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Small crowd makes it tougher to get excited

The Buffalo Bandits aren’t expected to walk into a cauldron of noise when they play the New York Titans in the East Division final of the National Lacrosse League playoffs (7:30 tonight, Radio 1520 AM, Webcast available on nll.com).

In fact, if it weren’t for the public address system, the Prudential Center in Newark, N. J., might sound more like a library.

The location might be one of the most interesting aspects of tonight’s playoff game, as the Bandits play their first road postseason contest since a loss to Rochester in 2007.

New York hosts Buffalo on Saturday; winner heads to Championship Game

The New York Titans (11-6) host the Buffalo Bandits (11-6) in the 2009 East Division Final on Saturday at Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. Gametime is 7:30pm ET. It marks the second straight year in which these two teams will meet in the East Final, with the winner advancing to the Championship Game next weekend.

The location was different last year, as the Bandits headed into the playoffs as the league's #1 overall seed and home floor throughout at HSBC Arena. When it was said and done, Buffalo had defeated New York 19-12 on May 10, 2008 and went on to win their first championship since 1996 by defeating the Portland LumberJax in the Championship Game, 14-13.

Mark Steenhuis scored four goals and the Bandits defeated the Boston Blazers, 10-8, last night in the Eastern Division semifinals of the NLL playoffs at HSBC Arena in Buffalo.

Ken Montour has been a monster netminder this season for the Buffalo Bandits, and he was no different Saturdayn in leading Buffalo to an 11-8 East Division semifinal win over Boston before an announced crowd of 13,363 at HSBC Arena.

The defending National Lacrosse League champion Bandits (11-6) will face the New York Titans — who edged Rochester 11-10 in overtime Friday — in the East Division finals on Saturday.

11-8 win puts Buffalo in East Division final

It was the Buffalo Bandits’ turn to take control of a game with the Boston Blazers in the fourth quarter. That’s why the Bandits are headed to the East Division final of the National Lacrosse League playoffs.

The Bandits won the first-round playoff game with the Blazers, recording an 11-8 victory before 13,343 in HSBC Arena. Buffalo earned the chance to play the New York Titans for the East championship. That game will be played in Madison Square Garden on Saturday at 7 p. m.

The Boston Blazers weren’t expected to be playing with the big boys this season. But they made the playoffs this season and then gave the Buffalo Bandits all they could handle in Saturday’s playoff game before losing by an 11-8 count.

The Blazers joined the National Lacrosse League this year. They caught a couple of breaks when they picked up forward Dan Dawson from the Arizona Sting in a dispersal draft, and added goalie Anthony Cosmo from the Chicago Shamrox when that team suspended operations.

Hamburg native Frank Resetarits scored his first hat trick this season and added two assists as his San Jose Stealth beat the Portland Lumberjax on Friday, 20-16, in the first round of the NLL playoffs.

Buffalo to face New York next week in East Division Final

The Buffalo Bandits defeated the Boston Blazers, 10-8 on Saturday night at HSBC Arena. Mark Steenhuis scored four goals as the Bandits will now face the New York Titans in the East Division Final next weekend. The Blazers finish their fine inaugural season with a 10-7 record.

Buffalo jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the first quarter. Mark Steenhuis scored twice as the Bandits grabbed an early lead. Boston responded with three goals, including two by Brendan Thenhaus. Buffalo led 5-4 after the opening frame.

Stakes are higher vs. Blazers this time

It’s a case of the same teams playing at the same time on the same day of the week in the same building.

The Buffalo Bandits hope this game doesn’t have the same result as the last one.

The Bandits dropped a 13-12 overtime decision to the Boston Blazers in HSBC Arena two weeks ago tonight. Now the teams are back it in the first round of the National Lacrosse League playoffs.

When the first-year Blazers upset the Buffalo Bandits in the regular-season finale last month, it cost the defending National Lacrosse League champions on a number of fronts.

Most importantly, the 13-12 overtime defeat at home denied Buffalo an Eastern Division title and homefield advantage through the first two rounds of the playoffs.

The rivals meet again tonight (7:30) in the postseason opener at HSBC Arena and the Blazers know the Bandits will be out for revenge.