Chris Driscoll had a chance to write a storybook ending to last night's National Lacrosse League game at Blue Cross Arena.

The former Rochester Knighthawk, now playing for archrival Buffalo, had the ball at the top of the slot with 15 seconds left to play and the Bandits trailing 14-13.

Driscoll, who was part of a four-player trade that brought Darris Kilgour to Rochester last week, wound up and unleashed a savage shot that would have capped a furious Bandit rally from six goals down in the fourth quarter -- if it had gone in.

Instead, the ball sailed wide of the net, Pat McCready corralled the loose ball for the Knighthawks and ultimately set up Randy Mearns for a clinching empty-net goal as Rochester escaped with a 15-13 victory.

The win clinched a playoff spot for the Knighthawks (7-4) for the fifth time in the five-year history of the team. Buffalo was eliminated from the post-season for the first time in its eight-year history.

"It's three weeks now, that's all that's left," Rochester coach Paul Day said. "We have to be committed for the three weeks."

The third-place Knighthawks will open the postseason the weekend of April 17 in either Baltimore or Toronto.

The game started terribly for the Knighthawks as Buffalo raced to a 3-0 lead in the first 2:42 with Driscoll involved in two of the goals.

He opened the scoring just 15 seconds into the game by ripping a shot past Pat O'Toole. After Travis Kilgour made it 2-0, Driscoll helped set up a goal by another ex-Knighthawk, Shaydon Santos.

Darris Kilgour ended the run by working off a screen in front and whipping one past Marty O'Neill, and before the quarter ended, Rochester was within 5-4 as Darris Kilgour and Driscoll traded goals and Duane Jacobs (game MVP with five goals) scored twice for Rochester.

Rochester's defense picked up in the second quarter as it limited Buffalo to one goal, that by John Tavares off an assist by Driscoll. But the Knighthawks responded with four of their own, the last by Kilgour on a power play.

The Knighthawks appeared to be on easy street when they took charge in the second half. They stretched their lead to 11-8 through three quarters, and then Tim Soudan, Jacobs and Jeremy Hollenbeck scored in the first three minutes of the fourth quarter for a 14-8 advantage.

But Rochester stopped playing offense at that point, and the Bandits went on a five-goal run -- three by Tavares -- to pull within 14-13 with 1:22 to go.

BOX SUMMARY
                                  1  2  3  4     TOT
Buffalo Bandits (4-7)             5  1  2  5  --  13
Rochester Knighthawks (4-7)       4  4  3  4  --  15

BUFFALO BANDITS               ROCHESTER KNIGHTHAWKS
               G - A   PTS                   G - A   PTS
Tavares        4 - 2     6    Jacobs         5 - 1     6
Driscoll       2 - 3     5    D Kilgour      3 - 2     5
Cordingley     0 - 5     5    Soudan         2 - 3     5
R Kilgour      2 - 1     3    Mearns         1 - 3     4
T Kilgour      2 - 1     3    MacArthur      0 - 4     4
Stevenson      1 - 1     2    Dowling        1 - 2     3
O'Neill        0 - 2     2    McCready       0 - 3     3
Rosa           0 - 2     2    Malawsky       1 - 1     2
Batley         1 - 0     1    Teat           1 - 1     2
Santos         1 - 0     1    Hollenbeck     1 - 0     1
Benedict       0 - 1     1    Co Bomberry    0 - 1     1
Ca Bomberry    0 - 1     1    Cecconi        0 - 1     1
Doddridge      0 - 1     1    O'Toole        0 - 1     1
Kisslinger     0 - 1     1    Powell         0 - 1     1
Vilnoff        0 - 1     1

Shots on goal           57    Shots on goal           53
Saves made by (GA)      38    Saves made by (GA)      44
   O'Neill (14)      38          O'Toole (13)      44
Loose Balls             90    Loose Balls            104
   Tavares           11          MacArthur         12
   Driscoll           9          O'Toole           11
   Rosa               8          Soudan            10

*** STATS OFFICIAL BY VERIFY WITH ROCH KNIGHTHAWKS ***