Tonight's home opener, of the 2012 season, has the Swarm matched up with the Bandits of Buffalo (NY).
Coming into tonight's game, the Swarm (0-1) are fresh off a bye, after a tough road loss to Colorado, 20-14, at the Pepsi Center, on January 14th. The Swarm are led by 2011 NLL scoring champion, Ryan Benesch and 2011 NLL All-Rookie team member and 2012 captain Andrew Suitor, on the offensive end. Through one game, though, the team is led by Callum Crawford in all offensive categories. Crawford has 4 goals, 5 assists, 9 points and 10 shots on goal. On the defensive end, the players to watch are Joe Cinosky and Nik Bilic. Expected to be in the net, for the Swarm, is Nick Patterson, who holds a goals against average of 20, with 30 saves and a save percentage of .600.
On the opposing end, Buffalo is 2-1 after a 13-10 loss to Philadelphia, last night, at home, and wins over Toronto and Rochester. The Bandits are led by John Tavares and Mike Thompson. For more information on the Bandits, read this scouting report.
The Swarm will win if:
- They can get a solid perfomance on the defensive end and from Nick Patterson.
- They can score early and throw Mike Thompson off his game.
- They can wear down the Bandits, late in the game.
- The Xcel Energy Center crowd is loud.
The Bandits will win if:
- They can score early and often, getting into Patterson's head and quieting the Xcel crowd.
- They can slow down the pace of the game and keep it low scoring.
- Mike Thompson, once again, plays on the top of his game.
Prediction: The Swarm will be fresh and healthy, after the Bye. The Bandits will be tired down and wore out, after a game, in Buffalo, the night before and a long and late flight to Minneapolis. Buffalo will hang around early but, run out of gas and fall out, late, leading to a Swarm victory. Swarm 13 Bandits 11.
- Who: Swarm vs. Bandits
- What: Home opener 2012/Native American Heritage Night
- Where: Treasure Island Field at the Xcel Energy Center
- When: 7:00 PM (CT)
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