heading into the fourth.
Fourth Quarter
Penalty trouble for Colorado early in the fourth allowed Buffalo to claw back slightly.
Smith scored his second of the game on the power play at 2:27, followed by Ryan Benesch at 4:14, also on the man advantage, to make it 17–8.
Kew restored a 10-goal lead with his seventh of the night at 6:11.
MacKay answered 1:09 later with Buffalo’s ninth goal.
Colorado closed the game with two more goals. McIntosh scored with 5:29 remaining, followed by Saris at 4:10, as the Bandits took a drubbing, 20–9.
The Mammoth’s Andrew Kew gave his thoughts after the game:
Top Scorers
Colorado Mammoth
- Andrew Kew, 7g 4a
- Jack Hannah, 2g 7a
- Braedon Saris, 3g 4a
Buffalo Bandits
- Tehoka Nanticoke, 2g 3a
- Ian MacKay, 2g 2a
- Josh Byrne, 1g 3a
- Dhane Smith, 2g 2a
Don’t forget to check us out every Sunday night at 8pm (ET)
