Thunderbirds Doubleheader Woes Continue, Fall Twice to Bandits
Mar 29, 2022
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia (March 27, 2022) – A home-and-home doubleheader did not go the Halifax Thunderbirds’ (8-5) way, as they fell in both contests against the Buffalo Bandits (12-1) by a score of 16-11.
Newcomer Dawson Theede had big games in his first two games in purple and orange, recording seven points (6G, 1A), and Jake Withers made NLL history on Saturday by becoming the fastest player to reach 1000 career face-off wins, doing so in just 56 games.
On Saturday night, Chris Cloutier opened up the contest’s scoring with a diving goal, but Eric Fannell answered a minute later in return, followed by Theede delivering off a great two-man play to put the Thunderbirds up 2-1. A three-goal run from the Bandits saw them take the lead back, and an extra attacker goal from Stephen Keogh was matched by an outside shot from Dhane Smith. The first quarter ended in the Bandits’ favor, 5-3.
The Bandits started the scoring in the second quarter, but it would be their last tally for the remainder of the half. Back-to-back shorthanded markers from Keogh and Fannell were followed by a transition goal from Tyson Bell. Theede’s second goal of the game was a slick turnaround shot around his defender low to high into the far corner, and captain Cody Jamieson capped the five-goal run with a stinger shortside. Halftime came with the Thunderbirds in the lead, 8-6.
Theeded changed the quarter-opening narrative, as he hammered in a goal off the bench, but the Bandits found a groove. They outscored the visiting team 6-1 the rest of the third quarter, as the Thunderbirds lone goal came courtesy of Shawn Evans’ shot trickling through goalie Matt Vinc. The third quarter ended with the Bandits up 12-10.
The final frame was more of the same, with the Bandits outscoring the Thunderbirds 4-1. Theede’s fourth goal of the game was the only time his team found the back of the net in the quarter, bookended by two-goal streaks from the Bandits. The final buzzer sounded with the Bandits winning 16-11.
Evans led the Thunderbirds in scoring with six points (1G, 5A), followed by Theede’s five points (4G, 1A). Goalie Warren Hill earned the loss after making 26 saves, a .619 Sv%.
The Bandits were led by Smith’s nine points (3G, 6A), followed by Josh Byrne with seven points (3G, 4A). Vinc made 54 stops, holding the Thunderbirds scoreless on their seven power play opportunities and finishing the night with a .831 Sv%.
Both teams turned around immediately to play in Nova Scotia for the back end of this home-and-home doubleheader on Sunday afternoon at Scotiabank Centre.
The Bandits continued their offensive surge, outscoring the home team 4-2 in the first quarter. Jamieson and Brad Gillies shorthanded were the Thunderbirds’ lone tallies in the first frame, as they started the contest down 4-2.
Penalty trouble started to hurt the home team, with the Bandits rattling off a power play goal and quick settled marker 22 seconds later to widen their lead, 6-2. Brandon Robinson nailed a bouncer off the loose ball scrum to get the Thunderbirds on the board early in the second quarter, but back-to-back power play goals from the Bandits made up for Robinson’s first goal in his first game of the season. Clarke Petterson on the extra attacker cut the deficit in half, the Bandits up 8-4 at halftime.
Aaron Bold stood in net following the Bandits’ sixth goal of the contest. Byrne kicked off the third quarter with his second goal of the night, but Theede responded on the power play. The back-and-forth continued for the next few minutes, with the Bandits eventually up 13-7. But a transition goal from Brad Gillies, another goal from Petterson, and Austin Shanks’ first of the game cut the Bandits’ lead to 13-10 entering the final 15 min. of action.
Theede’s second of the night and sixth on the weekend shortened the visiting club’s lead to just two goals, but a three-goal run from the Bandits capped the game. They emerged with both victories coming 16-11 against the Thunderbirds.
In Sunday’s game, Petterson (3G, 1A) and Jamieson (1G, 3A) led the Thunderbirds in scoring. Hill spent 16:28 min. in net, finishing with a 21.86 GAA and .667 Sv%. Bold fared better with his 12.41 GAA and .609 Sv% in 43:31 min. played.
For the Bandits in their second game of the weekend, Smith again led them in scoring with seven points (5G, 2A), followed by Byrne (2G, 3A) and Chase Fraser (2G, 3A) with five points apiece. Vince made 60 saves for an .845 Sv%.
The Thunderbirds return to Scotiabank Centre for a game against the Rochester Knighthawks (3-10) on Friday, April 1. Face-off is set for 7:00 p.m. AT. Fans can secure their tickets by visiting https://ticketatlantic.co/thunderbirds or by calling or texting 902-334-2333.