(Photo courtesy of the Buffalo Bandits)
Written by Gary Groob – Executive Director of All Lacrosse All The Time
The Buffalo Bandits (2-0) visited the Ottawa Black Bears (1-1) for a battle at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario.
Both team’s were coming off impressive week one victories. The Black Bears controlled the Toronto Rock from wire to wire with Jacob Dunbar and Connor Kearnan grabbing hat-tricks, and Zach Higgins looking stellar in net. Buffalo had a much closer affair through three quarters before blowing the game wide open in the fourth. Dhane Smith 3g,8a) led the way, with Kyle Buchanan (3g,0a), Chris Cloutier (2g,0a), and Tehoka Nanticoke (2g,1a) also having big nights. Matt Vinc looked in mid-season form turning away 54 shots in the win.
The goaltending match-up had Matt Vinc in net for the Bandits facing Zach Higgins for Ottawa.
The Buffalo Bandits showed once again why they are the two time NLL Champions. Scoring in transition, on the power-play and even strength, they made the Black Bears pay for any mistakes they made in the game. Dhane Smith reached the 1100 points mark in the seconds quarter.
While Ottawa made a push in the third, another strong fourth quarter from the Bandits secured the 18-7 victory. Ian MacKay (5g,0a), Dhane Smith (2g,7a), Josh Byrne (2g,8a), Chase Fraser (2g,5a), Chris Cloutier (3g,0a), and Kyle Buchanan (2g,2a) showed just how balanced an offense Buffalo has. In the game Dhane Smith hit the 1100 point milestone, while Josh Byrne hit the 500 point milestone.
To The Game:
The Black Bears got on the board first when Jacob Dunbar fired a laser over the shoulder of Matt Vinc off a Reilly O’Connor pass at 2:10, but the Bandits tied the game in transition with Chris Cloutier scoring from in close off a Dhane Smith feed at 6:49.
Buffalo took the lead when Ian MacKay scored a gorgeous goal from behind the net at 9:48.
https://twitter.com/NLL/status/1867728854200074739?t=R3DV9virDLIg50ZJ2JUX2Q&s=19
A power-play goal from Josh Byrne off a Dhane Smith feed at 13:19, followed by Ian MacKay adding his second of the quarter on a quick stick also off a Smith pass at 14:55 had the Bandits on cruise control.
After one quarter, Buffalo 4 Ottawa 1.
Second Quarter:
The Bandits kept rolling in the second quarter with Chris Cloutier converting a behind the back pass from Josh Byrne at 0:43 seconds. Ottawa finally answered when Ron John scored in transition on a give and go from Kevin Brownell at 8:00.
The Bandits scored again in transition off a bounced shot by Ian MacKay at 8:59, but Jeff Teat then found the far corner off a Reilly O’Connor pass at 9:41.
https://twitter.com/NLL/status/1867738505993924739?t=4NU-hTOL1dCBdYKv0RygOw&s=19
Chase Fraser added a power-play goal for Buffalo off a quick stick off a pass from Josh Byrne at 10:32. Dhane Smith got a secondary assist on the goal for his 1100th career point. Smith then added a goal himself with a blast from the outside at 12:07, followed by Nick Weiss going coast to coast in transition at 13:55.
At the half, Buffalo 9 Ottawa 3.
Third Quarter:
Kyle Buchanan opened the second half scoring from in front of the net off a Dhane Smith pass at 1:16, but Jeff Teat answered back with his second of the game on a blast off the crossbar converting a Connor Kearnan pass at 4:31.
Ian MacKay then added his fourth and fifth of the game back to back. The fourth was on a dunk from the back of the net off a Dhane Smith pass at 5:48, followed by dive from in front of the net at 7:59.
Jacob Dunbar got one back for Ottawa on the power-play off a Jeff Teat feed at 8:39, followed by Teat’s third of the game ripping it to the top corner off a Connor Kearnan pass at 10:24.
After three quarters, Buffalo 12 Ottawa 6.
Fourth Quarter:
Larson Sundown continued the Black Bears comeback on the power-play with a shot from in front off a Connor Kearnan pass at 1:13.
Chase Fraser’s second of the night restored the Bandits six goal lead at 6:50, followed by Kyle Buchanan scoring while falling to the turf at 7:16. Chris Cloutier then added his third of the night diving across the crease off a Josh Byrne pass at 9:03. The assist was Josh Byrne’s 500th career point. Byrne then added another goal with a high to low shot from the outside at 10:08.
https://twitter.com/NLL/status/1867756589962191109?t=ynaSqFxDywul6xLkj5zGZg&s=19
Cam Dunkerley replaced Zach Higgins in net for the Black Bears
Dhane Smith added another goal off a Josh Byrne feed at 12:03, followed by Tehoka Nanticoke scoring over Dunkerley’s shoulder at 13:17.
Final score, Buffalo 18 Ottawa 7.
The Three Stars:
1. Dhane Smith
2. Ian MacKay
3. Josh Byrne
Game Stats:
- Shots on favored the Bandits 46-44.
- The faceoff battle went to Buffalo 18-11.
- The loose ball battle was won by Ottawa 70-64.
- Buffalo went 3 for 4 on the power-play, while the Black Bears went 2 for 5.
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