John Tavares scored five goals, including the game-winner, as the Buffalo Bandits defeated the Calgary Roughnecks, 13-12, in an overtime thriller Friday night at the Pengrowth Saddledome.

Based on noise, the crowd seemed a whole lot larger than the announced attendance of 8,721. They came out to see a game that never had a lead larger than two goals at any point, starting off with Ryan Powell scoring a mere 49 seconds into the contest. The Roughnecks answered back with a John Kilbride goal on a pass from Matt King. Then the Johnny Tavares travelling road show started up, with a goal on a five-on-three advantage, but before the next penalty ended, it was Kaleb Toth tossing in the shorthanded goal to tie it back up.

Tavares waited two minutes before taking a pass from Powell and depositing it behind King for his second goal of the night. Then, the Roughnecks began to roll a bit. First it was Benny Prepchuk scoring, then Adam Bysouth gave the Roughnecks their first lead of the game, finishing off a defensive charge where the Bandits basically let him walk in down low before shooting. With the Roughnecks back in the penalty box, Mike Accursi took a Randy Mearns pass to tie it at four, ending the period deadlocked. During the first quarter, the referees were active, calling nine penalties, five on the Roughnecks.

The second quarter started fast and this was the special teams quarter of the game. With Kevin Howard already in the sin bin, it was Prepchuk scoring his second of the night, only eighteen seconds in. Then, with Kyle Goundrey sitting out two minutes for slashing, Chris Panos scored the Roughnecks' second shorthanded goal of the night but on that same penalty, Randy Mearns cut into the Roughies' lead, finishing a Ryan Powell pass.

Jesse Phillips soon was playing defense so aggressive it earned him five minutes in the box, for which the Roughies paid dearly. First, Mike Accursi scored his second power play goal of the night, then Jason Clark put the Bandits back into the lead to bring out the mercy rule. Goundrey stopped the bleeding, taking a Jason Wulder pass and putting a shot in through the five hole. But before the quarter came to a close, Clark and Tavares scored to give the Bandits a two-goal lead at the half. Shots to that point were also two apart, with the Bandits leading, 25-23.

The third quarter was given over to the defense. Ben Prepchuk scored a minute and forty seconds into the half, and exactly two-and-a-half minutes later, Tavares converted a power play opportunity, concluding the scoring portion of the quarter. What really highlighted the quarter was a monster bout featuring Matt Green and Rob Kirkby, with Green coming out the victor. The bout revived the crowd, and seemingly the entire Roughneck squad, although they couldn't put anything past Dietrich.

In the fourth quarter, the scoring again came rather quickly. Wulder took advantage of a Bandit defensive miscue and scooped the loose ball all alone in front of the crease. With a quick step to his right, Wulder dropped the ball in behind Dietrich and in the net. On the same play, Kyle Couling picked up an interference penalty after the goal and was sitting in the box when Andy Ogilvie found a faceoff loose ball. Ogilvie then outpaced the scrambling Roughnecks to score the breakaway, shorthanded goal, restoring the two-goal lead. But on the same power play, Chris Panos completed a passing play for his second goal of the night.

Kilbride soon found himself playing the role of assassin, scoring to tie it up at eleven. However, Powell wasn't going to give it up there, scoring off a great pass from Kevin Howard. The Roughnecks' spark plug -- and also the player with the longest quote in the gameday magazine -- stepped up. Matt Green laid a beauty of a pick and rolled towards the net, receiving a pass from Jesse Phillips and burying it to tie things up as the crowd went nuts. The fourth quarter ended knotted at twelve.

The Roughnecks's second overtime game in franchise history started with by winning the faceoff and calling a quick timeout. Running a set play out of the timeout netted Calgary a sustained offensive drive but no shots on goal. Then, a wild Roughneck rebound that resulted in a loose ball rolling towards the crease that Dietrich scooped and tossed. With a player breaking already and with one coming off the bench, Dietrich was confident that one of those would get the long pass. Amazingly enough, it was Tavares that took the pass in stride and outpaced the Roughneck trying to backcheck. His shot went to the top right corner, over Matt King's shoulder to end the night 3:12 into the overtime period.

Tavares fifth and final goal gave him seven points on the night to lead the Bandits. The Molson Roughneck of the Game was Matt King, who came up with 35 saves in a losing effort. Dietrich stopped 32 shots and had the game winning assist. Next up for the Roughnecks is the Albany Attack at home on 27 January, while the Bandits travel to Philadelphia a week from tonight.

BOX SUMMARY
                                   1  2  3  4 OT     TOT
Buffalo Bandits (3-2)              4  5  1  2  1  --  13
Calgary Roughnecks (4-6)           4  3  1  4  0  --  12

BUFFALO BANDITS               CALGARY ROUGHNECKS
               G - A   PTS                   G - A   PTS
Tavares        5 - 2     7    Panos          2 - 3     5
Powell         2 - 3     5    Prepchuk       3 - 1     4
Driscoll       0 - 5     5    Kilbride       2 - 2     4
Accursi        2 - 2     4    K Goundrey     1 - 2     3
J Clark        2 - 0     2    Toth           1 - 2     3
Mearns         1 - 1     2    Wulder         1 - 2     3
Couling        0 - 2     2    J Phillips     0 - 3     3
Howard         0 - 2     2    King           0 - 2     2
Ogilvie        1 - 0     1    Bysouth        1 - 0     1
Dietrich       0 - 1     1    Green          1 - 0     1
Kirkby         0 - 1     1    B Alexander    0 - 1     1
Langdale       0 - 1     1    Desormeaux     0 - 1     1
McCready       0 - 1     1    Hillier        0 - 1     1
Seller         0 - 1     1    

Shots on goal           48    Shots on goal           44
Saves made by           32    Saves made by           35
   Dietrich          32          King              35
Penalties               10    Penalties                9
Penalty Minutes         23    Penalty Minutes         24
Power Play Chances       7    Power Play Chances       8
Power Play Goals         6    Power Play Goals         2
   Accursi            2          Panos              1
   Tavares            2          Prepchuk           1
   J Clark            1
   Mearns             1
Shorthanded Goals        1    Shorthanded Goals        2
   Ogilvie            1          Panos              1
                                 Toth               1
Loose Balls             56    Loose Balls             51
   Ogilvie            8          J Phillips        10
   Dietrich           7          Kilbride           6
   Tavares            6          King               6
Faceoffs Won            10    Faceoffs Won            17
   Kirkby       ( 6-11)          Sundher      (17-10)
   Accursi      ( 2- 1)
   R Kilgour    ( 1- 1)
   Langdale     ( 1- 4)

*** STATS OFFICIAL BY VERIFY WITH CALGARY ROUGHNECKS ***