Bandits Juggernaut Keeps Rolling, Panther City Stays Hot in NLL Week 17
Mon Mar 28 2022 | Jack Goods | Pro
Tehoka Nanticoke on the Bandits: “Our entire team is a threat.”
The Buffalo Bandits are a juggernaut. They proved that again in Week 17.
In a weekend series featuring the top two teams in the East Division, Buffalo bested Halifax twice, both times by a score of 16-11. The pair of results pushed the Bandits to 12-1, four games up on Halifax and Toronto for the top spot in the East, and helped them become the first to clinch a playoff spot this season.
Dhane Smith accumulated 16 points over the weekend, pushing him into sole possession of first in the points race, while Josh Byrne had a combined 12 points. On the other side of the floor, Matt Vinc made 54 saves on Saturday and 60 on Sunday while allowing the Thunderbirds to convert on just one of its 12 power play opportunities.
Anything can happen in the playoffs, but the Bandits have clearly established themselves as the class of the National Lacrosse League.
“Our entire team is a threat,” forward Tehoka Nanticoke said. “We love the game of lacrosse, and we love Banditland.”
Dunk on ’em, Fraze! #LetsGoBandits | @The_Fraze95 pic.twitter.com/s7bG96SJ7S
— Buffalo Bandits (@NLLBandits) March 27, 2022
Buffalo looks nearly unstoppable, but they did require a comeback in the opener. Halifax went up 9-6 just 16 seconds into the third quarter with a Dawson Theede goal, but Buffalo outscored its rivals 10-2 the rest of the way. That stretch included a 7-1 run over 17 minutes of game action.
The Bandits never trailed in the second game, leading by as much as six midway…
The view from the bottom of the Lenape steps.
Sam’s Point
Momma Lo cooking ribs. Photo by E.M. Marcus