The defense of the Bandits considers itself consistently underrated. While the likes of Graeme Hossack and Kyle Rubisch have dominated the defensive accolades since Billy Dee Smith was the last Bandits to win Defensive Player of the Year in 2009, and even former Bandit, Mitch de Snoo taking the honors in 2022, the Steve Priolo-led group consider themselves as strong albeit overlooked.

With Priolo back in the lineup for the second game of the season after missing the first with illness, the defensive shift was felt both on the scoreboard, with the Rock being held to 8 goals in an 11-8 Bandits victory, and the stat sheet, as the 33 year old vet picked up 9 loose balls and blocked 3 shots.

The Bandits established their control of the game in from the start with the first three goals of the game, courtesy of Dhane Smith, Tehoka Nanticoke, and Josh Byrne. They continued to hold strong on defense in the quarter until the closing minutes where Toronto was able to capitalize with two powerplay goals in the final minute with Tom Schreiber capitalizing on a Dalton Sulver holding penalty and Dan Craig scoring with 2 seconds left in the quarter after the Bandits took an illegal substitution penalty. Along with a Corey Small goal earlier in the quarter, it nodded the game even at 3 after 15 minutes.

From there, the next 30 minutes were all Bandits. Byrne got scoring underway in the quarter, followed by Sulver avenging his penalty earlier in the game with his first goal of the season 31 seconds later and then Nanticoke getting his second about a minute later. Outside of a Schreiber goal 27 seconds after that, Toronto was held off the scoresheet in the middle stanzas. Nanticoke completed the hat trick and Chris Cloutier and Brandon Robinson added goals to extend the score to 9-4 after three quarters.

Toronto managed to win the final quarter 4-2, but the Bandits work in the previous three was enough to preserve an 11-8 victory. Kyle Buchanan and Chris Cloutier were the goal scorers in the 4th.

With the 8 goal effort on defense, Matt Vinc led the unit between the pipes with a 52 save performance as the Rock outshot the Bandits 60-51. Dhane Smith led the Bandits in points once again with a 1 goal 5 assist effort, and each of Nanticoke (3G 1A), Cloutier (2G 2A), Byrne (2G 2A), and Buchanan (1G 3A) registered 4 points. Corey Small’s 3 goals and 3 assists led Toronto. TD Ierlan picked up 16 loose balls as the Rock won 19 of 23 faceoffs.

Week 5 Preview

After the schedule’s fourth week was the league’s holiday bye week, there are only three games on the schedule in week 5. The biggest of those three games will be taking place Friday Night in Banditland.

Halifax Thunderbirds vs Buffalo Bandits – Friday, December 30 7:30 pm

Two teams that are no strangers to high-stakes matchups, the Bandits and Thunderbirds will renew their rivalry on Friday in downtown Buffalo. After trading for Randy Staats in the offseason, the Thunderbirds offense has avenged their late season struggles from last season and exploded for 38 goals in two games so far this season with an 18-8 win over the Philadelphia Wings and a 20-11 win over the New York Riptide. Staats has been the team’s top facilitator on offense so far this season with 10 assists along with 5 goals through those two games. Cody Jamieson is refreshed early this season and has matched that 10 assist mark himself and added 4 goals. On the finishing end of those assists have been Ryan Benesch, who is leading the team with 8 goals and 8 assists to start his age 38 season (turns 38 in January), Clarke Petterson (6G 7A), Chris Boushy (7G 4A), and Eric Fannell (5G 3A). Austin Shanks has also returned to the lineup and will be active for Friday’s matchup after completing fire academy training.

The keys don’t change too much for the Bandits going into this one, as their defense will need to be strong once again to counter the league’s top offense through the first month of the season, and Max Adler will need to bring his A-game to neutralize Jake Withers, who has won 73% of his faceoffs to this point of the season (Adler is 15/40 – 38%). If it turns into a track meet, the offense will need to bring their best. The offense will be shorthanded, however, as GM Steve Dietrich announced with Howard and Jeremy this morning that Chris Cloutier will be out indefinitely with an injury. 14th overall pick in 2021, Thomas Vaesen, is expected to step in on the left side of the forward group for his first action of the season.

Steve Dietrich said on WGR that Chris Cloutier has a thumb injury and will miss a “substantial” amount of time.

— Dave Buchanan (@FastTrack550) December 29, 2022

One thing that will certainly help the Bandits is the fuel of what is expected to be a pretty good crowd at KeyBank Center, with multiple people reporting that the team may be opening up the rest of the 300s to accommodate demand, which is rare for December games in the National Lacrosse League. The game will be on ESPN+ for anyone who cannot attend.

Checked Ticketmaster, and tickets for the @NLLBandits home game against Halifax this weekend are scarce. Lower level is basically resale only now, going for $90+ a seat. Going to be a packed house for a city that could really use a fun event right now.

— Dan Arestia (@danarestia) December 29, 2022

San Diego Seals vs Calgary Roughnecks – Friday, December 30 9:00 pm

In 2019-20, Wes Berg was the Seals forward returning to Calgary for the first time since being traded. In 2021-22, Dane Dobbie made his return after signing in San Diego in free agency. And now to close out 2022, Curtis Dickson will be following in the footsteps of his teammates after 11 seasons in Calgary. Both teams are 2-0 to start the season, with Calgary outscoring the Vancouver Warriors 25-14 over two matchups and San Diego having two wins of the smallest margin with wins over the Riptide and Saskatchewan Rush. This game will also be on ESPN+ and is TSN’s linear Game of the Week.

Panther City Lacrosse Club vs Saskatchewan Rush – Saturday, December 31 9:00 pm

The hottest party on New Year’s Eve in Saskatoon will take place as Sasktel Centre, as the Rush will host Panther City Lacrosse Club, with the Rush looking to avenge their aforementioned overtime loss to the Seals in a game during which they led as much as 10-3 in the third quarter. Panther City suffered their first loss on the season to close out the back-to-back weekend on the 17th after beating Las Vegas in each of their first two games.