The Buffalo Bandits used a five-goal second quarter to propel them to an 11-8 win over the Toronto Rock on Saturday at FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton, Ontario.
Five different Bandits found the back of the net during their 5-1 run that quarter.
Buffalo picked up its first win of the season to even its record to 1-1. The Rock fall to 1-2.
Dhane Smith led the team with six points (1+5). Tehoka Nanticoke (3+1), Chris Cloutier (2+2), Josh Byrne (2+2) and Kyle Buchanan (1+3) each recorded four points. Matt Vinc made 48 saves.
Nanticoke, who scored three times for the second game in a row, is tops on the club with six goals this season.
Tehoka (@Tehoka1) is ON FIRE to start the season! 🔥#LetsGoBandits pic.twitter.com/89SClWGNZP
— Buffalo Bandits (@NLLBandits) December 18, 2022
The Bandits had not played since opening weekend on December 3. Coming off of the long bye week, they got off to a hot start against Toronto and did not let their foot off the gas.
Buffalo started the game on a 3-0 run with goals from Smith, Nanticoke and Byrne, but the Rock responded with three of their own – including two on the power play – to tie things up. Dan Craig scored with just 2 seconds left in the first quarter to make it 3-3.
Then Buffalo had its big second quarter to control the game.
Byrne, Dalton Sulver and Nanticoke scored in a span of 1:50 to give Buffalo its three-goal edge back. Tom Schrieber broke up the Bandits offense before Cloutier and Nanticoke potted goals to give the Bandits an 8-4 lead heading into the intermission.
Sulver’s goal was the first of his NLL career.
VN🚫 appreciation tweet! 👊#LetsGoBandits pic.twitter.com/ZQOB5Fs0Gm
— Buffalo Bandits (@NLLBandits) December 18, 2022
The first goal of the second half didn’t come until Brandon Robinson found the back of the net with 6:35 remaining in the third quarter for his first point as a Bandit.
The Rock then opened the fourth quarter with a pair of goals. Toronto got one back 29 seconds into the fourth quarter when Corey Small tallied and then Craig scored again at the 3:39 mark.
The clubs then traded goals the rest of the way.
With 7:54 left, Smith found Buchanan in front to put Buffalo up by four. The Rock scored on the power play with 4:31 remaining when Schrieber fired one in from the slot to make it 10-7.
Cloutier scored his second of the night with 2:49 left and then with the net empty, Small scored again for his third goal and sixth point with 1:07 to go for the game’s final goal.
The Bandits are back in action on Friday, December 30 against the Halifax Thunderbirds at KeyBank Center. Faceoff is at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now.