2022 Buffalo Bandits season
| 2022 Buffalo Bandits | |
|---|---|
| East Division Champions | |
| League | NLL |
| Division | 1st East |
| 2022 record | 14–4 |
| Home record | 7–2 |
| Road record | 7–2 |
| Goals for | 247 |
| Goals against | 185 |
| General Manager | Steve Dietrich |
| Coach | John Tavares |
| Captain | Steve Priolo |
| Alternate captains | Dhane Smith, Kevin Brownell |
| Arena | KeyBank Center |
| Team leaders | |
| Goals | Dhane Smith (41) |
| Assists | Dhane Smith (94) |
| Points | Dhane Smith (135) |
| Penalties in minutes | Tehoka Nanticoke (47) |
| Loose Balls | Steve Priolo (116) |
| Wins | Matt Vinc (14) |
| Goals against average | Matt Vinc (10.10) |
The Buffalo Bandits are a lacrosse team based in Buffalo, New York, playing in the National Lacrosse League (NLL). The 2022 season was their 30th season in the NLL. The Bandits returned to play after the entire 2021 season was cancelled due to Covid 19. They started the season on December 4 at home, defeating the Calgary Roughnecks, 16–9.
Buffalo got out to a hot start, starting with a 6–0 record, before falling to the Toronto Rock on February 12, by a score of 12–10. The Bandits then won seven straight following the loss, bringing their record to a league-best 13–1 record, after defeating the Philadelphia Wings on March 31. Despite losing three of their final four games of the regular season, Buffalo finished the regular season with a 14–4 record, the best record in the NLL for the season.
In the playoffs, Buffalo took down the Albany FireWolves in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, which was then followed up with a 2 games to none sweep of the Toronto Rock in the Eastern Conference Finals, allowing the Bandits to advance to the NLL Finals for the first time since 2019, where they would face the Colorado Mammoth.
Unfortunately, the Bandits could not win the championship, as they lost two straight games after winning Game 1 of the Finals at home. The loss in the NLL Finals extended their championship drought to 14 years.