The Buffalo Bandits are learning what life without star John Tavares might be like after the National Lacrosse League’s all-time leading scorer retires.
And frankly, it’s no fun.
Tavares has missed the team’s first four games this season, and the Bandits have lost all four. And according to his coach Darris Kilgour, Tavares won’t return to the lineup any time soon.
“He’s probably not going to play for the next three weeks,” said Kilgour, a Niagara-Wheatfield graduate. “It is what it is and we just have to bear down. The next four games are really important in our season.”
That begins tonight when the cellar dwellers from the East (Buffalo) host the West’s worst team in Minnesota (1-2).
Kilgour said different facets have been exposed during the losing skid, but he believes he knows which piece is hurting the team most.
“Offense,” he said. “The offense has to score some goals. But everything’s been going wrong. The defense can’t get a stop when we need it, the offense can’t get a goal when we need it and the goalies can’t make a save when we need it. We’ve been right there.”
Mark Steenhuis still leads the Bandits on offense, scoring 10 goals and adding eight assists, but not other Buffalo player is in the league’s top 35 in scoring, a surprising stat considering last season’s domination of the league stat sheet.
Kilgour stressed that his team needs to maintain some consistency, a message he echoed during the team’s swoon through the second half of last season.
“We need to understand that we need to show up for 60 minutes. Not 15,” Kilgour said. “Once we do, we’ll end up a better team than we’ve been.”
Minnesota is led by Aaron Wilson, who has eight goals, and is led by coach Mike Lines, a St. Catharines, Ont., native who once worked as a scout for the Bandits.
Lines insisted that his team can’t worry about playing in Buffalo, one of the league’s loudest and most intimidating venues.
“I think we need to concentrate on our own problems instead of worrying about anybody else,” Lines said. “We expect them to come out with a big crowd at home.”
GAME NIGHT
• WHAT: Minnesota at Buffalo, NLL Lacrosse
• WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
• WHERE: HSBC Arena
• RADIO: WWKB 1520
• NOTES: John Tavares won’t be back for the next three weeks according to Buffalo coach Darris Kilgour. ... Minnesota is coached by former Bandits scout Mike Lines. ... Bandits play four of next five games at home, including next Saturday against East Division leaders Toronto.
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NLL LACROSSE: Without Tavares, Bandits look for first win
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