via NLL press release, by Ryan Ireland

Live Coverage on TSN, TSN+, ESPN+ at 7:30 p.m. ET from Buffalo; Colorado takes 16-10 Win in Game 2 on Monday Following Thrilling 13-12 Buffalo Win Saturday; League All-Time Attendance Record Eclipsed as 10,686 on Hand at Ball Arena

DENVER, May 29, 2023 – The Colorado Mammoth defeated the Buffalo Bandits, 16-10, to even their best-of-three National Lacrosse League (@NLL) Finals today at Ball Arena. The results sets up a winner-take-all Game 3 in Buffalo on Saturday, June 3, at 7:30 p.m. ET (TSN, TSN+, ESPN+).

It marks the second straight year that these teams go to a decisive third contest in the NLL Finals, with Colorado winning the championship last year, 10-8, in Buffalo in Game 3. Similar to last year, Buffalo took Game 1 at home before the Mammoth kept their hopes alive with a Game 2 win to force the Game 3 matchup back in Buffalo at KeyBank Center.

The 10,686 fans in attendance for Game 2 in Denver pushed the league’s total attendance mark for the 2022-23 season, including the playoffs, to its highest total ever. In all, 1,147,232 fans have come through NLL turnstiles this season, surpassing the 1,138,225 set in 2007 with one game remaining.

Colorado outscored the Bandits 10-4 in the second and third quarters to propel them to victory. Eli McLaughlin (Surrey, B.C.) and Ryan Lee (Newmarket, Ont.) led the Mammoth with seven points each, followed by Zed Williams (Silver Creek, NY) close behind with six. Mammoth netminder and 2022 NLL Finals MVP, Dillon Ward (Orangeville, Ont.), saved 38 of 48 Bandits shots.

This game followed a nail-biting, 13-12 Buffalo win at KeyBank Center in Game 1 on Saturday, with Dhane Smith (Kitchener, Ont.) scoring five goals, Tehoka Nanticoke (Six Nations, Ont.) and Chase Fraser (Vancouver, B.C.) adding three each and Matt Vinc (St. Catharines, Ont.) recording 31 saves, including several in the final moments against a furious Mammoth challenge to secure the win.

To review the 2023 NLL Playoffs bracket, visit https://www.nll.com/standings/.

About the National Lacrosse League

The National Lacrosse League (NLL) is North America’s premier professional lacrosse league. Founded in 1986, the NLL is comprised of 15 franchises across the United States and Canada: Albany FireWolves, Buffalo Bandits, Calgary Roughnecks, Colorado Mammoth, Georgia Swarm, Halifax Thunderbirds, Las Vegas Desert Dogs, New York Riptide, Panther City Lacrosse Club (TX), Philadelphia Wings, Rochester Knighthawks, San Diego Seals, Saskatchewan Rush, Toronto Rock, and Vancouver Warriors.

For the latest scores and developments in the National Lacrosse League, please visit: NLL.com and find the NLL on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

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Media inquiries contact:  Ryan Ireland, rireland@nll.com, 303-902-3373