Matt Vinc made 49 saves and captain Steve Priolo scored the overtime winner as the Buffalo Bandits battled back to defeat the San Diego Seal 7-6 on Saturday at Pechanga Arena.

Priolo scooped up a loose ball in the Bandits end and raced up the floor with a clean look at the goaltender. As he approached the goal, he let loose a shot that beat Frank Scigliano over his left shoulder to give Buffalo the victory.

The Bandits and Seals entered the game as the top seeds in their respective conferences.

Buffalo is now 11-3 on the season and 3-0 in overtime games.

Steve "coast to coast" Priolo is the OT hero in San Diego! 🚨#LetsGoBandits pic.twitter.com/Y7Ebi3aLy1

— Buffalo Bandits (@NLLBandits) March 26, 2023

Vinc’s performance throughout the game kept Buffalo’s hopes alive, regardless of the score at any point.

The Bandits were led on offense by Dhane Smith (1+4), Josh Byrne (3+1), Brad McCulley (1+2) and Chris Cloutier (1+2).

Ya know, it’s hard to fit everything in your suitcase (like a belt…)

Tonight’s Heavyweight Player of the Game, Steve Priolo! pic.twitter.com/6sUPAEp7p6

— Buffalo Bandits (@NLLBandits) March 26, 2023

San Diego’s top offensive performers included Dane Dobbie (1+2), Austin Staats (2+0) and Jacob Dunbar (1+1). Scigliano stopped 37 of 44 shots.

Buffalo outscored the Seals 5-3 in the second half but only held a single lead the entire game – back when it was 1-0 – until Priolo’s overtime heroics.

HOW IT HAPPENED

FIRST QUARTER

Byrne opened the scoring at the 10:07 mark, but the remainder of the quarter would be highlighted by stingy defense from both sides. Buffalo especially made it a priority to limit the Seals’ chances on net, providing aid to Vinc.

After one, the score remained 1-0 Bandits, with the shot totals marked at 17-15 in San Diego’s favor.

SECOND QUARTER

The Seals found their stride in the second, as Dickson kicked off a 3-0 run with a power-play goal. In the latter half of the quarter, Staats added his 21st of the year while Dunbar uncorked one past Vinc for his first-career NLL goal.

San Diego pitched a second quarter shutout, leading the Bandits 3-1 at the half. Once again, the Seals held the shot advantage, edging out Buffalo 31-23.

THIRD QUARTER

The Bandits game out of the gates swinging in the third, with Byrne taking the lead himself at 14:46 for his second of the game by flying through the air and burying a goal past Scigliano.

The Bandits’ momentum was halted swiftly at the 11:36 mark, with Mac O’Keefe sending one in the back of the net. Dobbie would join him on the scoresheet less than a minute later, cushioning the Seals’ with a 5-2 lead.

Byrne, a one-man wrecking crew, continued his dominance with his hat trick goal at the 6:46 mark, narrowing Buffalo’s deficit to two. Byrne now has 21 points in his three games played since returning from injury.

Smith joined his usual partner-in-crime with his first goal in two games just moments later to edge the Bandits back up to just one behind San Diego. McCulley put himself on the board for the first time in the game to knot things at five with 4:27 remaining in the quarter.

San Diego regained the lead with just 40.3 seconds left when Staats beat Vinc with a wrap-around goal.

With just 15:00 left to play, San Diego grasped the slim 6-5 lead over Buffalo, setting the stage for a crucial final frame.

FOURTH QUARTER

As the clock ticked down, Cloutier fired one in the back of the net to even the game at 6, with 7:10 remaining in the clash of the juggernauts.

With 2.8 seconds left in the game, Nick Weiss signaled for a timeout in order to give the chance for coach John Tavares to devise a game-winning play. The Bandits were never able to hold possession in order to execute, sending the game to overtime.

OVERTIME

Leading the team with both the patch on his chest and his unmatched effort, Priolo, like the team this week, traveled from coast to coast and ripped the ball past Scigliano at the 14:08 mark to give the Bandits the victory.

Nothing but love for the Captain! 🙌#LetsGoBandits pic.twitter.com/BjN8SU7PqP

— Buffalo Bandits (@NLLBandits) March 26, 2023

LOOKING AHEAD

The Buffalo Bandits will continue their defense of the No. 1 seed in the East next week when they head to Toronto to take on the Rock.

With Toronto (11-4) possessing second place in the conference, next Saturday’s matchup will be crucial in determining who will hold the top spot in the East as the regular season nears its end.

Faceoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. from FirstOntario Centre.

Buffalo’s next home game is on April 15 against New York. Tickets are on sale now.