Mark Steenhuis broke a 10-all tie with 3:09 left in regulation as the Buffalo Bandits edged the Minnesota Swarm, 11-10, in front of a small but electric crowd of 8,110 Sunday afternoon at HSBC Arena.

The Bandits came out of the gate shooting and took a 2-0 lead just more than a minute in, on goals from John Tavares and Dan Teat. Chad Culp got the Swarm on the scoreboard three and a half minutes later, and Delby Powless closed the first quarter scoring at Bandits 3, Swarm 1.

The second stanza scoring started as quickly as the first when Tavares beat Swarm goalie Nick Patterson just 49 seconds after the opening faceoff, but Brock Boyle jumpstarted the Swarm's scoring when he found the back of the net 41 seconds later.

Steenhuis and Cory Bomberry quickly increased Buffalo's cushion to 6-2. Bomberry’s goal was enough to chase Patterson from the Swarm net, replaced by veteran netminder Matt Disher.

Disher was able to hold off the Buffalo onslaught for about six minutes, until Pat McCready beat him on transition. Jamie Taylor and Andrew Biers answered with a goal each, bringing the Swarm back within three before Teat notched his second, giving the Bandits an 8-4 lead to take to the locker room.

Minnesota's Rory McDade was first to find rope in the third quarter, but Buffalo’s Kim Squire had a quick answer, scoring his first goal of the game at 3:46. After six minutes with no scoring, Tavares got the ball past Disher, increasing the Bandits' lead to 10-5.

Eric Pacey and Ryan Ward each found the back of the Buffalo net in the last minute of the third quarter, cutting the Swarm's deficit to 10-7.

Minnesota's two goals to finish the third quarter started an uncharacteristic collapse for the Bandits which would allow the Swarm to get right back into the game. Three straight Swarm goals began the fourth quarter, with Sean Pollock, Kasey Beirnes, and Ward lighting the lamp.

That knotted the game at 10 with just under seven minutes to play. After being held scoreless for nearly thirteen minutes and allowing the Swarm to score five straight goals, Buffalo finally got back on track with Steenhuis' goal at 11:51.

It ended up being the game-winner, as neither Disher nor Steve Dietrich allowed another goal the rest of the way, allowing the Bandits to escape.

Tavares earned Player of the Game honors for his six-point (three goals, three assists) performance, while Steenhuis and Teat each contributed two goals and an assist.

Ward led the scoring in Minnesota's losing effort, contributing two goals and three assists. Culp and Taylor each added a goal and three assists.

The Bandits will now move on to the Eastern Division finals against the Rochester Knighthawks, on Saturday, 29 April at HSBC Arena.