BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Bandits reasserted their home-field advantage and secured the postseason on their mission for a three-peat National Lacrosse League championship Buffalo scored eight goals before the visiting Las Vegas Desert Dogs got on the board in the first quarter and rode the bes t opening run in team history to a 13-10 victory in front of a crowd of 18,474 at KeyBank Center on Saturday night. The win clinched Buffalo's berth in the NLL playoffs for a fifth consecutive season. The first-place Bandits (11-2) can assure themselves a home game in the first round with another win, combined with losses by Georgia and San Diego. Buffalo plays at Albany on Saturday night. How to watch Buffalo Bandits game at Albany Firewolves on The CW23 Chris Cloutier scored a hat trick with two assists, Josh Byrne had eight points (two goals, six assists), Dhane Smith tallied seven points (two goals, five assists), and Matt Vinc made 36 saves as the Bandits responded from losing their past two games at home. The Bandits also claimed the inaugural Tucker Out Lymphoma Cup with Friday night's victory. ‘Braver than brave’: Tucker Williams’ spirit lives on in Banditland battle against cancer *** Jonah Bronstein joined the WIVB squad in 2022 as a digital sports reporter. The Buffalonian has covered the Bills, Sabres, Bandits, Bisons, colleges, high schools and other notable sporting events in Western New York since 2005, for publications including The Associated Press, The Buffalo News, and Niagara Gazette. Read more of his work here. ...read more read less