|
 Minnesota Swarm (4-5) 16
 Buffalo Bandits (7-2) 15
Two Comebacks, Two Wins This Weekend
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Buffalo, New York
Attendance: 18,690
When Minnesota Swarm fans found out Ryan Ward (18g 17a) was not going to play for only the second time in his Swarm career, the
cause for great concern was high. The team were playing their arch-nemesis, the Buffalo Bandits, in Buffalo, a team they had only
beaten once in thirteen tries. The Bandits had the best record in the league and are the defending NLL Champions, and the Swarm
were going up against them after playing the night before in Toronto and without their season leading and all-time leading scorer,
Ward, out with a lower body injury. Not a problem evidently as the Swarm came back from two huge deficits to beat the Bandits,
16-15, in front of a sellout crowd of 18, 690 to extend their winning streak to two, win two of their first three on a five game road trip and move from sixth place to
fourth place in the West leading up to next weekend's NLL All-Star Game in Denver.
After the Bandits took an 1-0 lead to start the game, Chad Culp (9g 14a) answered for the Swarm's first of the night. Kevin
Ross (11g 15a) scored just after the Bandits killed a Swarm five minute power play to give the team their first first quarter lead
since the Colorado game on February 7. The Bandits countered for the last three goals of the quarter, including Mark Steenhuis
(35g 35a) second of the night. After the Steenhuis goal made it 4-2, Swarm Head Coach
Duane Jacobs pulled Kevin Croswell (2-3 10.89 GAA .784 Save%) in favor of Nick Patterson (2-2 12.35
GAA .738 Save%).
Jacobs put Croswell back in to start the second quarter but the Bandits kept scoring. After Chris White (0g 4a) was sent to
the box for a hold, the Swarm went on the power play. However, they couldn't convert but John Tavares (26g 24a) scored shorthanded
eluding the Swarm defense. Tavares scored his third of the night, three minutes later, behind a screen to put the Bandits up 6-2.
Sean Pollock (12g 22a) cut the lead in half with a low rocket from long distance to make it 6-3. Tavares and Sean Greenhalgh
(10g 12a) scored on consecutive power plays to give the Bandits their biggest lead of the game at 8-3 at the 11:37 mark of the
quarter. Momentum seemed in the Bandits hands as Croswell was pulled once again in favor of Patterson. They never give up big leads
and bury teams routinely. They have won games 23-6 and 25-10 this year. Kevin Buchanan (9g 6a) wasn't so convinced and right off
the faceoff, he streaked in for the loose ball and unleashed a rocket behind the restraining line to make it 8-4. The Swarm went
on the power play soon after and Culp grabbed a rebound and put it back for another Swarm goal. Then it was the Aaron Wilson
(16g 13a) show as he first was found by Dan Marohl (12g 19a) streaking down the middle for one goal and then was a recipient of
an Eric Pacey (0g 2a) long outlet pass to finish the half down only one to the Bandits at 8-7.
Wilson scored his third straight goal to start the third quarter off a screen to tie the game at eight. Buchanan got the lead
back for the Swarm as he beat White to the net for a goal. On the ensuing face off, Travis Hill (1g 3a) tangoed with Brandon
Francis (0g 0a) which led to both going to the box for five minutes. Pollock scored just over a minute later as he found an
open spot on the crease for a pass from Buchanan that he quickly deposited for the Swarm's seventh straight goal. With both T. Hill
and Francis still in the box, Joe Cinosky (0g 0a), in his NLL debut, went to the box to put the Bandits a man up and Mike Accursi
(16g 18a) capitalized with a power play goal to stop the Swarm streak and cut the Swarm lead to 10-9, which is the way the third
quarter ended. The first three quarters were just a juicy appetizer to the smorgasbord of entrees served up in the final quarter.
The last quarter began with White committing a five minute illegal cross check just fourteen seconds in. White also was give a misconduct on that penalty which meant the East All-Star starter was out of the game. Then just another fourteen seconds after that Clay Hill (2g 10a) hit Culp from behind which got him sent to the box. The Swarm had now a 5 on 3 advantage which Wilson capitalized on just sixteen seconds later to make it
11-9. The Swarm still had the man advantage due to White's major but not only did they not score anymore on
the power play, the Bandits scored twice shorthanded with goals from Accursi and Steenhuis to tie the game. The Bandits scored another three straight goals after tying the game, including two on the power play. When Steenhuis finished the 5-0 Bandit run to make it 14-11 with 4:19 left in the game, all of Bandit nation were euphoric and assured that their team would continue their dominance over the Swarm.
