Buffalo Bandits Lose in OT
The Buffalo Bandits lost a heartbreaker in overtime to the Halifax Thunderbirds 8 to 9. The Bandits led the game 7 to 4 with 5 minutes and 41 seconds remaining in the third quarter. However, it would take a game tying goal by the Bandits with 3 minutes and 9 seconds left in the fourth quarter to force overtime. Both teams had great final possessions of regulation, but neither could punch it in. The Thunderbirds would score on the first possession of overtime, not allowing the Bandits offense a single look.
The offense did some things well, and some other things not so well. On the positive side, the offense was able to get 53 shots on goal. They were able to get second chance after second chance fighting for every loose ball they could. In typical fashion, Dhane Smith (3g, 4a) and Josh Byrne (3g, 3a) led the way for the Bandits. They also led the way with a combined 20 shots on goal. Sadly, that was the extent of the positives for the offense. Ian MacKay (1g, 1a) and Ryan Benesch (1g, 2a) were next in line for the Bandits as far as offensive production. They combined for 11 shots on goal. To me, the problem with the offense right now is that it is lefty dominant. On the right side of the offense, outside of Dhane, Mike Triolo (0g, 1a), Kyle Buchanan (0g, 0a) and Tehoka Nanticoke (0g, 0a) combined for just one assist and 6 shots on goal. Now, that is not exactly what Triolo and Buchanan are out there for, but it is what Nanticoke is there for. The absence of Chase Fraser is being felt in a big way early in the season. It is possible that the Bandits can sort it all out as the team continues to grow together, but the early returns do not look good. This was the year Tehoka was going to need to step up into a bigger goal scoring role on offense. Through two games, he has not been able to do that. Last game, he scored two goals, but neither were in typical offensive fashion. One was in transition, and the other was a fluke turnover in front of the net. Through two games he has a combined 6 shots on goal. The Bandits need Tehoka to step up. If he can’t do that, there will be a lot of pressure on Buchanan or maybe healthy scratch Lukas Nielsen to find their goal scoring touch. The offense had plenty of great opportunities, including a few squeakers that Hill was barely able to save. Triolo and Nanticoke just missed scoring a goal on a crease violation and shot clock violation. If a few things bounce their way, the offense is looking at a more productive night. Warren Hill was incredible again for the second straight game. If he was off his game even a little bit, the Bandits would have scored double digit goals and likely would have won the game.
The defense also had highs and lows in this game. Once again starting on the positive side of their game, the Bandits held the potent Halifax offense to only 40 shots on goal. I am not always big into the loose ball conversation, but they did lead the loose ball battle 74 to 57. Dawson Theede (3g, 2a) and Clarke Petterson (3g, 0a) did most of the damage against the Bandits, but the defense was able to keep Randy Staats (0g, 3a) in check. On the negative side, if I am being a bit harsh, I could see giving the defense credit for 7 of the 9 goals scored against the Bandits. The biggest issue they had was the hard picks that Halifax was setting. On one hand, you can credit Halifax for playing hard and making it work. On the other hand, you can fault the defense for not playing tough enough or getting their switch offs figured out. By my count, five times the Bandits had trouble either switching off their man, not switching, or getting bullied out of the play. You can also credit the first and second goals by Halifax on the defense for making mistakes. Halifax was held to only eight regulation goals. The Bandits will win those games 9 times out of 10. Matt Vinc had a not so great looking 77.5 save percentage, but he made big saves when they mattered and kept the team in the game. I don’t have a single goal being credited as Vinc’s fault. The defense has had a lot of rotation in their lineup to start the year. I expect them to get on the same page when the lineup is a bit more consistent and with more games under their belt.
The specials teams for the Bandits kept them in the game. I thought the team did a nice job baiting Halifax into multiple penalties, without taking the bait too often themselves. On the penalty kill, the Bandits were able to hold the Thunderbirds to just one goal on four opportunities. As for the power play, they were great, scoring three goals on five opportunities. Ryan Benesch scored his only goal of the game on the power play. When the Bandits signed him, I thought he would be able to add some pop to the power play that was lacking last season. One goal in two games on the power play is a good start.
