Ball Arena- Denver, Co. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - A heated rivalry since the 2006 NLL Championship game, the Buffalo Bandits and Colorado Mammoth were set to square off in week 10 of the 2026 National Lacrosse League regular season.
The Bandits, since starting off the young season 3-1 through their first four games and stood in the top three in the unified top-8 standings, looked to get back into the win column after two straight losses to the Rochester Knighthawks and Ottawa Black Bears.
For the first time since the 2024 campaign, the Bandits losing streak has hit three-straight games after a 20-9 thrashing from the Mammoth. The box score certainly did not do it justice, as the Mammoth clobbered the three-straight reigning champions offensively, defensively, and between the pipes.
The 20 goals scored by the Mammoth tied a franchise record for most goals scored in a single game.
The Mammoth essentially slammed the door on the Bandits winning chances by halftime, leading Buffalo 12-4. Colorado forward Andrew Kew, came into Saturday night's matchup with 9 goals on the season, and left the arena with 7 goals, 16 total on the season, and the first star of the game.
Colorado never took their foot off the gas offensively, as Bandits goaltender, Matt Vinc, was pulled out of the net after giving up 11 goals on 32 shots. The rookie backup goaltender for the Bandits, Evan Constantopoulos struggled mightily as well, giving up 9 goals on 26 shots.
Not only has the Bandits losing streak hit three games, the offense has failed to score double-digit goals in three straight weeks as well. Forwards Josh Byrne, Dhane Smith, and Ian MacKay were stifled by the Mammoth defense, and totaled 5 goals combined between the three forwards.
The surging Mammoth cruise to a 6-2 record and sit comfortably in second in the NLL unified standings, while Buffalo sits in unfamiliar territory, 10th place, on the outside looking in with a 3-4 overall record.
The massive struggles for this 2026 Bandits team continue. As Bandits play-by-play radio voice, John Gurtler, stated on the broadcast, the Bandits got 'throttled' by the Mammoth on Saturday night.
The Bandits look to get back in the win column as they host the last place Philadelphia Wings next Satuday February 7, at 7PM at the KeyBank Center for Native American Heritage Night.