BUFFALO – The Rochester Knighthawks and the Buffalo Bandits end the regular season this coming Saturday night at the First Niagara Centre in Buffalo. Heading into the last week of the regular National Lacrosse League season the Knighthawks are in first place in the East with a record of 13 wins against four losses, while the Bandits hold down second place with eight wins and nine losses.
The Knighthawks’ goal scoring leader, Cody Jamieson will be look to add to his 34-goal regular season total and his 98 points. He is three points behind Toronto’s Garrett Billings.
The Bandits will be led by Mark Steenhuis, and the ageless John Tavares, 46 years of age, who owns the NLL record book.
To win, Buffalo will need to turn their bad fortunes around very quickly. Last week, the Knighthawks dealt the Bandits their seventh straight loss, 8-4, at the Blue Cross Centre.
Six Nations’ Johnny Powless scored three goals and assisted on another on route to the Rochester win. Jamieson scored once and assisted on one, while goalie Matt Vinc turned aside 45 of 49 shots he was called upon to handle.
Judging by their quarter-by-quarter scoring output average this season, while the Knighthawks statistically get better as the games progress, while the Bandits usually start out strong and are known to fade in the second half, as they did last weekend.
In fact this trend is also evident as the schedule unfolded. The Bandits at one time earlier this year held first place with an 8-2 record until they hit the skids late in the season. However, on the strength of their early season success, they will likely make it to the divisional final.
