Josh Byrne scored in overtime as the Buffalo Bandits defeated the Saskatchewan Rush 11-10 on Friday night, ending the Rush’s nine-game winning streak.
Once again, Saskatchewan had to dig themselves out of an early hole, erasing a three-goal deficit. Goals by Ryan Keenan and Robert Church in the final 1:30 forced overtime.
It was a bounce-back performance for the Bandits, who had lost five of their previous six games.
Matt Vinc was sharp in goal for Buffalo, stopping 43 of 53 shots for the win. Josh Byrne led the way with a goal and seven assists. Ian MacKay had a four-goal night despite leaving Friday’s game with an injury.
For Saskatchewan, Church finished with two goals and four assists, while Keenan scored four times. Frank Scigliano stopped 37 of 48 shots in the loss.
First Quarter
Buffalo jumped out to a 2-0 lead, scoring on their first two shots of the game. Tehoka Nanticoke opened the scoring 37 seconds in.
On the power play, MacKay found the back of the net with time and space to make it 2-0.
Kyle Buchanan made it 3-0 at the 9:17 mark with a sidearm shot from the middle of the floor.
Eleven seconds later, Josh Zawada got Saskatchewan on the board, flying through the crease to beat Vinc and make it 3-1.
The Bandits responded at 10:33 when Byrne found Clay Scanlan alone in front of the net to restore the three-goal lead.
Saskatchewan struck in transition with 3:02 left in the quarter. Ryan Barnable turned on the jets and found Matt Hossack, who scored to make it 4-2.
With 1.3 seconds remaining, Buchanan dove from behind the net to give the Bandits a 5-2 lead at the first break.
Second Quarter
MacKay made it a four-goal game 2:53 into the second quarter. Nanticoke’s shot went wide, but MacKay gathered the rebound off the end boards and put it in the back of the net.
Saskatchewan built some momentum at 3:46 when Keenan scored a floater past Vinc. Zach Manns added a power-play goal at 4:23 to narrow Buffalo’s lead to 6-4.
The Bandits answered with a power-play marker of their own at 7:26, with Nanticoke tiptoeing around the crease to make it 7-4.
MacKay rounded out the first-half scoring with 4:30 left, finishing a transition play to give Buffalo an 8-4 lead at halftime.
Third Quarter
Saskatchewan struck quickly off the opening faceoff. Church scored 32 seconds into the half with a shot from outside to make it 8-5.
Keenan followed at 1:55 with a goal from in close to cut the deficit to two.
Buffalo restored its three-goal lead at 4:33 when Byrne found MacKay at the side of the net for an easy finish.
The Rush answered at 5:31 when Manns threw the ball in front and it deflected off Austin Shanks and into the net to make it 9-7.
Buffalo closed out the quarter with a transition goal. Mitch de Snoo sent a lead pass to Steve Priolo, who beat Scigliano with 2:00 remaining to make it 10-7 heading into the fourth.
Fourth Quarter and OT
It was all Saskatchewan in the final frame.
Keenan scored at 2:41 with a shot through traffic to pull the Rush within two.
With the extra attacker on the floor and 1:30 left, Keenan fired a low shot that Vinc got a piece of, but not enough, to make it 10-9.
Again with the extra attacker, Church’s shot with 57 seconds remaining slipped past Vinc to tie the game 10-10 and send it to overtime.
At 1:23 of overtime, it appeared Scanlan had scored, but the goal was waved off. After video review, officials ruled he had stepped in the crease before the ball crossed the line.
The winner came at 6:47. Josh Byrne carried the ball across the restraining line, worked his way to the centre of the floor and scored to give the Bandits an 11-10 victory.
Top Scorers
Buffalo Bandits
- Josh Byrne, 1g 7a
- Ian MacKay, 4g 1a
- Tehoka Nanticoke, 2g 2a
- Dhane Smith, 4a
Saskatchewan Rush
- Robert Church, 2g 4a
- Ryan Keenan, 4g 1a
- Zach Manns, 1g 4a
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