Minnesota Swarm (3-5 H 1-3 A 2-2)

at
Buffalo Bandits (7-1 H 3-0 A 4-1)

Saturday, February 28, 2009 - 6:30 pm CST
HSBC Arena
Buffalo, New York

Live Statistics

Minnesota Swarm Game Center

TV/Internet/Radio Coverage:

More Coverage of this game at:

Regular Season History:

The Swarm and the Bandits met on January 24 at the X. Both were undefeated entering the game, but the Bandits remained that way with a 10-9 victory. John Tavares scored the game winner with 1:32 left in the game.

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 will arrive in Buffalo after beating the Rock in Toronto the previous night, by a score of 13-10. The win ended a five game losing streak for the Swarm. Kevin Buchanan (7g 3a) said hello to the NLL as he tied a team single game record of five goals.

The Buffalo Bandits have won two straight, both against the Rock. Last weekend, they trailed at the half, 11-5 but came back to send the game into overtime and win it 17-16. Mark Steenhuis (31g 33a) scored eight goals, including the last three, one of which tied the game and the one that won it in overtime.

The Swarm defense will have to play like they did for the last three quarters in the Bandit game last month, than they have in February. In that game, the Swarm limited the Bandits to two power play chances and did not give up a power play goal. Keeping cooler heads again on defense will give the Swarm a very good chance at victory this Saturday. Nick Inch (0g 3a) will have to show why he was selected as an All-Star reserve this year. Last weekend against Boston, he struggled a bit defending Dan Dawson. He will have to do better this week against Steenhuis, who he limited to an assist in last month's game. Inch was not dressed for the game the following night in Philadelphia after playing thirteen consecutive games, so one wonders if he was sat because of the Blazer game or if he was hurt. Travis Hill (1g 2a) always seems to get up for Bandit games. He has been in two fights in six games against the Bandits in his career. Jon Sullivan (0g 1a) has 4 of his 8 career goals (regular season & playoffs) against the Bandits. Ryan Cousins (1g 2a) has ten goals with the Swarm against the Bandits and has scored a goal in six of his seven last games against the Bandits.

In goal, the Bandits have rotated Ken Montour (5-0 8.14 GAA .838 Save %) and Mike Thompson (2-1 12.27 GAA .781 Save %) the whole year. If Bandit Head Coach Darris Kilgour keeps rotating, Montour should be starting against the Swarm, a team Montour is 4-0 and saved 80% of shots against. Thompson was in net last month against the Swarm saving 58 of 67 shots. For the Swarm, I think most would go with Kevin Croswell (2-3 10.23 GAA .802 Save %). He has been the better of the Swarm's goaltenders this year, which most wouldn't expect. Nick Patterson (1-2 12.42 GAA .729 Save %) has never been able to get past Buffalo going 0-4 and saving less than 69% of shots faced.

John Tavares (22g 21a) got the game winner for Buffalo in last month's game at the X. He has three game winners against the Swarm and has scored 30 goals and 51 assists in 13 games against the Swarm. Tavares maybe overshadowed by Steenhuis, the league leading scorer this year, but if Steenhuis doesn't play due to an undisclosed injury, don't be surprised if Tavares, the league's all-time leader scorer picks up most if not all the points that Steenhuis contributes. Tavares has done it against the Swarm before and is very capable of cranking out ten or more points again. He had thirteen points against the Swarm on January 20, 2007 in a Bandits 22-13 win over the Swarm. The thirteen points and ten assists in that game are the most scored by an individual in a game against the Swarm.

I don't think the Swarm will blow out the Bandits but a win is definitely possible. This is third doubleheader weekend for the Swarm this season and in both of the first two of those weekends the Swarm played better in the back end of the doubleheader. They definitely will have to do the same to beat the Bandits. Stay out of the box to limit Bandit power play chances is the first way to win the game for the Swarm. Ryan Ward (18g 17a) will have to continue his hot shooting for any chance of victory. The Swarm looked ready Friday night in Toronto, with a rested Ryan Sharp (3g 2a) to run the transiton, momentum and confidence, expect the Swarm to go all out and get the weekend sweep leading into the All-Star Break.

Prediction: Minnesota Swarm 13 Buffalo Bandits 12

Next Games After This Match Up

• NLL All-Star Game - Denver, Colorado - Saturday, March 7 6:00 pm CST
• Minnesota (3-5) at Philadelphia (3-5) - Saturday, March 14 6:30 pm CST
• Buffalo (7-1) at Rochester (2-5) - Saturday, March 14 6:35 pm CST