Kyle Couling and Mark Steenhuis scored a half-minute apart midway through the fourth quarter of Friday night's game as the Buffalo Bandits rallied past the Philadelphia Wings, 8-7.

A crowd of 10,379, the smallest at HSBC Arena this season, took in a game that meant nearly nothing and everything at the same time. For the Bandits, who had already clinched the National Lacrosse League’s East Division regular season title, their last home game of the season meant only a shot at home-floor advantage throughout the playoffs.

To Philadelphia, though, this game meant the playoffs -- although it is possible for the Wings to get in with one win and help, sweeping this weekend's home-and-home would have erased all doubt.

John Tavares wasted no time putting the Bandits on the scoreboard with his goal just 39 seconds after the opening faceoff, but Jeff Ratcliffe evened the score for the Wings three minutes later.

Dan Teat gave the Bandits a 2-1 lead at the 6:20 mark. Philadelphia got goals from Dan Marohl and Ratcliffe to close the first quarter scoring and give the Wings a 3-2 lead heading into the second stanza.

Ratcliffe scored again to open the second quarter, putting the Wings ahead, 4-2. Sean Greenhalgh increased that lead to 5-2 before Kim Squire scored the Bandits' lone goal of the quarter with just under nine minutes to play before intermission and the Wings took a 5-3 lead to the locker room.

After a seven-minute defensive battle to start the second half, Shawn Nadelen increased the Wings' cushion to 6-3. Teat and Pat McCready both snuck the ball past Philadelphia goaltender Matt Roik to bring the Bandits back within a goal going to the final period.

Squire tied the game for the Bandits just three minutes into the fourth quarter. Couling then put the Bandits ahead with a goal at 7:23 and Steenhuis scored an insurance goal 31 seconds later.

The Steenhuis goal ended up being critical, as Marohl scored with four minutes left to play, pulling the Wings within a goal. The Buffalo defense stood tall the rest of the way, though, preserving the victory.

With the victory and Calgary's loss later in the evening, Buffalo secured home-floor advantage throughout the playoffs, including the championship game, should the Bandits make it that far.

Philadelphia is still alive in the playoff race, but must win the rematch tomorrow night at the Wachovia Center and get help in the form of Toronto and Minnesota victories.

Teat led the Bandits attack with two goals and two assists, with Squire (two goals, one assist) and Tavares (one goal, two assists) tallying three points each. In goal, Steve Dietrich faced 46 shots, making 39 saves.

Philadelphia was led in scoring by Dan Marohl, with two goals and three assists. Jeff Ratcliffe added three goals and an assist, with netminder Matt Roik stopping 51 of 59 Buffalo shots.