Published: May 17, 2008 11:18 pm      

BANDITS: Buffalo wins first title since 1996

BUFFALO — Between Mark Steenhuis’ verve and orange shoes, John Tavares’ smooth deliveries and Roger Vyse’s slick behind-the-back passes, it’s easy to become smitten with the Buffalo Bandits’ flash.

But as Buffalo head coach Darris Kilgour reminded media members prior to Saturday’s National Lacrosse League championship game against Portland, the team’s second-half success has been more about stopping shots than converting on them.

That held true Saturday night, as Mike Thompson’s save on the LumberJax’ 52nd shot of the night with one second remaining gave the Bandits their first league title since 1996 with a heart-pumping 14-13 victory in front of a soldout HSBC Arena crowd of 18,690.

Thompson stopped Pete Jacobs, whose desperation shot ended a late Portland flurry.

Kilgour didn’t mince words about his goaltender as he stood amid a chaotic scene on the HSBC floor after the victory.

“Michael Thompson had a stellar game in net for us,” he said. “He won us a championship.”

Meanwhile, Steenhuis scored five times and earned the MVP honors, his biggest goal on what proved to be the title-winner when he pulled away from Portland’s Brodie Merrill, then beat goalie Matt Disher to put the Bandits up 14-12 with 5:37 to play.

“We had just said on the bench that the next goal was going to be huge. I was lucky enough to get a stick by (Merrill) and I got close,” said Steenhuis, who had 12 of Buffalo’s 41 shots and played a large part in controlling the team’s offensive tempo. “But give credit to the goaltending and defense. They did their job and we were lucky enough to get a couple in.”

John Tavares, the league’s all-time leading scorer, finished with a pair of goals and two assists, Kevin Dostie added a hat trick and Mike Accursi had a five-point night and set some great screens for Buffalo.

Every time Portland got near, Buffalo answered with a timely goal. When Ryan Powell scored twice for the LumberJax to cut the lead to 12-10, Billy Dee Smith scooped up a loose ball while short-handed, rolled in and beat Disher with a shot waist high.

Smith credited the crowd, many of whom stayed nearly an hour after the contest to celebrate as the team enjoyed the Champions Cup.

“The fans were unbelievable,” Smith said. “I don’t think we would have done what we did all year if it wasn’t for them.”

As for Thompson, his string of key saves in the second half kept the Bandits’ lead intact. The most spectacular came in the fourth quarter when Portland’s Tyler Codron came down on a breakaway with the Bandits leading by a 13-12 count. Thompson made the first save on Codron, then made another brilliant stop on Ray Guze while sitting on the seat of his pants in the crease.

Kilgour, who won three titles as a player, but had yet to do so as the team’s coach, said he was happy his team never gave up on the Niagara-Wheatfield grad.

“After five years, they could have said Darris doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” Kilgour said. “But they didn’t.

“And this is very gratifying.”

Contact group sports editor Tim Schmitt at 282-2311, ext. 2266.