NLL Finals coming back to Banditland for deciding Game 3

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Home-field advantage has benefited the Bandits on their run to win a third consecutive National Lacrosse League championship, and it will be back in Buffalo's favor for the deciding game of the NLL Finals in Banditland.

The Bandits were unable to close out the series on the road, losing 11-10 against the Saskatchewan Rush in Game 2 on Sunday night in Saskatoon, after winning the opening game 12-10 on Friday night in Buffalo.

Game 3 will be played at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at KeyBank Center. Tickets will be available online at 10 a.m. Monday. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2.

The Bandits are trying to become the second three-peat champion in league history, following Rochester's title run from 2012-14. Buffalo's seventh league championship would move it ahead of Toronto and Philadelphia for the most in league history.

After shutting out the Rush in the fourth quarter of Game 1, the Bandits gave up two goals midway through the fourth quarter Sunday night, squandering a 9-8 lead established later in the third. Kyle Buchanan got Buffalo within a goal with 1:05 remaining, but the Bandits could not score the tying goal in time.

Dhane Smith, Chase Fraser, Ian MacKay and Cattaraugus Reservation native Clay Scanlan each scored twice for the Bandits. Josh Byrne added a goal and three assists. Smith also tallied three assists, and goaltender Matt Vinc stopped 41 shots.

Austin Shanks recorded eight points (three goals, five assists) to lead Saskatchewan, which outshot Buffalo 52-50, won 14 of 24 face-offs and scored twice on power plays, while the Bandits could not net any goals with an extra attacker. Shanks had two goals and an assist in the fourth quarter. NLL goaltender of the year Frank Scigliano made 40 saves for the Rush.