Minnesota Swarm (2-0 H 1-0 A 1-0)

vs
Buffalo Bandits (3-0 H 2-0 A 1-0)

Saturday, January 24, 2009 - 7:00 pm CST
Xcel Energy Center
St. Paul, Minnesota

Live Statistics

Minnesota Swarm Game Center

TV/Internet/Radio Coverage:

More Coverage of this game at:

Regular Season History:

The Swarm host the 2008 Champions Cup winners for the first time since 2007 when they lost 16-15 on March 4, 2007. Last year, due to rescheduling after the CBA fiasco, both games against the Bandits were in Buffalo. The Bandits handed the Swarm their first loss of 2008, after six wins, by a score of 16-14 on February 16. The Swarm returned to Buffalo three weeks later and lost for a third straight time by a score of 11-7. The Swarm have never beaten the Bandits at the X in four games.

Rosters:

Regular Season Statistics:

2009 NLL Standings

Former Bandits With The Swarm:

• Duane Jacobs
• Marty O'Neill

Former Swarm With The Bandits:

The Minnesota Swarm return to action in second place in the West behind the 3-0 Calgary Roughnecks this Saturday after taking the past weekend off. In their last game, they improved their record to 2-0 with an 10-7 win over the San Jose Stealth on January 10, 2009. Ryan Ward (5g 4a) led the team with three goals and two assists. The Buffalo Bandits are also undefeated at 3-0 and lead the East Division. Last Friday, they handed the Rochester Knighthawks their worst loss in history by a 23-6 score. Mark Steenhuis (15g 10a) scored eight goals and five assists to lead the Bandits to victory.

The Minnesota Swarm will not face a more competent and imposing team this year than the Buffalo Bandits. Any let up in their game will be taken advantage of by the Bandits. They can't have a third quarter like they did against the Stealth where they appeared a step slow. The Stealth scored four in that quarter but the Bandits probably get at least six if it happens this Saturday.

Kevin Ross (4g 6a) is the surprising leading scorer for the Swarm so far this year. He has really boosted the left side of the offense that has struggled so far with the likes of Chad Culp (1g 1a) and Dean Hill (0g 4a). The right side of the offense has been much more consistent with Ward, Sean Pollock (4g 5a) and Dan Marohl (4g 3a). Including Craig Point (1g 4a), the right side has taken 64 shots compared to 39 taken by the lefties.

Nick Inch (0g 2a) is being counted on more and more to take on the best offensive player from the opponent. His size and speed have already limited the likes of Portland's Ryan Powell and San Jose's Jeff Zywicki. This week his challenge will most likely be Steenhuis, who is the league's second leading scorer. Steenhuis has taken over as the Bandits number one offensive threat and that's quite a feat considering that the NLL's all-time leading scorer John Tavares (6g 7a) has ruled the roost in Banditland since 1992. Often considered one of the best athletes in the league, Steenhuis got a late start in the game but has learned quickly. He has a good nose for the net and has proven to be very clutch with eleven game winning goals since 2005 including two against the Swarm. Of course, if the Swarm double team Steenhuis, he can get the ball to Tavares, who can still light it up at the age of 40. Roger Vyse (6g 7a) had five goals against Rochester and Sean Greenhalgh, Mike Accursi and Cory Bomberry each have three goals and five assists this season. All of these players have averaged over four points per game in their careers against the Swarm, so the challenge is large for Inch and the rest of the Swarm defense.

The Swarm have to limit the power play chances for the Bandits. The Bandits may be struggling so far this year on the power play (4/15), but they have been deadly in their history against the Swarm (38/56 or 68%). The Bandits also have the second best penalty killing unit at 68%, so the Swarm will really have to work to score a man up.

The goaltending battle will be quite interesting. Nick Patterson (1-0 7.00 GAA .837 Save%) should get the start; however, he has struggled in his career against the Bandits going 0-4 with a 15.98 GAA and only saving 68.4% of shots. It's a history that has to change in order for the Swarm to win. His Bandit counterpart will most likely be Ken Montour (2-0 6.00 GAA .879 Save%) who not only is the leading goaltender at this point in the NLL, but also has had the Swarm's number going 4-0 with a 9.88 GAA and saving 80% of shots against them.

The Swarm will need their best eighteen this week to beat the Bandits. They have to be really disciplined against a team that has only given up six goals in each of their last two games. It may seem a daunting task this weekend but the Swarm are more than capable to beat the Bandits. The Swarm have been very disciplined themselves as they only have been penalized twelve minutes per game and are the one of only two teams not to commit a major penalty this year. Their defense has given up only seven goals in each of their games. They also have shown the ability to start fast like they did against San Jose or come from behind like they did against Portland. Culp and D. Hill are due to get some goals and Darren Halls (0g 2a) has begun to assert himself as the team's main face off guy (11/22) and this year's tough guy (6 PIM). The Swarm know their history against the Bandits and have been putting a team together over the years to match them. The defense is at the Bandit level, the offense is getting close if not for Steenhuis and starting goaltending is pretty even this year. The difference since the last time the Bandits played in St. Paul in 2007, is that the Swarm have finally gotten comfortable playing at home. That was not the case back then when the Swarm always seemed to be tight in front of the home crowd. Since the start of the 2008 season, the Swarm are 7-3 at home compared to 9-15 before 2008. A feeling of a home field advantage for the Swarm will finally make an appearance in this series and may be just enough to stem the rising orange tidal wave.

I envision a very tight game throughout this Saturday. The Swarm will need to get off to a good start and deny any momentum to Buffalo. Things can get out of hand if Buffalo gets on a run, just look at last week's game against Rochester, because their defense will just tighten the noose even more. If the Swarm remain composed and Patterson plays like he does against the rest of the league, the Swarm will win a close game that will go right to the end and still will need an extra quarter to decide it. The Swarm win in overtime and finally get that first home win against the Bandits.

Prediction: Minnesota Swarm 12 Buffalo Bandits 11 OT

Minnesota Swarm Promotions:

• Pub Sting on Thursday, January 22nd at 10:00 pm
• Pregame Party at Iron Range Grill at the Xcel Energy Center from 6:00 pm to 6:45 pm Central
• Wear Blue and Gold to support the Swarm
• First 5,000 get Swarm Rally Towel
• Flippenout Productions to perform at halftime
• Postgame Party at Eagle Street Grille

Next Games After This Match Up

• Minnesota (2-0) at Calgary (3-0) - Friday, February 6 8:30 pm CST
• Buffalo (3-0) at Edmonton (1-1) - Thursday, January 29 8:00 pm CST