The Buffalo Bandits have averaged 15,833 fans per game this season at the First Niagara Center or a National Lacrosse League high 142,505 for the season.

"I believe our fans are the best in the league," Buffalo coach Troy Cordingley said earlier this week. "When you get 17,000 fans that are rocking and rolling, that motivates the guys."

That's what the New England Black Wolves will face Saturday, as the Wolves — down one game to nothing — play a must-win game at Buffalo beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the second game of the East Division finals. Should New England win that game, it would play a 10-minute tiebreaking "mini-game" immediately thereafter to decide the division title.

The winner will meet either Calgary or Saskatchewan for the Champions Cup.

"We've got another game against these guys," Cordingley said following Monday's 15-10 victory over New England at Mohegan Sun Arena. "We haven't won anything yet. I don't know if there's an advantage in this league. We have a long way to go here."

Buffalo was 2-1 against the Black Wolves during the regular season. The Wolves won 15-11 at home on Jan. 30 and lost the following game at Buffalo (12-10) on Feb. 6. Buffalo won the series finale at home on April 30, 12-7 to hold off second-place New England for the East Division title.

Monday's playoff game featured 58 penalty minutes, 32 for Buffalo and 26 for New England, including a five-minute major for fighting by MVP candidate Shawn Evans. Evans was injured in the April 30 game at Buffalo.

"When the refs aren't calling the off-ball whacks and the slashing liberties ... I took it upon myself to get a couple back," Evans said. "We're not going down without a fight."

"That fires you up," New England's Kyle Buchanan said. "Evy's a heart guy. We've got a bunch of guys like that on our team."

Buchanan led the Black Wolves (11-9) on Monday with three goals and two assists and Pat Saunders had three goals and one assist. Kevin Crowley had three assists. Dhane Smith had five goals and two assists for Buffalo (14-5) and Ryan Benesch had three goals and six assists.

Black Wolves coach Glenn Clark said the loss didn't change much for his team: New England still needs to win Saturday's game.

"We've got to put one perfect game together," Evans said.

"We need to stick to the script," Buchanan said. "I think that's what you're going to see Saturday."

v.fulkerson@theday.com