That is about the time the wheels fell of the Bandits bandwagon. Ross scored right off the ensuing face off to cut the lead to two. Both teams faced off again and this time, Wilson got his fifth goal of the night just 12 seconds after Ross. The Swarm had two goals in 29 seconds and were only behind by one. Ryan Sharp (3g
3a) then forced a turnover and took off towards the Bandits goal where Phil Sanderson (0g 5a) takes him down
to prevent Sharp from tying the game. That gave the Swarm the power play opportunity which had Buchanan keep the play alive scooping the loosie and finding Pollock on the crease for the tying goal. The Bandits faltered
again taking a ten second violation which gave the ball right back to the Swarm and Ross converted in the air on
the crease for the go ahead goal with two minutes to goal. The Swarm got the ball back again and with just a
minute left, Marohl pulled off his patented Air Marohl to put the Swarm up two at 16-14. The Bandits called a
timeout with 51.2 seconds left, pulled Montour and Cory Bomberry (9g 27a) got free for the goal with 44 seconds
to go down one. This may have been the time the Swarm would have said, "not again", instead they held their
ground and ran out the clock to finish the Bandits off 16-15.
The sixteen goals was a season high and the most since they scored sixteen against the Titans on February
8, 2008. Points were racked up by the bushel with Pollock leading the team with three goals and six assists. Wilson showed off his goal scoring prowess with five goals. Culp had six assists to tie him with Pollock. Ross
had three goals, his biggest output since the season opener in Portland and Buchanan had another big night with two goals and three assists, which may clinch NLL Rookie of the Week honors for him. Croswell had a tough night saving only six on fourteen shots, but Patterson came in relief and finally got a victory over the Bandits as he saved 24 of 31 shots. Tavares, Steenhuis and Accursi each had four goals to lead the Bandits.
Game Statistics
Box Score
Minnesota Swarm Game Center
| Team Stats |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
F |
|
Sv/S |
PIM |
PP |
SH |
S |
SOG |
LB |
FO |
| Minnesota |
2 |
5 |
3 |
6 |
16 |
|
30/45 |
19 |
3/12 |
0 |
74 |
55 |
62 |
21/35 |
| Buffalo |
4 |
4 |
1 |
6 |
15 |
|
39/55 |
37 |
5/9 |
3 |
60 |
45 |
57 |
14/35 |
| # |
Minnesota |
G |
A |
Pts |
PIM |
PPG |
SHG |
S |
SOG |
LB |
FO |
| 4 |
Joe Cinosky |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
0/0 |
| 7 |
Dan Marohl |
1 |
3 |
4 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
6 |
3 |
0/0 |
| 8 |
Rory McDade |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
0/0 |
| 10 |
Aaron Wilson |
5 |
3 |
8 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
21 |
15 |
4 |
0/0 |
| 12 |
Eric Pacey |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
0/0 |
| 16 |
Noah Talbot |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0/0 |
| 17 |
Sean Pollock |
3 |
6 |
9 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
10 |
7 |
10 |
0/0 |
| 19 |
Chad Culp |
2 |
6 |
8 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
7 |
6 |
7 |
0/0 |
| 22 |
Andrew Watt |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
3 |
4 |
0/0 |
| 23 |
Jon Sullivan |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0/0 |
| 26 |
Ryan Sharp |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
9 |
0/1 |
| 31 |
Kevin Croswell |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0/0 |
| 33 |
Kevin Buchanan |
2 |
3 |
5 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
