April 29, 2011
Blazers ready for NLL playoff opener
by Staff Report/
Casey Powell and the Boston Blazers will face Buffalo in the opening round of the NLL playoffs on Saturday night. (photo: Mark Brodie)
The Boston Bandits will face the Buffalo Bandits in the opening round of the 2011 National Lacrosse League playoffs on Saturday night (7:30 p.m.) at Buffalo’s HSBC Arena.
Buffalo (10-6) is the top seed in the East, while Boston (8-8) enters the playoffs as the No. 4 seed.
Boston enters the playoffs on a two-game winning streak, including a season-ending 16-9 victory in Buffalo.
Buffalo won two of three against Boston in 2011, defeating Boston 9-8 on March 6 in Boston before recording a 12-10 victory in Buffalo on March 12.
The teams enter the playoffs with similar numbers statistically. Buffalo scored 169 goals in 2011 while Boston tallied 166. The Blazers allowed the fewest goals in the NLL this season at 155, but Buffalo was right behind Boston with 159 goals allowed.
Boston goaltender Anthony Cosmo led the NLL with a 9.66 goals-against average, with Buffalo’s Mike Thompson ranked second at 9.67.
Boston’s Dan Dawson tied for third in the NLL points race in 2011 with 31 goals and 59 assists for 90 points. Teammate Casey Powell was sixth with 34 goals and 47 assists for 81 points.
John Tavares is Buffalo’s leading scorer with 32 goals and 46 assists for 78 points.
