(Photo courtesy of Caroline Sherman NLL)
The Ottawa Black Bears (4-3) visited the Buffalo Bandits (3-3) in NLL action Friday night at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY, in front of 17,000+ fans.
Both teams were coming off losses last week. Ottawa had a tough second half against Halifax giving up ten goals including yet another big run. Led by Jeff Teat, Reilly O’Connor, Connor Kearnan, and Rob Hellyer, the Black Bears look to get to Matt Vinc early.
Buffalo was uncharacteristically held off the scoresheet in the third quarter last week. That was a big enough opening for the Rochester Knighthawks to grab the win. While Josh Byrne and Dhane Smith were held to only two goals, Kyle Buchanan had four in the game. Look for more movement from the transition team in this game.
The goalie match-up had Zach Higgins in net for Ottawa facing Matt Vinc in net for the Bandits.
An entertaining first half had the Bandits jump in front 2-0 on quick goals from Dhane Smith and Tehoka Nanticoke. The Black Bears got rolling with Jeff Teat and Jacob Dunbar tying the game after one quarter.
Sometimes luck plays a part in your game. Dhane Smith tried to float a pass to Kyle Buchanan but it sailed past Buchanan into the top corner for a 3-2 Buffalo lead. However, the Black Bears replied with Sam Firth and Jeff Teat to take their first lead of the night. A late goal from Steve Priolo tied the game for the Bandits heading to the half.
The Bandits controlled most of the third quarter, but to Ottawa’s credit they didn’t let Buffalo run away with the game. The Bandits took a 7-6 lead to the fourth.
Ottawa erupted for three quick goals in the fourth with Jeff Teat and Rob Hellyer leading the charge. Teat scored back to back goals, followed by a howitzer from Hellyer to change the complexion of the game. Teat added another late goal and the Black Bears were up by three.
Josh Byrne and Kyle Buchanan scored late to bring Buffalo within one with 1:03 left in the game. With the goalie on the bench the Bandits pressed hard, but the Black Bears stood tall to hang on for the one goal win. Ottawa wins 10-9.
To The Game:
The Bandits got on the board first shorthanded when Dhane Smith scored in transition off a Nick Weiss pass at 1:25, followed by Tehoka Nanticoke with a skip shot that beat Zach Higgins off a Dhane Smith feed at 5:45.
Playing four on four, Jeff Teat got the Black Bears on the board with a quick stick off a Rob Hellyer pass at 11:39, followed by yet another quick stick from Jacob Dunbar converting a Reilly O’Connor feed at 14:28.
After one quarter, Buffalo 2 Ottawa 2.
Second Quarter:
Dhane Smith gave the Bandits the lead once again with a shot that floated into the top corner off a Josh Byrne pass at 3:52, but Sam Firth replied with a blast from the top of the crease off a Reilly O’Connor pass 0:31 seconds later.
On a two man advantage Ottawa took their first lead of the game. Jeff Teat found the shortside off a Rob Hellyer pass at 7:21, but on a rebound from a Ryan Benesch shot, Steve Priolo buried the opportunity at 13:14 to again tie the game.
At the half, Buffalo 4 Ottawa 4.
Third Quarter:
Dhane Smith opened the third quarter scoring with a sidearm bounced shot off a Kyle Buchanan pass at 1:04, but Callum Jones replied quickly going coast to coast diving across the crease scoring to the shortside at 2:18.
Rob Hellyer gave Ottawa the lead once again with a sidearm laser from the outside off a Sam Firth pass at 3:20, but Ian MacKay buried a rebound from in close with a scoop/jump/finish at 4:09 off a Clay Scanlan shot.
Tehoka Nanticoke got his second of the night firing a howitzer to the shortside from the outside off a Dhane Smith pass at 12:36.
After three quarters, Buffalo 7 Ottawa 6.
Fourth Quarter:
Jeff Teat opened the fourth quarter scoring with back to back markers. The first found the top corner off a Rob Hellyer pass at 2:06, followed by a sidearm snipe to the shortside at 3:06 to give Ottawa the lead once again.
Rob Hellyer increased the Black Bears lead with a bounced shot from the outside off a Jeff Teat feed at 4:55, followed by Teat’s fifth goal of the night with a high to high shot to the top corner off a Reilly O’Connor pass at 11:00.
Josh Byrne finally got on the board off a Dhane Smith pass at 12:52, followed by Kyle Buchanan with a goal from in close at 13:57 to bring the Bandits within one.
The last 1:03 was heart-stopping with the Bandits getting plenty of opportunities. Ottawa had a chance for an empty net goal but chose to hang on to the ball to kill clock. That decision almost cost them, as the Bandits came back with Dhane Smith ripping a shot at the net. Zach Higgins was steadfast in the Black Bears net to hold on to the victory.
Final score, Ottawa 10 Buffalo 9.
The Three Stars:
1. Jeff Teat
2. Zach Higgins
3. Rob Hellyer
Game Stats:
- Shots on goal favored the Bandits 53-47.
- The faceoff battle went to Buffalo 13-10.
- The Bandits edged Ottawa in the loose ball battle 69-68.
- Ottawa went 2 for 4 on the power-play.
- The Bandits had no power-play opportunities, but scored a shorthanded goal.
*Of note, Zach Higgins made his 5000th career save in the game*
(Photo courtesy of Caroline Sherman NLL)
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