Frozen

Mirrored in below-zero wind chills last Saturday night, the Bandits suffered their fifth loss of the season, the fourth in a row.

Not the time to panic, but there is an aura of concern.

“We can be better and want to be better,” said Ian MacKay, who had three goals, two assists, and two goals nullified because of the ball not going across the goal line. More on that later.

While it might be old news, and well it should be, the club has to gather up its talents and combine for a solid recovery and face the 10 regular-season games remaining with good intentions, but taking it one game at a time.

“We still feel we are a really good lacrosse team, and regardless of the record, the next game (@ Halifax) is the most important,” said Bandits head coach John Tavares.

Lead of the Marque Board

As the Winter Olympics and Super Bowl 60 approached, the Bandit faithful, 19,070 strong, braved the cold to come to KeyBank Center, and thousands of viewers and listeners on TV and radio tuned in to watch their three-time defending champions.

They were sorely disappointed, as was I, but I had to remain bipartisan because of our viewers and listeners outside the Bandits’ area of influence and the Philadelphia market.

All eyes and ears are on the Bandits. With the 19-day NHL Olympic break and the Bills starting their off-season, the club takes center stage and must start turning in winning performances.

Stay off the Couch

I feel, too, that this is not the right time to speak with the Bandits’ performance coach or any other outside influences, in general. No, this dilemma is within the team, a.k.a., it’s on them.

Tavares noted in his post-game presser that the team found a way to lose, even with a two-goal lead with six minutes to play. This is perplexing.

“We need to find a way to win, discipline, and be better,” noted Tavares.

And the balance of the Bandits’ attack wavered off after taking a 3-0 lead, leaving the load of twenty-two shots by Dhane Smith (only three of them off net) on the weight of his back – and he’ll be the first one to tell you, he has to bury more of those shots.

Josh Encouragement

Still, Smith played a great game, kept to his season average of 7 points, and tried to rally the forces on the field and on the bench. Concerning, too, Josh Byrne going scoreless in the game, and only three goals in his last three games. He did have four assists Saturday night.

“I feel he’s not used to not scoring. He’s one of the best goal scorers in the game. Yeah, he’s snake-bitten a bit, but I have to encourage him to keep doing what he’s doing, and the goals are going to fall eventually.

“We’ve all been there. Sometimes it’s not your night, and he gets so much attention from defenders every night. Josh is going to find his way. I’m not worried about him,” said Smith, who ended the night with two goals and five assists.

I’m Good Enough. Smart Enough. and Daw-Gonnit, People Like Me

“Finding a way” has been the refrain for the Bandits over the last few weeks, and no matter how you arrange, engineer, design, finagle, hatch, or excogitate, this Bandit team’s chemistry and talent far exceed those of any NLL team capable of starting a winning streak, ripping the rear-view mirror off.

It will be a tough road ahead, literally. The Bandits travel 1,108 miles to Halifax on Friday to face the Thunderbirds, also 3-5 and on a three-game losing streak. Then they head back home to gear up again for a 2,730-mile jaunt to Vancouver for a February 21 game against the surging Warriors, 6-2 at this writing.

Moving Twine

There was confusion regarding the two MacKay goals disallowed by crew chief Chris Williams following his in-depth review from the off-field replay center, which included several angles and frame-by-frame manipulation.

We have all the angles in the TV booth, and the director can take us frame by frame as well. From what I saw, the goals were good, and I was going by the flutter movement of the netting inside the cage.

• One of the nine criteria of the NLL Rule book 17.81 is the determination of the ball crossing the goal line. Simply put, the ball must cross the 2” goal line in its entirety.
• Rule 2.2 states the white line shall be drawn two inches wide and between the goal posts to indicate the plane of the goal. It shall be dedicated as the goal line.
• Rule 4.1 Nets must be adjusted so as to permit the ball to pass completely through the imaginary plane of the goal at any place.
• Rule 4.2 Net Mesh must fit the goals loosely so the ball will hit the mesh and remain inside the goal line.

Your witness…

Broadcast Information for Saturday’s Game in Halifax

Set your calendars and timers accordingly, as game coverage on the radio will start with the Bandits pregame show at 6:00 p.m. Eastern on 1520 AM, the Bet, and Audacy.com.

Television coverage will be on CW23, TSN, ESPN+, TSN+, and NLL+ with a 6:30 p.m. Eastern start.  If you want to listen to the radio while watching TV, freeze your TV at the start of the game face-off, then wait for the radio to catch up. Unfreeze when you hear “face off.” You can sync throughout the game.