By TRT Staff with notes from NLL.com
PHILADELPHIA — The Buffalo Bandits held on late to win the Eastern Conference Finals over the Toronto Rock, sweeping the series 2-0.
The Bandits edged the Toronto Rock, 10-9, in Toronto to win their series, 2-0, both in one-goal contests decided in the final seconds.
Meanwhile, after falling at home to the Mammoth the week prior week, the Seals rebounded for an overtime win On May 21, 11-10, with Dane Dobbie’s brilliant behind the back goal to set up the decisive third game. The winner of next weekend’s West Conference Finals Game 3 will visit Buffalo in Game 1 of the NLL Finals on Saturday, June 4 at 7:30 p.m., for the NLL Cup.
Buffalo finished the regular season with a league best 14-4 record. After winning their Quarterfinal matchup against the Albany FireWolves, the Bandits took the series against the Toronto Rock for their second straight NLL Finals appearance. The Bandits’ last championship came in 2008, when they defeated the Portland LumberJax 14-13 in the single game final. Buffalo has three other titles in franchise history (1992, 1993, 1996).
For the Bandits, this is their second straight NLL Finals appearance which occurred in the 2018-19 season. As the top seed heading into that series, they would lose to the Calgary Roughnecks in two games. The franchises last championship came back in 2008 where they beat the Portland LumberJax 14-13.
Their opponents will either be the San Diego Seals, who have never made it to the Finals in their franchises history, or the Colorado Mammoth, who defeated the Bandits for the 2006 championship, their lone playoff matchup since the Mammoth relocated to Colorado in 2002.
As for transaction movement, on May 15: The Buffalo Bandits have placed Bryce Sweeting on the Injured Reserve List from the Active Roster. The Buffalo Bandits have placed Practice Player Dalton Sulver on the Active Roster from the Practice Player List. (maintain Practice Player tag). The Toronto Rock have placed Practice Player Justin Scott on the Active Roster from the Practice Player List. (maintain Practice Player tag). The Toronto Rock have placed Practice Player Jordan McKenna on the Practice Player List from the Active Roster.
On May 21: The San Diego Seals placed Zack Greer on the Active Roster from the Injured Reserve List. The San Diego Seals placed Tyson Bomberry on the Physically Unable to Perform List from the Active Roster.
