NLL Semi-Finals: Buffalo Heading Back to the Dance
For the fifth straight NLL season, the Buffalo Bandits are heading to the finals. After losing in 2019 and 2022 the Bandits will look for the three-peat this year after beating the Vancouver Warriors in two games.
Saskatchewan also secured a crucial road win in round one of their series, and will look to close it out with two home games next weekend in Saskatoon.
For game by game recaps of the NLL semi-finals, keep reading below!
Game 1: Bandits 9 – Warriors 3
It was an impressive weekend for the Bandits defence, holding the Warriors to a combined 12 goals in two games. Friday was the most impressive result, holding a red-hot offence to just three goals. Buffalo has now allowed 16 goals in three games this playoff.
Ian MacKay had 4 goals and Josh Byrne added a goal and 4 assists for the Bandits, who will now get a crucial weekend of rest before the finals begin. Buffalo hasn’t had a bye weekend since week 11 of the NLL schedule.
Stat of the Game: This was the first loss for Christian Del Bianco in a Warriors jersey after winning his first seven contests.
Attendance: 14,415
Game 1: Rush 16 – Thunderbirds 7
Saskatchewan used four separate 3-goal runs to blow past the Thunderbirds at the Nest. The loss avenged the result from the last time Saskatchewan played in Halifax, when they got crushed 17-9.
Austin Shanks had 6 goals to lead the Rush against his former team, and Zach Manns had 2 goals and 7 assists to lead the scoring. Ryan Keenan had a Gordie Howe hat-trick, with a goal, assist, and a fight.
Stat of the Game: Shanks set a career high with 35 goals this season and now has 8 goals in two playoff games.
Attendance: 10,595
Game 2: Bandits 11 – Warriors 9
Buffalo made the trip across North America to the west coast and used hat-tricks from Ian MacKay and Chase Fraser to propel themselves into the finals.
Dhane Smith scored 2 goals and 2 assists of his own, while the defence blocked 10 shots and Matt Vinc made 29 saves in the victory.
Adam Charalambides had 3 goals and 4 assists to lead the Warriors, who came up just short in their return to the NLL playoffs.
Stat of the Game: 2025 will be the tenth time that Matt Vinc has played in the NLL finals. He has won five titles and lost in the championship four times.
Attendance: 9,176
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