Buffalo Bandits Aim for NLL Finals After Game 1 Win

Vancouver, Canada — The Buffalo Bandits have a chance to reach the NLL Finals for the fifth consecutive year. They stand just one win away after defeating the Vancouver Warriors 9-3 in Game 1 of the NLL Semifinals on Friday. The Bandits will face the Warriors again on Sunday at 9 p.m. at Rogers Arena.

The Bandits’ victory in Game 1 came after they broke their own franchise record for fewest goals allowed. They previously set the record in their 5-4 quarterfinal win over the San Diego Seals. The Bandits’ strong defensive performance has been key to their playoff run this year.

In the opening match, the Warriors took an early lead with a man-up goal, but the Bandits quickly responded. They went on a remarkable 6-0 run, showcasing their offensive strength and capitalizing on two illegal cross-checking penalties by the Warriors. Ian MacKay led the scoring spree with three goals, finishing the game with four total goals. Josh Byrne contributed a goal and four assists, leading all players with five points. Matt Vinc made an impressive 35 saves in the match.

Buffalo head coach John Tavares emphasized the importance of 5-on-5 play leading up to the semifinal series. The Bandits shut out the Warriors in full-strength scenarios during Game 1, a feat that Tavares credited to both the defense and Vinc’s goaltending. “To hold a team to zero five-on-five goals is a great feat,” he noted. “It doesn’t happen very often, so it’s a good time for it to happen.”

As the Bandits prepare for Game 2, they face a new challenge — traveling across the continent to Vancouver. Although they have played games on back-to-back days earlier this season, this is their first time managing travel during that span. “It’s short rest for both teams,” Tavares said. “We usually play one game a week, but this is two games in three days and some travel time. Both teams are doing it, so we’ll try to carry over what we did tonight.”