Staff reports
The Buffalo Bandits begin what could be a make or break weekend tonight when they visit first-place rival Toronto Rock at the Air Canada Centre.
Niagara-Wheatfield product Darris Kilgour can climb atop the NLL all-time coaching ranks and surpass the late-great Les Bartley, whom he tied with 93 career wins after a 12-10 victory over the Orlando Titans a week ago.
The Bandits (3-6) can jump back into playoff contention with back-to-back wins this weekend, and Kilgour said that is all he is focused on.
“It doesn't matter one bit to me,” he said after the win last Saturday. “I'm here to win championships, and I'm here to win games, and I'm here to be part of the team. I could do nothing without the players on the bench.”
Although the Bandits picked up a pivotal win last weekend to keep their postseason alive, it came at a cost — defenseman Chris Corbeil will miss a minimum of two weeks with a knee injury, while Kyle Schmelze (broken nose) and Steve Priolo (concussion) expect to play, said assistant coach Duane Jacobs.
“We've run out of excuses,” Jacobs said Wednesday. “But we do have an opportunity in front of us this weekend.”
Leading scorer Mark Steenhuis set a season high with six goals against the Titans. What’s more, goaltender Ken Montour made 43 stops after missing two games with a concussion.
The Rock (6-4), however, are hoping to snap out of a three-game losing streak after dropping a 16-12 decision to Orlando Feb. 27.
Saturday, Buffalo will wrap up its busy weekend in Boston as they take on the Blazers (5-4) whom have put together a stretch of five wins in their last six games.
Boston captain Dan Dawson registered the game-winning tally in a 11-9 win over the Washington Stealth on Feb. 27. The reigning league MVP has 12 points in his last two games.
“You got Dan Dawson quarterbacking the [Blazer’s] offense,” Jacobs said. “It's going to be a tough game.”
Despite the injuries, the Bandits are forced to take on two fresh teams coming off bye weeks.
“There's no doubt we're banged up,” Jacobs said. “But I think we have enough depth to handle two games in a row.”
The Bandits’ matchup against the Rock is slated for 7:30 p.m.
GAME NIGHT
Buffalo (3-6) at Toronto (6-4)
• WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
• WHERE: Air Canada Centre
• ONLINE: Free at NLL.com
• NOTES: Niagara-Wheatfield grad and Bandits head coach Darris Kilgour tied the late Les Bartley with a league-record 93 coaching wins after a 12-10 win over Orlando last Saturday.