The biggest thing to remember about this game is that it is only the second game of the season. If this was round one of the playoffs, we would be having a much different conversation. In my opinion, the Bandits outplayed Halifax most of the game. If it wasn’t for Warren Hill standing on his head, the Bandits would have won this game. Halifax still played well, but the Bandits were the better team. It is hard to be too crucial of this team given the lineup changes, the bye weeks and strange start to the season. It was a tough loss, but one with plenty of positives to hold onto, and a few negatives to learn from.
Goaltender Breakdown
In this segment, I will breakdown how the goalies, offense and defense all performed on the goals in the game. How many were impressive goals, breakdowns in the defense or on the goalie.
Warren Hill
Inside – 3
Mid-Range - 3
Outside – 2
Transition - 0
*3 goals were on the penalty kill
*0 empty net goals
Matt Vinc
Inside – 4
Mid-Range - 4
Outside – 1
Transition - 1
*1 of the goals was on the penalty kill
Goal 1 – PP goal – This play starts with a great save by Vinc but Wyers missed the rebound which goes right to Theede who buries the goal in tight - (D)
Goal 2 – A 5-on-3 transition for Halifax, blown coverage by the players who retreated and a missed interception by Robinson leads to a quick stick goal by Knox (D)
Goal 3 – Theede bullies his way past Weiss and buries a goal in tight
Goal 4 – Mitch gets picked by Staats and then Staats picks Dawson to give Petterson a wide-open look
Goal 5 – Bad play by Matisz who leaves Theede to cover Jamieson who is running away from the net and covered by Priolo, not sure what he was doing (D)
Goal 6 – Halifax pushes Matisz out of the way, Dawson out of the way and DeSnoo can’t get out to Peterson fast enough leaving Petterson another wide-open look as he buries a goal (D)
Goal 7 – Knox with a wicked shot around Weiss, nothing anyone can do about that
Goal 8 – Another time a defender goes to switch anticipating a hit that doesn’t come. It looks like Priolo’s stick hits Jamieson’s stick causing the shot to be a bit of a change-up as well
Goal 9 – The same play Halifax has run multiple times in this game. DeSnoo didn’t look quite ready and couldn’t keep Petterson to the outside while Robinson was picked by Staats so he couldn’t switch (D)
0/9 on Vinc
5/9 on the defense
Challenges by the Bandits – 1/1
The Bandits challenged a no-goal call on a shot by Ian MacKay. The referee originally did not believe that the ball crossed the line from his vantage point. After reviewing the play, they overturned the call to a good goal. It looked as if the ball clearly crossed the line – good call
Referee Corner
Like many of the fans out there, I find myself often questioning what the refs are doing on the field. From no goals and players being ejected, to calls that simply do not make sense. In this segment, I will attempt to use the rulebook and my best judgement to understand some hot topics from the previous game.
Bandits – 3-5 on the PP
Halifax – 1-4 on the PP
D. Smith – Checking from Behind – From the referees point of view, which was on the wrong side of the push, it looked like a check from behind. It was more of a push, and a push from the side. I would have liked to see a change of possession call, not a penalty – bad call
Bandits – Illegal Substitution – This was once again hard to see on video. The referee made the call quickly so I will give them the benefit of the doubt again. It’s more upsetting the Bandits have been called for this twice in two games – good call
I. MacKay – Roughing - This was another call that happened off the screen. It looked like MacKay and Withers were mixing it up. Apparently, the referees decided whatever MacKay did was too much. After the start of the game was very physical, they began policing it a bit tighter – good call
S. Priolo – Slashing – This was the classic case of second man in. Priolo watched Farrell get illegally slashed and decided to throw one himself. The referees often see the second penalty, not the first. Priolo needs to keep his cool at that point in the game with the Bandits down by one and not much time remaining in the fourth quarter – goodish call
3/4 – good calls