The Buffalo Bandits advanced to the 2010 Playoffs after defeating the Boston Blazers 13-10 at the HSBC Arena.
After a rocky 2-6 start to the season, the Buffalo Bandits had to find a way to climb back into the standings. They found that after winning four straight.
However, the standings stayed tight and to make the playoffs, the Bandits game-plan tonight was simple, win.
“We were picking it up half-way through and came together as a team and said ‘listen this is unacceptable for this city, for this team, and for the guys we have in this locker room,’” Mark Steenhuis said. “It’s not a bad second half, and we can carry that momentum into the playoffs with the win tonight.”
In front of 18,480 fans, the Buffalo Bandits clinched their playoff destiny finishing third in the East Division at the .500 mark (8-8).
Now 10-9 in season finales, the Bandits roared onto the scoreboard netting seven goals in the first quarter to gain a 7-3 lead.
Mike Accursi (2), Roger Vyse (2), Brett Bucktooth, Kyle Clancy, and John Tavares were all credited with goals in the first to kick-off what would be a dominating performance from all areas.
That momentum would carry over into the second half when the Bandits defense kept the Blazers offense to just eight shots on goal and zero points on the board.
“You don’t win championships without a defense” Roger Vyse said. “We got a great group of guys who stood on their heads for us and Mikey helped out and we came out with a win.”
Mark Steenhuis broke the season-high record for points in a game when he earned his eight point on Frank Resetarits’ goal in third. Steenhuis set that record back on January 30th against the Minnesotta Swarm when he registered seven points.
To add to that momentum gained in the third, Brandon Francis and Paul Dawson opened the fourth quarter with a fight that sent the near-sellout crowd into a frenzy.
Mike Thompson also added another stellar night to his credit this year, stopping 46 of 56 shots.
“Mikey settled right into the game,” Head Coach Darris Kilgour said. “I’m very happy to see him after all the struggles and everything he went through at the beginning of the year.”
The Bandits now advance to round one of the playoffs and take on the Toronto Rock next Saturday, May 1st at the Air Canada Center. Game time is to be determined.
Stay tuned to bandits.com for all the latest news.
Source: Buffalo Bandits
