The Buffalo Bandits continued on their way to the playoffs with a 12-9 victory over the Ottawa Rebel Friday night before 7,943 fans at HSBC Arena.

The Bandits can clinch their first postseason berth in three years by defeating the Rebel again tomorrow night in Ottawa, and, with a little help, can claim the Central Division title on Sunday.

Jonas Derks started the scoring with Buffalo’s first goal just twenty-one seconds into the match, and Rich Kilgour followed two minutes later for a 2-0 lead. Jason Clark got the Rebel on the board at 3:15, but Buffalo’s Pat McCready capitalized on a huge mistake by Rebel goalie Matt Disher just seconds later.

Disher came out of the net to try and beat McCready to a loose ball in the corner, but McCready got there first. Disher fell and McCready shot the ball into the empty net to make it 3-1.

Mat Giles brought the Rebel within a goal at 8:04, but Mike Accursi put the Bandits up 4-2 with four minutes left in the quarter. Giles closed out the first quarter scoring with his second goal, cutting Buffalo’s lead to 4-3.

John Tavares scored his first goal of the night six minutes into the second quarter to put Buffalo up 5-3. Ottawa’s Brad Self brought the Rebel back within two at the nine-minute mark with his shorthanded goal while Kyle Laverty was sitting two minutes for interference.

Mike Accursi beat Disher with a minute to go before intermission and the Bandits were up 6-4 when they headed into the locker room.

Kevin Howard brought the Rebel within a goal early in the third quarter, and John Veltman tied it at six a few minutes later. Tavares gave the Bandits back the lead with five minutes left in the third stanza, Mark Steenhuis added a goal, and Tavares netted his third to give the Bandits a 9-6 lead heading into the final period.

Bruce Codd opened the fourth quarter scoring, but Kerry Susheski quickly reciprocated with his only goal of the night. Jonas Derks and Lindsay Plunkett put the Bandits up by a score of 12-7 a few minutes later.

Clark and Kevin Dostie to lead Ottawa in a comeback bid, but the comeback ran out of time and the Bandits improved its record to 10-2 while Ottawa fell to 4-8.

John Tavares led the Bandits scoring with three goals and three assists, and netminder Steve Dietrich earned Game MVP honors for his 39-save performance.

Ottawa’s scoring leaders were Clark and Giles, with two goals and an assist each. Disher also had a great game, stopping 41 of Buffalo’s 53 shots.

BOX SUMMARY
                                      1  2  3  4     TOT
Ottawa Rebel (4-8)                    3  1  2  3  --   9
Buffalo Bandits (10-2)                4  2  3  3  --  12

OTTAWA REBEL                  BUFFALO BANDITS
               G - A   PTS                   G - A   PTS
J Clark        2 - 1     3    J Tavares      3 - 3     6
Giles          2 - 1     3    Derks          2 - 2     4
Howard         1 - 1     2    Susheski       1 - 3     4
B Self         1 - 1     2    R Kilgour      1 - 2     3
Codd           1 - 0     1    Accursi        2 - 0     2
Dostie         1 - 0     1    Steenhuis      1 - 1     2
Jo Veltman     1 - 0     1    Crosbie        0 - 2     2
Pacey          0 - 1     1    D Jacobs       0 - 2     2
                              McCready       1 - 0     1
                              Plunkett       1 - 0     1
                              Dietrich       0 - 1     1
                              Hackel         0 - 1     1

Shots on goal           48    Shots on goal           53
Saves made by           41    Saves made by           39
   Disher            41          Dietrich          39
Penalties                9    Penalties               11
Penalty Minutes         27    Penalty Minutes         31
Power Play Chances       7    Power Play Chances       5
Power Play Goals         2    Power Play Goals         3
   Giles              1          Accursi            2
   Jo Veltman         1          J Tavares          1
Shorthanded Goals        1    Shorthanded Goals        0
   B Self             1          (None)
Loose Balls            118    Loose Balls            108
   Disher            25          Dietrich          17
   S Self            12          Steenhuis         13
   Roy               11          Several tied w/    8
Faceoffs Won            13    Faceoffs Won            12
   S Self       (12-11)          Accursi      ( 6- 3)
   Dostie       ( 1- 1)          R Kilgour    ( 6-10)

  *** STATS OFFICIAL BY VERIFY WITH BUFFALO BANDITS ***