By: Riley Pollock – 06.03.25
SETTIN’ IT UP
A date in the Queen City.
The Roughnecks look for their seventh win of the season when they head to Buffalo to battle the Bandits on Saturday night. (6:30 p.m. MST. TSN, ESPN+)
The Riggers (6-6) dropped their second straight contest last weekend, falling 11-8 to Colorado. Tanner Cook had three goals and two assists, while Nick Rose made 45 stops in his first start with since being acquired by the team in a trade with Toronto.
Buffalo (9-1) took down Saskatchewan 9-7 last week in a battle for first place and have won two-straight since falling 14-13 in overtime to San Diego a few weeks ago.
Jesse King enters the game with 50 assists, including a league-leading 19 on the powerplay.
Curtis Dickson heads into Week 15 with 33 goals this year which is also tops in the NLL.
This is the first of two meetings between the Riggers and Bandits this season. The Bandits visit Calgary next Saturday (March 15) for the rematch during the St. Patrick’s Day Party at the Rough House. TICKETS
Players To Watch
Roughnecks: D Eli Salama: Salama scooped a season-high 13 loose balls last weekend in Colorado to go along with one block and one caused turnover defensively. Salama now has 87 loose balls this season.
Bandits: F Dhane Smith: It’s been another great season for Smith. He sits second in the league with 83 points entering Week 15.
2024-25 Scoring Leaders:
Roughnecks:
Curtis Dickson – 76 points (33g, 43a)
Jesse King – 69 points (19g, 50a)
Dane Dobbie – 51 points (31g, 20a)
Tyler Pace – 49 points (14g, 34a)
Bandits:
Dhane Smith – 83 points (20g, 63a)
Josh Byrne – 77 points (27g, 50a)
Ian MacKay – 34 points (22g, 12a)
Goaltending 2024-25 Head-to-Head:
Nick Rose: 0-1 (With Roughnecks)
GAA: 11.56
SV %: 80%
Matt Vinc: 9-1
GAA: 10.20
SV %: 80%
