Minnesota Swarm (6-2 H 3-0 A 3-2)

at
Buffalo Bandits (6-4 H 3-1 A 3-3)

The Password is Redemption Edition of Minnesota Swarm Lacrosse

Saturday, March 8, 2008 - 6:30pm CST
HSBC Arena
Buffalo, New York

Live Statistics

Minnesota Swarm Game Center

TV/Internet/Radio Coverage: None

Webcast: B2 Networks $7.00 per game

More Coverage of this game at:

Swarm v. Bandits History:

The Bandits won the first of two this season in Buffalo by a score of 16-14 on February 16th. The loss was the first of the season for the Swarm. Andy Secore (16g 25a) and Ryan Ward (19g 22a) led the Swarm with two goals and four assists a piece.

Rosters:

Regular Season Statistics:

2008 NLL Standings

Former Bandits With The Swarm:

• Mike Hominuck (5g 16a)
• Duane Jacobs
• Marty O'Neill

Former Swarm With The Bandits:

• Craig Conn

Jon Sullivan - Consecutive Game Streak - 42

Dean Hill v. Craig Point - Who's winning the side bet?

The Swarm will be playing the third game of their season long three game road trip. Right now, the Swarm have lost both on the road for a season worst two game losing streak after starting the season 6-0. Their latest loss was in Philadelphia on February 22 when the Wings down one going into the fourth, outscored the Swarm 11-1, to win 17-8. Nick Patterson (6-2 12.52 GAA .768 Save %) faced a Swarm record 69 shots and saved a Swarm record 54 shots in the game before being pulled with 5:50 left in the game.

Buffalo enters this game on a season long three game winning streak.  During the streak, they have ended the undefeated seasons of division rivals Minnesota and Philadelphia.  Last Saturday, the Bandits hosted the Wings and fell behind 6-1 in the first quarter.  That just set up quite a comeback which saw the Bandits win 21-12 with Mark Steenhuis (24g 32a) and Cory Bomberry (13g 24a) each attaining ten points.

The Swarm have struggled late in their last two games having been outscored 24-8 in the second half after leading at the half.  Against Buffalo, they had a 9-6 lead at halftime and started the second half with 4:19 left on five minute power play.  They did not convert even once on that power play and the Bandits ran off five straight goals and shut out the Swarm 5-0 in the third quarter.  It was the second straight game against the Bandits that the Swarm were shut out in the third quarter.  The Swarm evened up the Bandits in the fourth but the third quarter misery doomed the Swarm like it is has numerous times.

Another problem for the Swarm against the Bandits has been playing either a man up or a man down. In the last game, the Bandits went five for six on the power play and it has been a trend in this series. The Bandits have always done well in this series on the power play with 37 goals out of 58 chances or 64%. John Tavares (19g 39a), the NLL's leading scorer, runs the power play like no other. He has assisted on 21 of those 37 power play goals as he usually finds the open guy before the Swarm can rotate over to him. An interesting stat is that he has only two power play goals against the Swarm, so history shows that not only is he effective at running the power play, his teammates are doing just as well to get open for him to take shots.

When the Swarm have limited the chances for the Bandit power play to perform, it has done its best. In their only victory over the Bandits on March 4, 2006, the Swarm held the Bandits to a series low three power plays. The other time they held the Bandits to three power plays was in their first playoff game on April 23, 2006 and they only lost that game by one goal. It seems that against the Swarm, the Bandits really seem to gain unstoppable momentum the more times they get on the power play. So restraint when antagonized by the aggressive Bandit defense, will be key for victory for the Swarm.

Expect the Swarm offense to reassert itself after a disappointing performance in Philadelphia. Secore did not play in that game and his expected return to the line up should put the offense back on track. Both Sean Pollock (12g 20a) and Chad Culp (13g 15a) not only scored two goals each against Buffalo in that last game, they also were very active scooping up loose balls with 8 and 10 respectively. That gave the Swarm a lot of extra chances to reset the offense and take another shot or two. Unlike the Bandit power play, the Swarm power play has been lacking against the Bandits. Even with more chances, they have only converted on 30 of a possible 74 times or 41%. Its tough enough to go even up against the Bandit defense but when you can not score regularly on the power play, you just give the Bandit defense even more confidence than they really need.

The Swarm need the win this weekend. Lose this game and they lose the season series again. Lose this game and the road to the Champions Cup will probably go through HSBC Arena. Win this game, the Swarm will deal the Bandits their fifth division loss, Win this game, the Swarm will have proven they can beat the best in the league. Win this game, the Swarm will right the ship and turn it back towards it rightful direction - the road to the Champions Cup.

The time is now. Lessons have been learned from numerous past failures against the Bandits. Past mistakes will be rectified. This is the time for victory, this is the time for redemption. And redemption will be achieved over the Bandits.

Prediction: Minnesota Swarm 15 Buffalo Bandits 13