Josh Byrne knows what to expect entering the NLL Semifinals against the Toronto Rock, having played them three times already in as many trips to the postseason.
“You can change the standings all you want, but the rivalry continues between us and Toronto,” Byrne said. “Two great teams going head-to-head and it’s gonna be a battle and I’m sure it’s gonna get even crazier, too. It should be fun.”
The Bandits and Rock play the first two games of their best-of-three series this weekend. Game 1 in Hamilton, Ontario is Friday at 7:30 p.m. on CW23 and ESPN+ with radio coverage on WGR 550.
Game 2 at KeyBank Center is Sunday at 5:30 p.m. Fans who can’t make it to Banditland can watch on ESPNU or ESPN+ or listen on WGR 550.
The Bandits and Rock are meeting in the semifinal round of the NLL Playoffs for the third consecutive year, with the Bandits having swept each of the previous two series in two games. The Bandits also beat the Rock in a single-elimination semifinal in 2019, Byrne’s first trip to the postseason.
Buffalo enters this matchup on the heels of an overtime thriller against the Georgia Swarm in the quarterfinals last week. Kyle Buchanan scored the tying goal with over five minutes left in regulation and Byrne scored his fifth goal of the night in overtime.
The Bandits’ next test will require winning at least one road game against the Rock, who entered the playoffs as the NHL’s top seed. The Bandits won both regular-season matchups, including a 16-14 victory in Hamilton on Jan. 27.
Buchanan said he’s looking forward to the visit to Hamilton, which typically includes a good turnout of Bandits fans who make the trip across the border.
“I think it’s exciting for the fans,” he said. “People who come to the game Friday that weren’t planning to go Sunday might come just based on the action or what’s gonna go on.”
Here’s more before the series.
Defense, transition paved the road to semis
The Buffalo defense was at the core of the win last Saturday. Goalie Matt Vinc and his band of towering defensemen shut down the Swarm when it was most important, at the beginning of the game and in overtime, and they delivered the win in Banditland.
The transition game, meanwhile, delivered early. Ian MacKay scored the first Bandits goal from Nick Weiss in transition and the pair combined again with Weiss scoring the second.
“Any time you get some help in transition with Mick and Weisser burying, it gives us a little bit of a sigh of relief and allows us to get our air and get going a bit,” Byrne said.
The defense came up clutch again in the second half as they allowed just four goals, including only two at even strength.
“Our defense has done that so many times throughout the year when we (the offense) haven’t got going,” Buchanan said. “It gives us time to feel ourselves out and I think we’re getting back to our old ways giving Vino the shots he wants to see.”
Scouting the Rock
Toronto is the top-seeded team in the NLL thanks largely to its defense posting a league-best 9.18 goals-against average, but the Rock also have some lethal passers and finishers. Mark Matthews leads the team with 98 points and 66 assists. Corey Small has a team-high 38 goals. Tom Schreiber missed five games early in the year due to injury but still finished second on the team with 76 points (21+55).
The Rock opened the playoffs by defeating the Rochester Knighthawks 9-6 at home thanks to an early lead and a shut-down performance on defense. Challen Rogers led the Rock with five points while Matthews added a goal and three assists. Chris Boushy and Schreiber each scored twice.
Nick Rose, who leads had an NLL-best 9.18 goals-against average during the regular season, made 51 saves for a .895 save percentage. Brad Kri and Mitch De Snoo combined for 16 loose-ball recoveries while De Snoo and Billy Hostrawser led the team in caused turnovers with three each.
“Rosey does a really good job of taking angles away,” Buchanan said. “I think we need to shoot on the move and swing the ball side-to-side and get him moving. If it’s north-south and kind of righty-to-righty, he’s really good at picking up sticks and shots. So, we got to move side-to-side to be able to beat him and maybe shoot over the top.”