Mark Steenhuis tied a team record with seven goals as the Buffalo Bandits routed the Rochester Knighthawks, 18-13, Saturday night at HSBC Arena.

The rubber match in the teams’ three-game series, tonight's game would determine sole possession of first place in the Eastern Division, thanks to losses by every other division foe earlier this weekend.

Unlike the past few games they have played, the Bandits did not waste any time in getting on the scoreboard, with Kim Squire notching his first goal of the night just two minutes in.

Cory Bomberry was next to beat Knighthawk goaltender Pat O’Toole, after Ken Millin cut the Bandits lead in half at the five-minute mark, Squire quickly struck again, just 29 seconds later.

Scott Evans finished the scoring for the first quarter with 1:04 remaining, cutting the Knighthawks' deficit to 3-2.

Mike Hasen tied the score at three early in the second quarter when he beat Bandits netminder Steve Dietrich. Buffalo then went on a three-goal run, starting with a goal from Steenhuis, off a pass from Dietrich. Rookie Roger Vyse was next to light the lamp, and John Tavares scored his only goal of the night to give the Bandits a 6-3 lead.

Mike Accursi attempted to swing the momentum back towards the Knighthawks with his goal at 9:29; however, the Bandits had other plans. Steenhuis, Dan Teat, and Jason Crosbie each found the back of the net during a span of less than two minutes to close the scoring for the first half and send the Bandits to the locker room at intermission with a 9-4 lead.

After the break, Buffalo picked up right where it left off when Steenhuis made it 10-4. Shawn Williams responded for the Knighthawks at 6:21, but Steenhuis soon chased O’Toole from between the pipes, scoring his fourth and fifth goals shorthanded while Kyle Laverty served a double minor for unsportsmanlike conduct and an illegal crosscheck.

Enter backup goaltender Grant Crawley, who brought a grand total of zero career saves into his relief appearance.

Williams finally capitalized on the Knighthawks' man-up situation, cutting the Bandits' lead to 12-6, but Bomberry and Teat countered moments later.

Chris Schiller closed the third-quarter scoring with a breakaway goal at 12:33, reducing the Bandits' lead to 14-7.

With a comfortable lead, Buffalo head coach Darris Kilgour decided to give Dietrich a rest for the final period, sending in newly-reacquired Ken Montour.

Steenhuis and Vyse both managed to beat Crawley within the first minute and a half, for a 16-7 lead.

Williams then quickly potted two goals to try to mount a last-ditch effort at a comeback, and Shawn Evans helped a few minutes later with his lone goal of the evening.

With time running out on the Knighthawks, Bomberry and Steenhuis brought the Bandits up to their highest goal total this season when they scored with less than six minutes to go.

Stephen Hoar, Scott Evans and Pat Dutton closed out the scoring.

The victory puts the Bandits in sole possession of first place in the Eastern Division, and drops the Knighthawks to a tie for second with the Toronto Rock.

Mark Steenhuis led Buffalo’s attack with eight points and tied John Tavares' and Darris Kilgour's record for goals in a game. Cory Bomberry (three goals, three assists) and Dan Teat (two goals, four assists) added six points each to the Bandits' scoring effort.

Shawn Williams led Rochester’s scoring with four goals and two assists. Scott Evans was second for the Knighthawks, with five points on two goals and three assists. Pat O’Toole and Grant Crawley only faced 33 shots, managing just fifteen saves between them.