6 |
6 |
3/6 |
| 34 |
Nick Inch |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0/0 |
| 47 |
Travis Hill |
0 |
1 |
1 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
18/28 |
| 50 |
Ryan Cousins |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0/0 |
| 71 |
Kevin Ross |
3 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
6 |
3 |
0/0 |
| 93 |
NickPatterson |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0/0 |
| 5 |
Josh Funk |
Did Not Dress |
| 21 |
Kevin Fines |
Did Not Dress |
| 27 |
Colin Achenbach |
Did Not Dress |
| 28 |
Darren Halls |
Did Not Dress |
| 44 |
Ryan Ward |
Did Not Dress |
| |
| # |
Minnesota |
MIN |
GA |
Saves |
Shots |
Dec |
|
| 31 |
Kevin Croswell |
25:13 |
8 |
6 |
14 |
|
|
| 93 |
NickPatterson |
34:47 |
7 |
24 |
31 |
W 2-2 |
|
| |
| # |
Buffalo |
G |
A |
Pts |
PIM |
PPG |
SHG |
S |
SOG |
LB |
FO |
| 2 |
Ian Llord |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0/0 |
| 6 |
Chris White |
0 |
0 |
0 |
17 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0/0 |
| 8 |
Delby Powless |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
0/0 |
| 9 |
Mark Steenhuis |
4 |
2 |
6 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
15 |
13 |
6 |
0/0 |
| 10 |
Pat McCready |
0 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
8 |
0/0 |
| 11 |
John Tavares |
4 |
3 |
7 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
6 |
4 |
5 |
0/0 |
| 16 |
Rich Kilgour |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0/0 |
| 17 |
Brandon Swamp |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0/0 |
| 18 |
Phil Sanderson |
0 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
1/5 |
| 19 |
Sean Greenhalgh |
1 |
3 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
8 |
3 |
2 |
0/0 |
| 28 |
Clay Hill |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
0/0 |
| 29 |
Ken Montour |
0 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0/0 |
| 44 |
Mike Accursi |
4 |
1 |
5 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
11 |
8 |
6 |
0/0 |
| 51 |
Kevin Dostie |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0/0 |
| 72 |
Cory Bomberry |
1 |
5 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
7 |
2 |
4/6 |
| 81 |
Roger Vyse |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
0/0 |
| 84 |
Brandon Francis |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
9/24 |
| 66 |
Mike Thompson |
Back up Goaltender - Did Not Play |
| 3 |
Billy Dee Smith |
Did Not Dress |
| 12 |
Brian Croswell |
Did Not Dress |
| 14 |
Joe Smith |
Did Not Dress |
| 24 |
Kyle Schmelzle |
Did Not Dress |
| 63 |
Thomas Montour |
Did Not Dress |
| |
| # |
Buffalo |
MIN |
GA |
Saves |
Shots |
Dec |
|
| 29 |
Ken Montour |
60:00 |
16 |
39 |
55 |
L 5-1 |
|
| 66 |
Mike Thompson |
0:00 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
| Scoring |
| Quarter |
Time |
MN |
BUF |
Team |
Goal |
1st Assist |
2nd Assist |
Notes |
| First |
2:17 |
0 |
1 |
Buffalo |
Mark Steenhuis |
Sean Greenhalgh |
|
|
| First |
2:48 |
1 |
1 |
Minnesota |
Chad Culp |
Sean Pollock |
|
|
| First |
8:00 |
2 |
1 |
Minnesota |
Kevin Ross |
Sean Pollock |
Chad Culp |
|
| First |
12:26 |
2 |
2 |
Buffalo |
Mike Accursi |
Mark Steenhuis |
Pat McCready |
|
| First |
12:47 |
2 |
3 |
Buffalo |
John Tavares |
Sean Greenhalgh |
Phil Sanderson |
|
| First |
13:36 |
2 |
4 |
Buffalo |
Mark Steenhuis |
Phil Sanderson |
Ken Montour |
|
| Second |
6:19 |
2 |
5 |
Buffalo |
John Tavares |
Cory Bomberry |
Mike Accursi |
SH |
| Second |
9:29 |
2 |
6 |
Buffalo |
John Tavares |
Cory Bomberry |
|
|
| Second |
