The road goes through Buffalo tonight in the Eastern Division semifinal. The Wings and the Bandits split games during the regular season, the latter a loss in March that ended the Wings' 6-0 unbeaten streak. The Bandits are led by forward John Tavares, the team's scoring leader with 87 points (29 goals).

The winner plays New York or Minnesota in the division finals.

"John Tavares, much like [Bandits teammates] John Grant and Colin Doyle, you really have to account for every second they are on the floor," Huntley said. "[Tavares] can quickly pick up eight points; he's just one of those guys you have to have your attention on 100 percent of the time."

But the Wings boast the NLL's quintessential offensive threat in Athan Iannucci, the single-season points recordholder (100 points, 71 goals), coming off his third player of the month award after a 35-point effort (25 goals) in six games in April.

The Wings also have other offensive threats in Jake Bergey (60 points) and Merrick Thompson (55 points), solid transitional play from Geoff Snider, and consistent play from goaltenders Rob Blasdell (434 saves) and Brandon Miller, a reliable backup touting a .788 save percentage.

Yet, individual accomplishments aren't as vital as playing as a impenetrable unit. "This situation is not totally new for us as individuals, but it's new for us as a group," said Huntley. "We really have to take whatever playoff experience we all have and apply that."

Tonight will serve as a proving ground in more ways than one. *