How to watch Buffalo Bandits vs. Ottawa Black Bears NLL lacrosse game

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – The Buffalo Bandits take their 1-0 record to Ottawa on Friday night for a 7 p.m. faceoff. Here's how to watch, stream and listen to the game.

Television

The Bandits vs. Black Bears game will be shown live in the Buffalo market at 7 p.m. on The CW23 (WNLO-TV). We are scheduled to air 17 of the Bandits' 18 regular-season games this season.

Canadian fans can watch the game on TSN.

Streaming

NLL games stream live on ESPN+ for those in the United States. Fans in Canada can stream on TSN+.

A replay will be available through NLL+, a new, free service available this year.

Radio

All Bandits games are scheduled to be available on 1520 AM in Western New York.

What to know about Bandits vs. Black Bears

The Bandits are looking to complete the hat trick this season by winning their third straight NLL Cup, a feat that has only been accomplished once before in league history (Rochester Knighthawks, 2012-14). They started off on the right foot last week, beating Rochester 15-7 in the opener, pulling away with eight goals in the fourth quarter.

Dhane Smith and Kyle Buchanan scored three goals apiece while Smith also added eight assists, tying him for second in the league despite playing one fewer game than most other teams. (The NLL single-game assist record is 13 by Buffalo's Mark Steenhuis in 2009.)

Ottawa (1-0) beat Toronto 11-5 in its only game this season behind three goals and three assists from Jacob Dunbar and five points from Jeff Teat. Larson Sundown, a Basom native who starred at Akron High School and won the Tom Borelli Memorial Award, signed a three-year contract with Ottawa this summer after posting 74 points in two seasons with the New York Riptide. He had an assist in the opener.

The Bandits will raise last season's championship banner in a ceremony prior to the Dec. 28 home opener. Tickets are available here.

Buffalo Bandits 2024-25 roster

• Forwards (7): Kyle Buchanan, Josh Byrne, Chris Cloutier, Chase Fraser, Tehoka Nanticoke, Lukas Nielsen, Dhane Smith
• Transition (4): Connor Farrell, Ian MacKay, Matt Spanger, Thomas Whitty
• Defensemen (8): Zach Belter, Paul Dawson, Sam La Roue, Justin Martin, Steve Priolo, Dylan Robinson, Nick Weiss, Cam Wyers
• Goalies (2): Steve Orleman, Matt Vinc
• Practice Squad (4): Evan Constantopoulos, Taylor Dooley, Trent Robertson, Clay Scanlan
• Physically Unable to Perform/IR (2): Emerson Clark, Bryce Sweeting

Buffalo Bandits 2024-25 schedule

Home games in bold

• Saturday, Dec. 7 at Rochester – 7 p.m. (CW23) – Won 15-7
• Friday, Dec. 13 at Ottawa – 7 p.m. (CW23)
• Saturday, Dec. 28 vs. Rochester – 6:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
• Friday, Jan. 10 vs. Toronto – 7:30 p.m. (CW23)
• Saturday, Jan. 18 vs. Philadelphia – 7:30 p.m. (CW23)
• Saturday, Feb. 1 vs. Albany – 7:30 p.m. (CW23)
• Friday, Feb. 14 at Toronto – 7 p.m. (CW23)
• Saturday, Feb. 15 vs. San Diego – 7:30 p.m. (CW23)
• Saturday, Feb. 22 at San Diego – 10 p.m. (CW23)
• Saturday, March 1 at Saskatchewan – 8 p.m. (CW23)
• Saturday, March 8 vs. Calgary – 6:30 p.m. (CW23)
• Saturday, March 15 at Calgary – 9 p.m. (CW23)
• Friday, March 21 vs. Las Vegas – 7:30 p.m. (CW23)
• Saturday, March 22 at Albany – 7:30 p.m. (CW23)
• Saturday, March 29 vs. Vancouver – 7:30 p.m. (CW23)
• Saturday, April 5 at Colorado – 9 p.m. (CW23)
• Saturday, April 12 vs. Halifax – 7:30 p.m. (CW23)
• Saturday, April 19 at Georgia – 7:30 p.m. (CW23)