There will be home playoff lacrosse at HSBC Arena after all.

The Buffalo Bandits concluded their 2008 regular season tonight with a 14-10 win over the Portland Lumberjax before an announced attendance of 18,325.

Thanks to Minnesota’s 12-11 win over the Chicago Shamrox, the Bandits have clinched home field advantage throughout the Champions Cup playoffs.

But even though the Lumberjax came into this game with a weaker 6-9 record and locked into a playoff spot in the anemic West Division, this one was no cakewalk for the Bandits.

Buffalo could have put this one away early. Roger Vyse struck twice for the Bandits, and the team took a 5-2 lead by the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter even Brent Bucktooth got in on the action, scoring his 3rd goal of the season since coming off the injury list. But Portland would get back into it, thanks to some shaky goaltending by goalie Mike Thompson. They scored the last two goals of the second quarter to bring it to within one, then drew even at 7 in the first minute of the third quarter.

The Bandits regained a two goal lead in the third with goals by Kevin Dostie and Bucktooth. Portland came back again to tie the score at 9 all with a pair by Pete Jacobs.

But then it was time for the John Tavares magic to kick in. The Bandits quickly regained control of the game with back to back goals by Tavares, the first one he was left wide open in the slot in front of the net, then 30 seconds later scored again on the power play with an over the shoulder shot. “He’s absolutely the best player I’ve ever coached and played with” commented Coach Darris Kilgour. “John Tavares with all the things he’s done lives for that big moment, excels in that moment.” Mark Steenhuis added “He’s a legend. The ageless wonder is what we like to call him. It’s just amazing for us to see it and be a part of it. To see him pushing 40 years old and see him taking over a game is just outstanding.”

Tavares explained that the go ahead goal was a version of the hidden ball trick. “Yeah that was an awkward play, called the hidden ball play” explained Tavares. “I didn’t even know it was happening. Like you said it kind of parted like the Red Sea and there I was. I though the goalie was baiting me. No way he fell for the hidden ball trick but there I was with the empty net. That was a big goal. We came back to take the quick lead and that was a breakdown on their part.”

With Buffalo up 11-9 heading into the fourth, the Bandit’s Chris White rightfully earned a very stupid 5 minute high sticking penalty and a game misconduct around the 4 minute mark of the period. “That’s part of the rule” explained Kilgour. “Any shot to the head earns an automatic game misconduct.” Kilgour hoped that White would not earn a suspension for his bad behavior and that he would be available for the playoffs.

The Bandits then went on to kill all five minutes, denying Portland any inside chances and using effective clock management. The team got a loud and noisy standing ovation as the final seconds of the penalty ticked away. Goalie Mike Thompson said that penalty kill was the turning point. “The defense played real well and I was able to see the ball the whole time.” said Thompson. “We managed to shut them down.”John Tavares would give Buffalo a 12-9 lead at the 10:50 mark with a laser shot from the right side. Less than a minute later, Mark Steenhuis finally got on the scoreboard with another laser, after receiving a lead pass from goaltender Mike Thompson. Steenhuis got decked following his goal, and that earned Portland player Brodie Merrill a 5 minute penalty and a game misconduct. Portland got one shorthanded, then with Portland pulling the goalie in and out for the extra attacker, Kyle Laverty got himself a (sorta) empty netter… Final score, Buffalo 14, Portland 10.

Kilgour explained his reasoning for starting Mike Thompson in net, despite a still sore groin injury. “I wanted to get him a start before the playoffs. We didn’t want to start him cold in the playoffs. It worked out well. Now we have two healthy goalies and we’re very happy with the situation we’re in going into the playoffs.”

It will be the Bandits and the Philadelphia Wings squaring off next Friday at 7:30PM at HSBC Arena. “I think Philly would be the best matchup for us” said Kilgour. They like an up tempo game and that’s what we want.”

All the players we spoke to tonight gave huge props to the faithful Buffalo fans, who helped will the team to victory there past two weeks. “These are the best fans in the league for sure” said Coach Kilgour. “We look up in the end zones at the top” said Tavares. “When we can’t see blue up there, it just pumps us up a little more, so it’s really nice to see.” And Mark Steenhuis added “Playing in this building is the best place to play in in the league. We have the best fans so anytime you can use them to your advantage gets the adrenaline going to be sure.”

So there you have it - tickets are on sale for next Friday’s first round game. The Bandits need a packed house of loud and boisterous fans to help them along to victory. See YOU there? Hope so!

Extra points —

-Had to suck being the contestant in the “win a Bandits jersey if the team scores in the next 60 seconds” contest. Some guy in a wheelchair got the nod, and before the game even resumed the Bandits get called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. They gave the guy the jersey anyway.

-Spotted in the corridor outside the locker room: a little tyke about three years old, wearing an orange t-shirt with “my dad #11″ hand painted on the back and holding a small lacrosse stick. Obviously John Tavares’ little boy. Cute kid… but dad would be smarter lacing him up with skates and handing him a hockey stick instead. If the kid has skill there’s a much bigger payday in his future.

-Annoying P.A. Guy was back, making up and more for his previous week’s absence. He never shut up all night.

-With the out of town games having huge implications on playoff seedings, several players and trainers repeatedly came out into the hallway after the game to ask for score updates. Thanks to Pete text messaging me updates on the Roc/NY and Minn/Chi games from his couch back home, USRT and WNYMedia were the ones keeping the Bandits locker room in the loop in real time. YaY for us!

-Think the Bandits don’t like The Rochester Knighthawks? Well then you’re right! The Rochester/New York final came first - the Knighthawks lead evaporated and they lost 11-10 late, knocking them out of playoff contention. That news earned a cheer among the Bandits players, even though the Rochester win would have clinched the first seed. Thankfully the Minnesota Swarm took care of business in their game, which ended 30 minutes later.

-No playoffs in Rochester’s Blue Cross Arena? Oh darn! That means a few more suppliers and vendors in Rochester will be seeing their money late, if at all. “Donner must go!”

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