Just Crazy
What an absolutely crazy weekend for the Bandits. It’s been that way for the entire season, writing specifically about the club’s schedule.
The second back-to-back set of games certainly tested this team’s character, physically and mentally, and they passed with flying colors.
“They are tough. We can learn from the last one,” said Ian MacKay. “You can throw every excuse in the book: Traveling, getting in early Saturday morning, shoot-around in the morning, whatever it may be (there are no excuses).”
The players gave it their all, making up for a sloppy second half of Friday night’s 13-10 win over Vegas.
The overtime loss Saturday night was exciting for the fans. Albany had a great crowd, including a large contingent of Banditland citizens.
This included the dedicated and endearing group of about 30 who lined the team’s hotel entrance on Saturday afternoon to wish the boys well when they left.
In addition, showing how close this Bandits team is, Matt Spanger, who is out for the season, joined his brothers, walking boot and all, and made the trip right with them.
I don’t know what the league schedulers were thinking when the second game of a Bandits two-banger would be a four-and-a-half-hour bus ride immediately following the first.
From my perspective, it was dangerous and ridiculous, but arena dates are what they are if that makes any sense.
Around the Clock
The timetable following Friday night’s home game:
- The players’ bus left the Key Bank Center parking lot around 11 pm and arrived at the Albany Hotel around 3:40 am.
- Bandits management made a good call by arranging a players-only bus, which allowed them some flexible room per seating section. This allowed for some to rest and regenerate in a contorted position.
- A complimentary breakfast was arranged for some fueling, and the shoot-around bus left the hotel at 8:15 am.
- Following the bruises and muscle treatment by the team’s training and deep tissue staff, a comprehensive video session, which included defense and offense of the Vegas game and the upcoming game against the FireWolves, was tolerated/absorbed.
- The Bandits stepped out on the MVP Arena floor at 10:15 am for their official shoot-around, which lasted for one hour.
- The 11:45 am bus took the team back to the hotel, where a Noon luncheon was available for the players.
- Following a shade of rest, the game bus left for the MVP Arena at 4 pm in preparation for the 7 pm game.
- Immediately following the game, which lasted 68 minutes and took two hours and thirty minutes to complete, a large dinner to carry on was available outside the Bandits dressing room.
- The team bus left Albany around 11 pm and arrived at the Buffalo Arena parking complex around 3:30 am. The players then departed on their own to their homes, many with three—to six-hour drives.
Play On
Again, the club performed admirably in the two games. Friday night’s second half was sloppy, but the first half was terrific.
“We had a tremendous start, and it was hard to maintain that style of play for 60 minutes. Often, guys let up, and teams eventually start catching up,” said Bandits head coach John Tavares on the radio pregame show Saturday night.
The Saturday night game was exciting for the fans and could have gone either way, but as the TV character, Tony Soprano would say, “Hey, wad-da-ya-gonna-do.”
“My job is to get them up for the game, keeping them motivated the entire game. Understand we’ve clinched a playoff spot; there is more to it. Now we want to clinch a home playoff spot,” Tavares said.
The Remains & Quest
Four regular season games remain one each weekend, for the playoff-bound Bandits. The next home game is this Saturday night against the Vancouver Warriors.
Now, it’s time to solidify the roster and focus on winning out. Consider it 11 games to win their third consecutive title.
Buffalo Bandits vs Albany
Take it to the Levi
Adam Levi, the tireless lacrosse reporter, joined me Saturday night on the radio pregame show from Albany and had nothing but great things to say about the Bandits this season.
“It’s been exactly as advertised. This is a back-to-back team defending NLL champions. Slow starts may have been an issue, but they always find ways to address those problems. It’s been fantastic.
“One thing I love about this team is how diverse the offense is this year. It’s not just Dhane and Josh. You need players like Tehoka Nanticoke, Chris Cloutier, Chase Fraser, Ian MacKay, and Kyle Buchanan to step up, and they have throughout the entire season. As usual, the defense (and goaltending) has been phenomenal,” said Levi.
Lean, Mean, Grilling Machine
George Foreman, the two-time world heavyweight, gold medal-winning boxer, and entrepreneur who turned the world of food appliances upside down, passed away over the weekend.
The Bandits should take up his tagline, which, in a roundabout fashion, describes this group of great players as a “Lean, Mean, Grilling Machine.”
I’ll toast to that!
Winning Numbers
Congratulations to Dhane and Josh for eclipsing 100 regular season points Saturday night, goaltender Matt Vinc for 11,000+ saves, Ian MacKay for establishing a new career high in points, Paul Dawson for leading the NLL record books in blocked shots and the fifth spot in all-time games played, and Kiel Matisz for crossing the 900 loose ball plateau.
For Smith, this is the fourth straight and eighth 100-point and-counting season. For Byrne, this is his second. The two are on their way to a possible record-setting mark for regular season scoring the NLL.
The two combined for 28 points this past weekend.
Vinc leads the NLL record books in minutes played, saves, and wins. His next start will be his 300th, third in all-time games played, six away from tying Tavares (306).
In his sixth season as a Bandit, MacKay established a career-high in points (40) with his five-point weekend.
“It’s cool to pass your previous points, goals, or whatever. If more points mean more wins for us, I’ll try to score as many points as possible to stack wins.
“Just happy to put a jersey and helmet on and go out and play, whatever is called upon me for that game,” noted MacKay.
With five soakers Saturday night, Dawson leads the NLL record book in blocked shots with 91. In addition, the 18-year veteran played in his 280th game Saturday night, tying retired Brodie Merrill for fifth overall.
Matisz crossed the 900-loose ball plateau with his 17 scoopers this past weekend.
Broadcast Information
Saturday’s Bandits/Warriors game will be televised on CW23, ESPN+, TSN+, and NLL+ at 7:30 pm.
Radio coverage begins with the pregame show at 7 pm on 1520 AM The Bet and audacy.com.
Steve Bermel will join me in the Ted Darling Memorial Press Box, and Dave Buchanan will be between the benches with notes and interviews.