The winner of tonight’s game against the Buffalo Bandits and Toronto Rock will clinch the No. 1 seed in the East.
Buffalo can also inch closer to clinching the first-overall seed in the NLL with a victory.
Faceoff is set for 8 p.m. from KeyBank Center on ESPNU, ESPN+ and 1520 AM. Tickets are on sale now.
The Bandits are coming off a nail-biting 11-10 overtime win over the New York Riptide last week. Dhane Smith tied the game with just 29 seconds remaining, and his partner in crime, Josh Byrne, sealed the deal in overtime.
Buffalo is 1-1 against the Rock so far this season. In their last matchup back on April 1, the Rock put on a dominant performance in an 18-7 win. Toronto defeated Philadelphia 12-7 last week.
“I’m happy we get another chance at them,” Byrne said. “…If we could’ve played them again 10 minutes after the last whistle blew, we would’ve rallied back.”
TALE OF THE TAPE
The Bandits enter Saturday’s contest with a 12-4 record, just below Toronto’s leading 13-4 mark in the East.
Among the league leaders in stats sit Bandits forward Dhane Smith, who paces the league in assists (87) and is second in total points (119).
Bandits captain Steve Priolo ranks fifth in blocked shots (19) while veteran goaltender Matt Vinc comes in second in both wins (12) and saves (658).
Vinc is just one win away from setting the all-time franchise record for goaltender wins.
Toronto’s efforts will be helmed by Tom Schreiber (45+67), Dan Craig (35+45) and Corey Small (38+39). Nick Rose has manned the majority of the duties in net this season, bolstering 13 wins and 606 saves.
IT’S FAN APPRECIATION NIGHT
For the final home game of the regular season, the Bandits are hosting their annual Fan Appreciation Night.
The team will be offering an official team photo poster as a giveaway for the first 10,000 fans in attendance. There will be additional “Lucky Row” giveaways as well throughout the game.
First place in the East is on the line and we need all of Banditland behind us!
— Buffalo Bandits (@NLLBandits) April 19, 2023
Plus, the team store will be offering a 30 percent discount on merchandise throughout the evening. Select concession items will be available for just $3.
Throughout the concourse before the game, there will be fun activations for fans to enjoy, including DJ Milk bringing the music, balloon artists, photo opportunities and a chance to meet the Bandettes dance team.
As part of the festivities, the 50/50 raffle will feature a $25,000 guaranteed pot and second-chance prizing, including a 2023-24 Season Ticket Membership, suite tickets, and autographed merchandise.
50/50 raffle tickets are available now for purchase in advance of the game, so fans don’t have to wait until Saturday for a chance to win. https://sabres.5050raffle.org/give/sabres/bandits-5050-raffle-2022-2023/2023-04-22-toronto-rock
During a pregame ceremony, the team will present its Fan of the Year award for the 2022-23 season. The recipient will be honored on the field and have the opportunity to present player-voted awards to each winning player. They will also receive a personalized Bandits jersey and a special commemorative Fan of the Year heavyweight belt.
After the game, select Season Ticket Members will have the chance to join players on the field after the game to receive their game-worn jersey as part of the “Jersey Off Our Backs” tradition. Winners will be announced throughout the game on the videoboard.