The Buffalo Bandits' quest for a third straight NLL championship is complete after a three-game series win against the Saskatchewan Rush in the 2025 Finals.
Here's what you need to know about the series, including highlights from all three games.
No. 1 Buffalo Bandits vs. No. 2 Saskatchewan Rush
Game 1: Bandits 12, Rush 10
KeyBank Center | Buffalo, NY
Heading into the start of the series, both the Bandits and forward Dhane Smith were on the verge of history; the Bandits were seeking to become three-peat champions for the first time in franchise history (and just the second NLL team to accomplish the feat), while Smith needed three points to set a new record for playoff points in NLL history.
So far, so good.
Smith led all Bandits scorers with three goals and five assists -- rocketing past his coach, John Tavares, into first on the all-time playoff points list -- en route to Buffalo taking Game 1 with a 12-10 victory.
The two teams ping-ponged the lead in the first half, and entered the midway point tied at six. An incredible nine goals were scored in the third quarter -- including two for Saskatchewan's Zach Manns and all three of Smith's tallies -- and Buffalo led 11-10 entering the final frame.
Then, the goalies took over -- the two teams would not muster any additional goals until an empty-net tally by Kyle Buchanan to seal the Bandits' Game 1 win.
Kyle Buchanan tips in the empty-netter to secure Game 1 of the NLL Finals for the Bandits.
Game 2: Rush 11, Bandits 10
SaskTel Centre | Saskatoon, SK
The Rush came out charged for this one, and carried a 3-1 lead into the break after the first quarter thanks to goals from Jake Boudreau, Austin Shanks and Ryan Keenan.
However, the Bandits are a resilient bunch, and scored five to the Rush's three in the second stanza -- two each from Ian MacKay and Clay Scanlan, and one from Dhane Smith to go with his first-period tally -- to knot the score at six apiece at the half.
With the three-peat in site, the Bandits took a 9-8 lead during the third ... only to have the Rush rally for a fourth-quarter comeback victory. Shanks scored two of the fourth-quarter goals and assisted on the other.
The win for Saskatchewan knotted the series at 1-1, with the winner to be determined by Game 3!
Led by Austin Shanks (3G, 5A) and Frank Scigliano (40 Saves), the Rush take down the Bandits 11-10 and force Game 3 of the NLL Finals.
— NLL (@NLL) May 19, 2025
👀 Game Recap pic.twitter.com/h0RVk4WLwD
Game 3: Bandits 15, Rush 6
KeyBank Center | Buffalo, NY
The Bandits went into halftime watching their four-point lead reduced to one with the NLL championship on the line.
But in the second half of Saturday's decisive Game 3, the competitive drama all but evaporated en route to history. The Bandits scored eight straight, building a gap that proved insurmountable and running away with a 15-6 win over the Saskatchewan Rush in front of a spirited "Banditland" crowd decked out in orange.
The Bandits captured their third consecutive NLL championship, joining the Rochester Knighthawks (2012-14) as the only teams in league history to accomplish the feat. The win also clinched a seventh title for the Bandits, the most in NLL history, surpassing the Philadelphia Wings and Toronto Rock.
Josh Byrne led the scoring charge for Buffalo, with four goals and five assists, while Matt Vinc made 42 saves -- including every shot in the second half -- en route to the win.