Command Performance
The performance is practically perfect in every way, reflecting the Bandits’ play in the last two games. It is all in preparation for the NLL playoffs, which start Friday, April 25, inside KeyBank Center. Tickets are available here.
We will wait until the weekend Friday and Saturday night games to determine who fills the eighth and final playoff spot.
If you want to speculate, go to Graeme Perrow’s site, nllstats.com, and click the “Could Happen” icon. And follow Evan Schemenauer, @schemLax, on X for his updated analysis.
“We are in a nice place with our heads on right, and we all have a singular focus, and that starts with preparing in little increments for that first game in the playoffs,” said Bandits captain Steve Priolo, who scored a beauty of a goal Saturday night along with two assists.
Numbers, Numbers, Numbers
I would say, and I think you will agree, that Saturday’s game numbers speak volumes about the team’s play heading into the last regular-season game and playoffs:
- 31 percent shot/goal (Kyle Buchanan four goals on six shots, 67 percent)
- .810 save percentage (Matt Vince with 50 saves)
- 72 percent hitting the net
- 68 Loosies (11 by Nick Weiss and 10 by Kiel Matisz)
- 11 blocked shots (five by Paul Dawson- now league-leading 50- and three by Weiss),
- Two for two on the power play (eight in the last five).
- The Bandits’ record is 13-4 and +50 goals for/goals against, averaging over 13.5 goals and allowing 10.5 per game.
“I like our offense putting double digits again. We attack by committee, and we are unpredictable,” said the Bandits’ head coach, John Tavares, who coached his 100th game last Saturday night, also earning his 72nd win.
“The guys are sharing the ball, and many different players produced for us (11 in all Saturday), and when it’s spread out like that, it’s challenging to focus on one or two guys.”
On defense, the crew has buckled down playing exceptionally with focus.
“We are a veteran group down on defense. We still make mistakes, but we are very comfortable, and having that comfort level is important. All the difficult things, like deciphering plays and how we move out there, are all on pace for what we need to be doing come playoffs,” said Priolo.
Best Fans in Sports
You, the fans of Banditland, have broken the league attendance record (previously held by the Bandits) with a remarkable 96.86 percent capacity this season. Wow!
“Oh my gosh, man. Five sellouts and an NLL record for attendance. This crew in Banditland is one of the best fan bases in all sports. This is incredible. This crosses boundaries and starts entering into the Yankees baseball sort of fan base.
“It translates from the Bills, the Sabres, and us. I love our cross-promotion, which shows in the stands,” Priolo said.
Bucky
How about the play Saturday night of Kyle Buchanan with four, almost five, goals elevating to 34 on the year, his best so far in his 12-year career. Not bad for a sixth-round choice in 2012 after his college career at Robert Morris University.
Those are pretty good stats with nine 50+ point seasons, including 34+18=52, with one regular season game left.
“He doesn’t play with the ball very often; he does a lot of the dirty work and loose balls, but man, he knows how to get open. His spacing ability is unbelievable, and he just knows where to go on the floor. He has been burying the ball more often than not this year,” Tavares said.
Congratulations, too, to Buchanan for winning the Teammate of the Year award, as voted by his teammates.
High Five!
High five to Paul Dawson for achieving his 100th career point, a milestone pending since March 1, and for being named the team’s Defensive Player of the Year.
Clay Scanlan was named the team’s Rookie of the Year, and Josh Byrne 43+83=126 (4+4 Saturday against Halifax) was named Bandits Offensive Player of the Year. Averaging almost eight points per game, Byrne could very well set a new NLL single-season scoring record Saturday night in Georgia. And;
So, too, could Dhane Smith, the team’s co-MVP with Matt Vinc. A couple of milestone lookouts, starting with assists, are now three away from a new NLL regular season record he established last season (102).
Also, averaging around eight points per game, Smith can undoubtedly set a new NLL regular-season scoring record, established by Smith of 137 points in 2016.
Amazing
As echoed for several seasons, I marvel at the incredible play of this talented and dedicated group of guys. They enjoy each other’s company and are deeply rooted in family.
Thanks to Mary Poppins again, the Bandits are practically perfect in every way.
Road Trip
The club takes its 7-1 road record to Georgia this Saturday night, where they will play the 8-9 Swarm, who are gummed up in the sixth, seventh, and eighth position of the NLL standings.
Broadcast Information
Saturday night’s game against the Swarm inside Gas South Arena will be on 1520 The Bet and audacy.com. The pregame show will start at 7 pm.
Television coverage will be on CW23, ESPN+, TSN+ and NLL+, starting at 7:30 pm.