BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Bandits have put the ‘D’ in title defense to close within three wins from a three-peat.
Setting a franchise record for fewest goals allowed in a playoff game, Buffalo beat the Vancouver Warriors 9-3 on Friday night at KeyBank Center in the opener of the National Lacrosse League semifinals.
The back-to-back reigning NLL Cup champions can clinch the series Sunday night in Vancouver and return to the league finals for a fifth consecutive postseason and record 14th time in history.
How to watch Buffalo Bandits vs. Vancouver Warriors | NLL Cup semifinals on The CW23
Goaltender Matt Vinc, the 42-year-old former Canisius College defenseman who was a three-peat champion a decade ago when he played for Rochester, maintained his ageless playoff brilliance stopping 35 of the 38 shots he faced. In a sport with outstanding save percentages in the .800s, Vinc slightly lowered his to .922 in this postseason after he stopped 48 shots to win the lowest-scoring playoff game in league history 5-4 in the quarterfinal round…