9:54 |
3 |
6 |
Minnesota |
Sean Pollock |
Chad Culp |
Rory McDade |
|
| Second |
10:32 |
3 |
7 |
Buffalo |
John Tavares |
Cory Bomberry |
|
PP |
| Second |
11:37 |
3 |
8 |
Buffalo |
Sean Greenhalgh |
John Tavares |
Delby Powless |
PP |
| Second |
11:43 |
4 |
8 |
Minnesota |
Kevin Buchanan |
|
|
|
| Second |
12:29 |
5 |
8 |
Minnesota |
Chad Culp |
Sean Pollock |
Aaron Wilson |
PP |
| Second |
12:47 |
6 |
8 |
Minnesota |
Aaron Wilson |
Dan Marohl |
Chad Culp |
|
| Second |
13:47 |
7 |
8 |
Minnesota |
Aaron Wilson |
Eric Pacey |
|
|
| Third |
1:04 |
8 |
8 |
Minnesota |
Aaron Wilson |
Kevin Ross |
Sean Pollock |
|
| Third |
7:12 |
9 |
8 |
Minnesota |
Kevin Buchanan |
Dan Marohl |
Sean Pollock |
|
| Third |
8:46 |
10 |
8 |
Minnesota |
Sean Pollock |
Kevin Buchanan |
|
|
| Third |
10:45 |
10 |
9 |
Buffalo |
Mike Accursi |
Mark Steenhuis |
Cory Bomberry |
PP |
| Fourth |
0:44 |
11 |
9 |
Minnesota |
Aaron Wilson |
Chad Culp |
Kevin Buchanan |
PP |
| Fourth |
0:48 |
11 |
10 |
Buffalo |
Mike Accursi |
Pat McCready |
|
SH |
| Fourth |
2:44 |
11 |
11 |
Buffalo |
Mark Steenhuis |
Ian Llord |
Ken Montour |
SH |
| Fourth |
5:37 |
11 |
12 |
Buffalo |
Roger Vyse |
Sean Greenhalgh |
John Tavares |
PP |
| Fourth |
7:26 |
11 |
13 |
Buffalo |
Mike Accursi |
Brandon Swamp |
|
|
| Fourth |
10:41 |
11 |
14 |
Buffalo |
Mark Steenhuis |
John Tavares |
Cory Bomberry |
PP |
| Fourth |
10:58 |
12 |
14 |
Minnesota |
Kevin Ross |
Sean Pollock |
Chad Culp |
|
| Fourth |
11:10 |
13 |
14 |
Minnesota |
Aaron Wilson |
Chad Culp |
Ryan Sharp |
|
| Fourth |
12:13 |
14 |
14 |
Minnesota |
Sean Pollock |
Kevin Buchanan |
|
PP |
| Fourth |
13:00 |
15 |
14 |
Minnesota |
Kevin Ross |
Aaron Wilson |
Dan Marohl |
|
| Fourth |
14:00 |
16 |
14 |
Minnesota |
Dan Marohl |
Aaron Wilson |
Travis Hill |
GW |
| Fourth |
14:16 |
16 |
15 |
Buffalo |
Cory Bomberry |
|
|
EA |
|
Penalties |
| Quarter |
Time |
Team |
Player |
Penalty |
Bench |
Duration |
| First |
2:48 |
Buffalo |
Rich Kilgour |
Illegal Cross Checking |
|
5:00 |
| First |
4:16 |
Minnesota |
Ryan Sharp |
Checking from Behind |
|
2:00 |
| Second |
4:40 |
Buffalo |
Chris White |
Holding |
|
2:00 |
| Second |
10:18 |
Buffalo |
Mark Steenhuis |
Roughing |
|
2:00 |
| Second |
10:18 |
Minnesota |
Kevin Croswell |
Roughing |
|
2:00 |
| Second |
10:18 |
Minnesota |
Travis Hill |
Roughing |
|
2:00 |
| Second |
11:13 |
Minnesota |
Dan Marohl |
Checking from Behind |
|
2:00 |
| Second |
12:05 |
Buffalo |
Brandon Francis |
Elbowing |
|
2:00 |
| Third |
7:16 |
Buffalo |
Brandon Francis |
Fighting |
|
5:00 |
| Third |
7:16 |
Minnesota |
Travis Hill |
Fighting |
|
5:00 |
| Third |
10:17 |
Minnesota |
Joe Cinosky |
Illegal Cross Checking |
|
2:00 |
| Fourth |
0:14 |
Buffalo |
Chris White |
Illegal Cross Checking |
|
5:00 |
| Fourth |
0:14 |
Buffalo |
Chris White |
Illegal Cross Checking |
|
10:00 |
| Fourth |
0:28 |
Buffalo |
Clay Hill |
Checking from Behind |
|
2:00 |
| Fourth |
5:04 |
Minnesota |
Kevin Buchanan |
Holding |
|
2:00 |
| Fourth |
10:22 |
Minnesota |
Eric Pacey |
Illegal Cross Checking |
|
2:00 |
| Fourth |
11:48 |
Buffalo |
Phil Sanderson |
Holding |
|
2:00 |
| Fourth |
14:58 |
Buffalo |
John Tavares |
Interference |
|
2:00 |
| Referees |
| Crew Chief |
Assistant Referee |
Technical Referee |
| Mark Gardonio |
Matt Robinson |
Steve Miler |
Next Games After This Match Up
- NLL All-Star Game - Denver, Colorado - Saturday, March 7 6:00 pm CST
- Minnesota (4-5) at Philadelphia (4-6) - Saturday, March 14 6:30 pm CST
- Buffalo (7-2) at Rochester (3-5) - Saturday, March 14 6:35 pm CST
|
