The Buffalo Bandits will look to extend their winning streak to six games when they wrap up a home-and-home series with the Halifax Thunderbirds tonight at KeyBank Center.
Faceoff is at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN+ and 1520 AM. Tickets are on sale now.
Last week, the Bandits came away with a 10-9 victory in Halifax. Dhane Smith scored the eventual game winner midway through the fourth quarter.
The Bandits are 9-2 on the year and are currently in first place in the East thanks to their .818 win percentage. Toronto is right behind at 9-3 and the Rochester Knighthawks are in third place with a record of 8-3.
Smith has totaled 27 goals and 60 assists for 87 points this season. He ranks first in the NLL in assists, second in points and sixth in goals this year. Smith has recorded at least five points in every game for the Bandits this season and is on pace to surpass his point total of 135 from last season.
Ian MacKay has recorded hat tricks in back-to-back games and now has three on the season. Through 11 games this season, MacKay has set new career highs in both goals (17) and points (31).
Goaltender Matt Vinc is tied for the NLL lead with nine wins this season. Vinc ranks third among NLL goaltenders in saves (463) and fourth in minutes played (657:45). This season, the St. Catharines, Ontario native has posted a 10.40 goals-against average and a save percentage of .800. Vinc, the reigning NLL Goaltender of the Year, currently leads all NLL goalies in career wins (142), saves (9,509) and minutes played (14,349).
Randy Staats paces the Thunderbirds with 58 points (19+39). Chris Boushy leads the club with 23 goals. In net, Warren Hill is 4-5. He’s ninth in the league with an 11.35 goals-against average among goalies with at least 120 minutes played and is 11th in the league with 313 saves.
The team will also be throwing a Beach Party in Banditland presented by UBMD Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine. Fans are encouraged to year their best Bandits beach attire, enjoy specialty cocktails in the 100-level New Amsterdam Bar and 200-level Seneca Sports Lounge, and take in beach music, videos and beach-themed games throughout the night.
Beach ready! 🌊
See you Friday night for the party in Banditland: https://t.co/gLHR6hpjHW pic.twitter.com/jhCT81uElR
— Buffalo Bandits (@NLLBandits) March 9, 2023