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

Buffalo Bandits (2-6 H 1-3 A 1-3)

Saturday, March 17, 2012 - 6:30 pm CST
First Niagara Center
Buffalo, New York

Live Statistics

TV/Internet/Radio Coverage:

More Coverage of this game at:

Standings:

Series History:

This is the second of two games between the teams this year. The first game was on January 28th at The Hive, where the Swarm won their first game of the year and first ever home win against the Bandits in a 19-11 victory. Tyler Carlson made his NLL and Swarm debut in net saving 39 of 50 shots and assisting on five goals. Callum Crawford led the Swarm with 2 goals and 7 assists. Four players got hat tricks - Ryan Benesch, Corbyn Tao, Kevin Ross & Andrew Suitor. The 19 goals scored by the Swarm in the game tied for the most in Swarm history. The Swarm have lost two straignt in Buffalo with their last win, 16-15, on February 28, 2009.

Personnel:

Minnesota Swarm

Depth Chart

Staff

Buffalo Bandits

Depth Chart

Staff

• The Swarm will be playing the third of four straight road games this weekend. They are 2-0 on the road trip with wins in Washington and Calgary. They have won two straight overall.
• Head Coach Joe Sullivan is 2-0 in his NLL Head Coaching career.
• Jordan MacIntosh has scored at least one goal in his first eight NLL and Swarm games for a total of twelve.
• Ryan Benesch needs 4 goals to reach 100 in his Swarm regular season career.
• As usual, Sullivan will decide on game day as to who starts in net. With the rotation going on since the Edmonton game, Evan Kirk would be next up, if that rotation is continued.
• Roolie Pat Smith is scheduled to make his NLL and Swarm debut this weekend per Head Coach Joe Sullivan on last week's insdie the Hive show. If indeed Smith is playing, I could see the Swram stting Tao or Card as that would still give them Callum Crawford, Jordan MacIntosh, Smith and one of those two mentioned as righties on offense.
• Not yet certain of the statud of Joe Cinosky after missing the Calgary game due to injury. I would assume the extra week off should have him ready this weekend.
• The Swram have given up eleven or fewer goals in all five of their wins this season.
• Many Swarm traveled on their off week. Kevin Ross went to Florida to catch some rays while Dan Ball went to snowmobile in the tundra of Northenr Ontario.
• The NLL trading deadline is Tuesday, March 20th. I don't see much movement by the Swarm, maybe add a third goaltender to the practice roster. Also, I am sure the Swarm will be monitoring the health of Jamie Shewchuk and based on that may decide to bring in a lefty scorer. Then again, if a first round pick is dangled in front of John Arlotta's eyes, I wouldn't be surprised if the Swarm grab it.
• The Bandits have lost six straight games with their last loss, 13-10,  in Rochester last weekned.
• Former Swarm and current Bandit Chad Culp and his wife, Hinda, had their first child this Wednesday and named him Logan Samuel.
• The six game losing streak is the longest in Bandit history which started in 1992 breaking four game losing streaks in 2004 and 2010.
• The Bandits will be wearing St. Patrick's Day jerseys on Saturday.
• The Bandits play in Toronto on Friday night prior to the Swarm game.
• The Swarm may face Anthony Cosmo in net. Cosmo was traded by the Swarm to Buffalo in February for first rounders in 2013 and 2014. Cosmo did not report to the Swarm after selected in the Blazers dispersal draft in September.

Prediction: Minnesota Swarm 14 Buffalo Bandits 12

Next Games After This Match Up

• Minnesota at Washington - Sunday, March 25th, 2012 7:00 pm Central
• Buffalo at Calgary - Saturday, March 24th, 2012 8:00 pm Central