Rock Fall 12-10 To Bandits

BUFFALO, NY – The Buffalo Bandits (5-1) won their fifth consecutive game by defeating the Toronto Rock (2-3) by a score of 12-10 on Saturday night in Buffalo, NY at the First Niagara Center.  The road loss was the third in a row for the Rock who have yet to earn a victory away from Air Canada Centre this season.

Buffalo drew first blood in a penalty filled opening 15 minutes which saw a total of nine minors assessed.  Toronto tied the score on a Kasey Beirnes tally.  Each team scored once more to finish the first quarter deadlocked at 2-2.

The parade to the penalty box continued in the second quarter with 5 of the 8 goals coming on special teams in the frame.  Buffalo built a 5-3 lead only to see it evaporate with a pair of Rock power play goals finding the net as Josh Sanderson and a fiery Garrett Billings struck for man advantage markers.  The Bandits would however score the final two goals of the half to lead 7-5 at the break.

To open the second half the Rock scored three times in 1:24 early moments of the 3^rd quarter to take their first lead of the game, 8-7.  Buffalo wouldn’t tie it up until the late stages of the third and added another to regain the lead 9-8 as the quarter came to an end.

The Rock tied the score 9-9 with a powerplay goal from Beirnes 4:17 into the fourth quarter.  Buffalo’s ensuing three-goal run put the game out of reach as the Rock could only muster one more goal before the final buzzer.

Billings had another big night and collected his 400^th career NLL point when he registered an assist on Sanderson’s first quarter goal.

The Rock were led offensively by five-point nights from Garrett Billings (2 goals, 3 assists) and Stephan Leblanc (2 goals, 3 assists).  Josh Sanderson recorded a hat-trick and added an assist.  Kasey Beirnes had a pair of goals while Rob Hellyer scored once.

Tickets for Bachly Construction Garrett Billings bobblehead night February 7^th are now on sale.  The Rock will face Philadelphia on that evening at 7:30pm at Air Canada Centre.  For more information, please visit www.torontorock.com or phone 416-596-3075 to speak with a ticket representative get your hands on the BEST ticket in town.