Photo courtesy of Buffalo Bandits Instagram
The Buffalo Bandits played the Calgary Roughnecks at Scotiabank Saddledome Saturday night in the back end of a home-and-home series. The Bandits still sit atop the Unified Standings with a 9-2 record; however, they were looking to avenge a 17-11 beatdown at the hands of the Roughnecks the week prior. Another win for the Roughnecks would put them two games above .500 and allow them to leapfrog other teams in the playoff race. However, the Bandits would exact some revenge, winning 11-6 to improve to 10-2 and remain in first place. Calgary drops to 7-7 with the loss, but remain in a playoff spot.
Roughnecks start strong but Bandits rally for halftime lead
Dane Dobbie, who was not active for the Roughnecks during last week’s win, kicked off the scoring with a power play goal (2:45). The Bandits quickly responded when Kiel Matisz, acquired from Ottawa at the trade deadline, scored his first goal in a Buffalo uniform at 4:35. Dobbie struck again on the power play (9:21), followed by Haiden Dickson (10:27) for a 3-1 lead. Chase Fraser scored with 26 seconds left to cut Calgary’s lead to 3-2 after one quarter. The second quarter was all Bandits, as they outscored the Roughnecks 4-0 for a 6-3 halftime lead. Josh Byrne (2:12; 13:40) and Kyle Buchanan (6:56; 14:00) each had two markers in the second quarter.
Bandits pull away in second half
Jesse King scored 31 seconds into the third quarter to pull Calgary within two. Fraser’s second (2:49) put the Bandits up three, but Haiden Dickson scored his second (4:00) to cut Buffalo’s lead to 7-5. Tehoka Nanticoke (10:45) closed the third quarter scoring pushing the Bandits lead back to three, 8-5. Buchanan (2:16 fourth quarter) and Tanner Cook (3:20) traded goals, but Nick Weiss scored in transition off a turnover (3:55) to push the lead to 10-6. Byrne then added his hat trick goal (7:06) to close out the scoring and keep the Bandits on top of the league.
Other Stats of Note
Bandits: Byrne (3g, 3a); Buchanan (3g, 2a); Fraser (2g); Nanticoke (1g, 1a); Weiss (1g, 1a); Dhane Smith (4a)
Roughnecks: Dobbie (2g); Haiden Dickson (2g); King (1g, 3a); Cook (1g, 1a); Curtis Dickson (5a)
Calgary forward Tyler Pace went down after a hit in the first quarter and did not return to the game with an undisclosed injury
Matt Vinc (BUF): 44 saves; Nick Rose (CGY): 40 saves