Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550/WBEN) - For a fourth-straight season, the Buffalo Bandits are heading to the championship round of the National Lacrosse League playoffs.
Despite facing a four-goal deficit in the fourth quarter, the Bandits made a massive run of six unanswered goals to catapult Buffalo into the lead and in the driver's seat of a 10-8 win and 2-0 series win over the Toronto Rock at KeyBank Center.
After jumping out to a 3-2 lead in the opening quarter, the Bandits found themselves in some penalty trouble that resulted in three power play goals-against. One of the penalties cost Buffalo a pair of power play tallies after transition player Ian MacKay was called for a five-minute penalty for an illegal cross check in front of the Buffalo net.
The Bandits ended up heading to the locker room trailing by a 6-3 score, being shut out in the second quarter from scoring.
After each team exchanged goals in the third quarter, the Rock put the Bandits in their four-goal hole early in the fourth quarter with a goal from veteran forward Mark Matthews.
Just 33 seconds after the Rock's first and, what ended up being their only tally of the fourth quarter, the Bandits responded with Chase Fraser finding the back of the Toronto net to restore some life.
Then in a 1:49 span immediately following, Buffalo battled back to cut the deficit to one goal with goals from forwards Tehoka Nanticoke and Josh Byrne.
With 8:20 remaining in regulation, Fraser evened the contest with his second goal of the quarter. Then it was Fraser completing the fourth-quarter hat-trick with a goal past Rock goalie Nick Rose with 5:39 remaining to give Buffalo a 9-8 lead.
Less than a minute later, Byrne put the dagger through Toronto's heart with a goal to cap the scoring, as well as the series in Downtown Buffalo.
From there, Bandits goalie Matt Vinc shut the door on any final comeback attempt from the Rock, as he ended up stopping 52 of 60 shots faced to seal Buffalo's victory.
Up next for the Bandits is a matchup with the Albany FireWolves in the NLL Finals, starting with Game 1 on Friday, May 17 at MVP Arena in the New York State capital.
The Bandits will look to capture the franchise's sixth NLL championship, which would tie the Rock and the original Philadelphia Wings for the most titles in league history.
You can catch all the NLL Finals action on WGR Sports Radio 550 with John Gurtler, Steve Bermel and Dave Buchanan.