Bandits Season Ends

BUFFALO (WIVB) - The bad news started just before faceoff.  That's when the Bandits learned that star John Tavares could not play due to a leg injury. The bad news continued shortly after then, when the Toronto Rock jumped out to a 6-0 lead.

The news never got better.  The Buffalo Bandits season ended with a 12-11 loss to the Rock in an National Lacrosse League playoff game.  Toronto advances to the NLL Championship game against either Calgary or Washington.

Tavares had battled through a calf injury to score the game winning goal in last weekend's playoff win over Boston.  But the same injury would not allow Tavares to play. Missing their leader and top scorer, the Bandits seemed lost.

They did regain themselves, and pulled to within 7-6 in the second quarter.  But they could get no closer.

Toronto pulled ahead in the second half, building a solid lead.  But the Bandits made a late run, pulling to within one.  But they spent the final few minutes trying for the tying goal, but never beating the Rock goalie.