The playoff-bound Buffalo Bandits will travel to Las Vegas on Saturday to take on the Desert Dogs in their regular-season finale. Faceoff is set for 10:00 p.m. on ESPNU and ESPN+ with radio coverage on WWKB 1520.
Buffalo is coming off its most dominant performance of the season after a 14-7 win over the Calgary Roughnecks last Saturday. The Bandits found themselves in control early with a 4-0 lead at the end of the first quarter while holding the Roughnecks off the scoresheet for the first 23 minutes of the game.
The Bandits led 9-2 at halftime and never let Calgary get closer than a six-goal deficit en route to the win. During his postgame media availability, Bandits coach John Tavares said he thought it was the team’s first full 60-minute effort of the season.
Alternate captain Dhane Smith echoed this statement ahead of the matchup with Vegas.
“It definitely felt like a game waiting to happen,” Smith said. “We played very well, all aspects of the game. I felt like we dominated offensively throughout it and defensively, again, (we) kept them to a very low number. We just get better each and every game. I feel like those last three games are where we want to be and we’re gonna be a tough out come playoff time.”
Smith and Josh Byrne each tallied seven points, but it was Chase Fraser who stole the show, tallying a game-high four goals on the night. Fraser’s two second-half goals were recognized as the No. 1 and No. 3 NLL Plays of the Week, respectively.
Must see TV. 📺 #LetsGoBandits | @The_Fraze95 pic.twitter.com/XkYwgJWnW2
— Buffalo Bandits (@NLLBandits) April 14, 2024
The Bandits secured their spot in the playoffs with the win and will have a chance to host a home quarterfinal game with a win over Vegas.
“…It’s definitely in the back of our mind,” Smith said. “You saw last week, 19,000 fans, it was an incredible feeling. If we can have that momentum in the playoffs, it would mean a lot for us.”
Here’s more before Bandits vs. Desert Dogs.
Tucker Out Lymphoma Night
As the Bandits travel to Michelob Ultra Arena, they will get to take part in another Tucker Out Lymphoma Night. It will be Buffalo’s second “Tucker Night” this season after hosting their own against the New York Riptide on Jan. 19.
The night will be held in memory of Tucker Williams, the son of former Bandits player and current Desert Dogs coach Shawn Williams, who lost a courageous battle with Burkitt lymphoma in 2014.
The Bandits will once again wear specialty jerseys, which will be auctioned off after the game.
We are proud to join the @vegasdesertdogs this weekend in celebrating the life and legacy of Tucker Williams on Tucker Out Lymphoma Night!
Our special game-worn jerseys are being auctioned off with proceeds benefiting pediatric cancer care: https://t.co/NVYPGicGag pic.twitter.com/W3brUTLFv8
— Buffalo Bandits (@NLLBandits) April 16, 2024
“I didn’t know Tucker personally, but if you ask anyone that did, all he ever wanted to do, from what I heard, is play lacrosse,” transition player Ian MacKay said. “To get one Tucker Night is a special thing. … To get two this year is such an incredible thing and that in itself brings so much excitement to the game.”
Scouting the Desert Dogs
The Desert Dogs are at the bottom of the league standings but played in close games throughout the back stretch of their season. Since February, they are 3-8 with wins over Albany, Rochester, and Colorado.
Vegas is led in scoring by the trio of Rob Hellyer, Jack Hannah, and Casey Jackson. Hellyer and Hannah lead the team in points with 74 and 73, respectively. Hellyer is the lead feeder with a team high 53 assists while Hannah is an all-around scorer with 28 goals and 45 assists this season. Jackson leads the team in goals with 40.
Landon Kells has played almost every minute in the Vegas goal this season, earning all five of the team’s wins. He’s averaged 39 saves per game and 12.04 goals against.