Halifax, Nova Scotia (WGR Sports Radio 550) - For the first time since Jan. 3, the Buffalo Bandits have won a lacrosse game, ultimately ending a four-game losing streak thanks to an 11-10 win over the Halifax Thunderbirds on Saturday night.
After a head-shaking loss to the Philadelphia Wings the week prior at a sold-out KeyBank Center, the Bandits knew their season was essentially on life support going into Halifax.
The Bandits and Thunderbirds previously clashed on Dec. 13 in Downtown Buffalo, where Halifax captured a 9-8 victory in a back-and-forth overtime affair.
Since that matchup, both teams have struggled mightily, as Buffalo and Halifax entered this contest with 3-5 records and needing a win to climb back into the playoff hunt.
In back-to-back games now, the Bandits started the game with an offensive explosion. It started with two quick goals from Kyle Buchanan and Clay Scanlan to set the tone early for the Bandits offense.
Tehoka Nanticoke also extending his goal scoring streak to nine-straight games with two goals to help put Buffalo ahead, 4-2, to end the first quarter.
The secondary scoring continued into the second frame, as the Bandits offense unloaded on Thunderbirds goaltender Warren Hill. Forwards Ryan Benesch, Josh Byrne, and Ian MacKay found twine, as well as defenseman Matt Spanger to put the Bandits up 8-3 with less than two minutes remaining in the first half.
The Thunderbirds started to rally back with a 4-0 run that bled into the midway point of the third quarter, quickly whittling the Buffalo lead from 8-3 to 8-7.
Byrne started to pick up his goal scoring, potting a goal to end the 4-0 run for Halifax and giving the Bandits a 9-7 lead going into the fourth quarter.
This marked Byrne's first multi-goal game since Dec. 28 back in the Saddledome against the Calgary Roughnecks.
Halifax did end up tying the game late in the fourth quarter at 10-10.
After a very questionable holding penalty from Mitch De Snoo, it looked like Halifax was in the driver's seat to come away with a win on home court.
However, assistant captain Dhane Smith put the icing on the cake for the Bandits with a game-winning shorthanded goal to put Buffalo ahead, 11-10, and secure a crucial win over the Thunderbirds.
With a 4-5 overall record now, the Bandits are in a three-way tie for eighth place with the Rochester Knighthawks and Las Vegas Desert Dogs, just on the outside looking in of the playoff picture.
The gauntlet of a schedule for the Bandits continues next week, as they travel to Vancouver to take on the red-hot Warriors on Friday evening. Opening faceoff is slated for 10 p.m.