The Buffalo Bandits made a statement that the three-peat champions aren’t done yet after cruising to a 13-10 win over the Colorado Mammoth on Friday night.
The win improves Buffalo’s record to 7-6 and puts them firmly in seventh place and currently in a playoff spot. Meanwhile, the Mammoth drop to 9-5 and are starting to lose ground on the leaders.
Buffalo was led by the dynamic duo of Josh Byrne and Dhane Smith. Both ended the game with four goals and five assists apiece for nine points each. Tehoka Nanticoke had a hat trick for the Bandits.
In goal, Matt Vinc stopped 45 of 55 shots in the win.
For the Mammoth, Braedon Saris had a six-point night, including two goals and four assists, followed by Jack Hannah with three goals and two assists.
Dillon Ward got the start in goal and allowed seven goals on 20 shots before being replaced by Nathan Whittom, who stopped 24 of 30 shots in the loss.
First Quarter
The Bandits had a huge first quarter, jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the first 4:45.
Smith opened the scoring at 2:15 and added another at 3:53.
Byrne then converted off a feed from Smith at 4:19. Only 26 seconds later, Nanticoke found the back of the net to make it 4-0. Joe Resetarits picked up an assist on the play, his first point since being traded to the Bandits at the trade deadline from Philadelphia.
Colorado finally got on the board at 5:14 with Will Malcom finding Andrew Kew for the goal.
Off the ensuing draw, Connor Farrell won the faceoff and got the ball to Kyle Buchanan. Buchanan then found Byrne to make it 5-1.
Buffalo continued rolling with Byrne once again finding Smith at the 6:47 mark on the power play to make it a five-goal game.
The Mammoth got back on the board at the 8:28 mark on the power play off a marker from Malcom to make it 6-2.
Saris rounded out the scoring with 4:43 on the clock as the Mammoth trailed 6-3 at the first break.
Second Quarter
The Bandits extended their lead in the first 2:03 of the second quarter.
Nanticoke scored at the 1:50 mark, followed by Smith at 2:03 to put Buffalo ahead 8-3.
Colorado started to chip away at the lead with a three-goal run to finish off the first half.
Saris found Hannah at the 5:50 mark to cut Buffalo’s lead in half, 8-4.
Dylan McIntosh then made it a three-goal game with 6:57 left on the clock.
Hannah rounded out the run with 4:11 left in the second quarter as Colorado trailed 8-6 heading into halftime.
Third Quarter
Buffalo opened the second-half scoring right away, with Byrne finding the back of the net 43 seconds into the third quarter.
Goals by Saris at 1:06 and Malcom at 6:59 for Colorado made it a one-goal game, 9-8 in favour of the Bandits.
Buffalo stormed right back with a 3-0 run to end the third quarter. Nanticoke got it started at 7:12, followed by Smith finding Byrne 41 seconds later to make it 11-8.
Clay Scanlan rounded out the scoring with 2:03 left on the clock to put Buffalo ahead 12-8 heading into the fourth quarter.
Fourth Quarter
Buchanan opened the scoring only 29 seconds into the fourth quarter to make it 13-8. But Hannah replied 30 seconds later off a feed from Kew to make it a four-goal game.
After that, the defence for both teams tightened up and it was scoreless for the next 12:50.
Kew scored a late goal with 1:11 left, but it was too late as Buffalo came away with the statement win, 13-10.
Top Scorers
Buffalo Bandits
- Josh Byrne, 4g 5a
- Dhane Smith, 4g 5a
- Kyle Buchanan, 1g 3a
Colorado Mammoth
- Braedon Saris, 2g 4a
- Jack Hannah, 3g 2a
- Andrew Kew, 2g 2a
- Will Malcom, 2g 2a
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