INDOOR LACROSSE
Bandits resolve problems in win
Defense key to revival
The Buffalo Bandits have been under the weather lately, but it hasn’t been a flu bug ravaging the team.
The Bandits have been plagued by an internal virus of their own making recently, which resulted in their first losing streak of the season. But the Bandits found the perfect home remedies for their on-field ills — trust, spectacular goaltending and a lethal power play.
Buffalo rediscovered the winning formula Saturday night at HSBC Arena, blasting the Portland Lumberjax, 14-4. The four goals allowed tied the Bandits’ franchise record for fewest surrendered in a game. The previous mark was set in 2003 in a 10-4 win over New Jersey.
“We took a huge step forward in terms of team defense and the offense helped on the defense,” Buffalo coach Darris Kilgour said. “You can’t say enough when you hold a professional team to four goals in our league.”
A near capacity crowd of 17,822 watched the defending National Lacrosse League champions improve their East Division-leading record to 8-3 in a rematch of last May’s Champion’s Cup final.
John Tavares recorded four goals and three assists, while defenseman Cory Bomberry also delivered a hat trick and had three assists. All-Star goalie Ken Montour stopped 34 shots, as the Bandits eliminated the suspense with a game-closing 9-0 burst after the Lumberjax had pulled within 5-4 at 5:46 of the third quarter.
The Bandits scored six power- play goals, including three straight to spark the blitz that turned a potential edge-of-your- seat thriller into a laugher in just under six minutes.
Sean Greenhalgh had two goals during the Bandits’ 5-0 fourth quarter, but the commitment to the disciplined defensive pressure system is the reason Buffalo’s losing streak ended at two games.
Portland (5-4), which entered the game on a four-game winning streak, came up empty as it had little time to do anything on offense. The defensive lapses that proved costly during the Bandits’ skid disappeared for one game as players didn’t try to fill the void of a teammate that missed a defensive assignment nor did they bail on their own responsibilities in anticipation of the worst.
“Our defensive system is very aggressive so you have to trust that your teammates are going to help you out,” Tavares said. “If we just worry about our own jobs . . . then we’re going to be successful.”
Meanwhile, Montour made several timely saves throughout, especially in the first quarter to give his team a chance to get into an offensive rhythm. For nearly half the quarter, Mark Steenhuis’ goal 13 seconds in was Buffalo’s only shot.
Shots were 7-1 before Tavares, the NLL’s all-time scoring leader, solved the Bandits’ problem finding the net without the aid of a GPS device. He buried a nice feed from Kyle Schmelzle (Niagara-Wheatfield) to tie it, 2-2, with 2:59 left in the quarter. Bomberry scored 1:34 later on the power play, and had another power-play goal and an assist as Buffalo led at halftime, 5-3.
Mike Accursi, Bomberry and Tavares scored on the power play in a span of 3:44 in the third quarter to turn a one-goal lead into an 8-4 edge. Buffalo led, 9-4, after three.
While the Bandits blew leads of five and three goals in their last home appearance, a 16-15 loss to Minnesota on Feb. 28, they didn’t commit that sin Saturday as they pressured Portland until the final horn.
“Getting the lead in this barn is big,” defenseman Ian Llord said. “Everybody playing like they did, there’s not many teams [that can beat us] if we play like this every night.”
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