Retro Theme Night

The Buffalo Bandits halted a Vancouver Warriors two game win streak Friday night at Rogers Arena stealing a 15-8 victory heading home. 

The win kept their undefeated streak on the road moving them into a first place tie with the expansion Halifax Thunderbirds in the North Division in the standings as they moved to 3-0 on the road. 

The Warriors opened the scoring 47 seconds that saw Delta’s Mitch Jones send one low stick side giving Vancouver the early 1-0 with many fans still heading to their seats. 

Vancouver had two goals overturned on video review with the first being at 1:12 followed by the second at 2:01 denying them an early 3-0 lead. 

Lyndon Bunio was denied his first NLL goal at 1:12 and Jordan McBride received the same fate at 2:01 on early challenges by the visiting Bandits. 

Buffalo managed to get the game’s equalizer with Matt Gilray finding the back of the net beating Eric Penney to even the game at one. 

Vancouver regained the lead with Riley Loewen bulging the twine putting them up 2-1, but the visiting Bandits went on a scoring run with three straight goals from Dhane Smith, Josh Byrne and Chris Cloutier giving them a two goal lead after the first quarter. 

Vancouver’s Mitch Jones bagged his second of the night 20 seconds in, while Bunio found the back of the net at the one minute mark beating Matt Vinc to even the contest at 4-4. 

The Bandits ran off five straight goals making it a 9-4 margin before half taking the lead over the Warriors.

Jordan McBride got Vancouver’s 5th goal early in the third but the solid offence of the Bandits managed back to back goals with Garrett Billings and Corey Small collecting his second of the night extending their lead making it 11-5. 

McBride got his second of the night as Vancouver’s Jones, and Loewen pulled Vancouver to within three. 

Buffalo’s Corey Small netted his third and fourth of the game giving Buffalo a 13-8 lead after three quarters. 

Vancouver was tested, but the longer the game progressed one could sense frustration from the Warriors. 

Bandit’s Fraser and Kealey rounded out the scoring in the fourth giving them a 15-8 win heading to making the final score 15-8 for the Bandits as they head into Sunday’s game (February 9th) against the Toronto Rock 

Buffalo outshot the Warriors by a 73 to 50 tally that saw Warrior’s “tender” Eric Penny pulled at the 10:31 mark of the fourth quarter. 

Vancouver falls to 3-5 in the West Division, while Buffalo movs into a first place tie with Halifax (6-1) in the North division. 

Vancouver heads to Rochester for an afternoon contest Sunday (February 9th) looking to get back on the winning track. 

While the Warriors came out on the loosing end of the scoreboard the Retro Theme Night seemed to go over well with those on hand.

The Warriors next home game has them play the 4-3 Georgia Swarm Sunday February 29th at 7 pm at Rogers Arena.