Firewolves Fall at Buffalo in NLL Finals Rematch – 2/1/2025
Justin Ivey, Co-Editor
Lacrosse is Awesome©
The Albany Firewolves (2-7) travelled to play the Buffalo Bandits (6-0) Saturday night for the league’s second Tucker Out Lymphoma Night. In the rematch from last year’s NLL Finals that saw the Bandits win the first two games in the best of three series, the Bandits proved they are still top championship contenders by controlling the game from start to finish. Josh Byrne (5G, 5A) and Dhane Smith (3G, 7 A) led the way for the home team while Alex Simmons (2G, 5A) and Ethan Walker (3G, 1A) tried to come from behind for most of the night. This was the second game in the Tucker Out Lymphoma Cup for the Firewolves, who have one point because of the overtime loss to the Desert Dogs. With the win in Buffalo’s first Cup game, they sit in first place with two points. Final Score: Albany Firewolves-10, Buffalo Bandits-16
Albany would come out of the gates and score the first goal of the contest. Walker buried his first opportunity just 2:13 into the game on a power play opportunity. Buffalo quickly answered and took the lead though. Chris Cloutier (1G) and Ian MacKay (2G, 1A) scored just 34 seconds apart and the script was flipped only 4:13 in. Carson Moyer (1G) tied the game for Albany just over a minute and a half later, but Buffalo turned on the afterburners, answering with four straight goals. Matt Spanger () started the roll, scoring over Doug Jamieson’s (6GA, 8SV) shoulder in transition with 5:04 left. Chase Fraser (2G, 3A) scored under a minute later before Smith and Byrne found the back of the net for their first goals. Simmons fought hard and got one back before the end of the first quarter, scoring with 1:15 remaining. At the end of the first quarter, Buffalo led Albany 6-3.
Albany coach Glenn Clark decided to keep Jamieson on the bench at the start of the second and sent out Andrew Kidd (10GA, 30SV) between the pipes. Unfortunately, the change in goaltender didn’t create a spark. Smith scored on a power play just one minute into the quarter, and Byrne found the net for his second goal with 9:18 left. Tye Kurtz (2G, 2A) stopped the momentum with a quick stick goal from the crease and 7:54 on the clock, making the score 8-4. The Buffalo defense and Matt Vinc (10GA, 38SV) clamped down after though, and Albany would only manage that lone goal. Byrne scored his hat trick goal with 3:49 remaining on a power play, and Tehoka Nanticoke (2G, 1A) drove the net for a score just 43 seconds later. At the half, Buffalo led Albany 10-4.
The game became inherently more physical out of the half and it took three minutes for Fraser to score the opening goal, stretching the Bandits’ lead to seven. The Firewolves dug in and responded with their own four-goal run. Walker and Simmons both buried power play markers before Travis Longboat (1G, 3A) dove across the crease for a score with 5:47 left. Kurtz rounded the run out with his second of the night and 3:39 left on the clock. At the end of the third quarter, Buffalo led Albany 11-8.
Three goals would be the closest the Firewolves could get to Buffalo. Nanticoke stretched the lead to three 2:31 into the fourth quarter, and Smith scored just 17 seconds later after willing himself to free space driving hard to the net. Walker completed his hat trick with a power play marker, but Buffalo responded with three more scores. Byrne scored two of those sandwiched around a MacKay tally. John Piatelli (1G, 1A) found the net with 1:24 left, bringing us to the final. Final Score: Albany Firewolves-10, Buffalo Bandits-16.
Up Next:
The Buffalo Bandits (6-0) have a week off before travelling to play the Toronto Rock (3-5) on Friday, February 14 at 7:00 PM EST.
The Albany Firewolves (2-7) have a week off before hosting the Ottawa Black Bears (4-4) on Saturday, February 15 at 7:00 PM EST.