The Minnesota Swarm play the Buffalo Bandits in their home opener tonight. Do not expect the Swarm to go pick up the Bandits at the airport to make sure they make it to the game.

The Bandits have won 13 of 15 previous meetings between the teams. That includes a pair of Minnesota losses to Buffalo last season. The Swarm are 0-6 all-time against the Bandits at home, and a couple of playoff losses can be added to those numbers as well.

Coach Mike Lines of the Swarm hasn't seen all of those losses over the years, but he's seen enough to know that Minnesota has had its problems with the Bandits.

"Since we moved to the West [Division], our record hasn't been good against the East," he said. "It's a matchup thing. In Buffalo, it's a home game for them and there are extra distractions when some of our guys play there. But there's no excuse for that to happen. We need to be better prepared for them."

Tonight's game is only the second of the season for the Swarm. Minnesota lost its opener, 20-14, in Colorado on Jan. 14.

"It would have been great to jump right back in, but we're anxious to get things going," Lines said.

Sometimes it can be good for a team to be resting at home on the eve of a game when its opponent is busy playing somewhere else. Such is the case this weekend, as Buffalo was busy on Friday. Lines isn't sure if that will be much of an advantage.

"They are a great club, always prepared," he said. "After watching their game last Saturday, they are a lot further ahead of the curve than many expected them to be. They are clicking. I'm sure they'll have enough in the tank.

"Everyone's physical shape has improved in the league. Teams are coming off the openers of back-to-back games better than expected. I don't expect that to be a big problem with Buffalo."

The Bandits probably will make some switches in their lineup from Friday's game for tonight.

"We want to get Tom Montour in there, Frank Resetarits in there," said Buffalo coach Darris Kilgour about two players who saw their first game action on Friday. "On Saturday, we'll make some changes. We want to get all the guys on the roster involved."

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Brett Bucktooth wasn't unemployed for long in the National Lacrosse League. Still, it's unlikely that he'll be driving to many games from his home in the Syracuse area.

Bucktooth, who was cut by the Bandits before the start of the season, has signed with the Washington Stealth. Jeff Zywicki was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list to make room for the transition player.

Bucktooth was the Bandits' first pick in the 2006 draft and played in the National Lacrosse League All-Star Game last winter. He had 12 goals and 19 assists in 15 games last season.

Bucktooth's departure from the Bandits' roster was the biggest surprise when the team made its cuts to get down to the 23-man limit before the start of the season. Coach Kilgour had talked last week about the possibility of bringing Bucktooth back at some point.

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The NLL has announced that nine regular-season games plus the All-Star Game (which will be played in Buffalo) will be shown on ESPN3 this season. The schedule started Friday night with a game in Toronto, and tonight's game in Calgary will be shown. The Bandits' only appearance will be March 31 against Toronto.

bbailey@buffnews.comnull