For the second game in a row, and third time this season, the Philadelphia Wings found themselves held scoreless after the first quarter. And for the third time, the Wings found themselves on the losing end of this type of game. After yet another comeback that had this game looking like it would go into overtime, Minnesota's Chad Culp scored on a behind the net shot with 4.5 seconds left in regulation to give the Swarm their third straight win, 13-12 over the host Wings.
The Wings looked lackluster at best in the horrid first, outscored 4-0, outshot 15-5 and outhit on numerous plays. Faceoffs were a problem as well as Geoff Snider, despite taking part in the pre game warmup, was a scratch as he recovers from the trachea injury suffered two weeks ago in Edmonton. Athan Iannucci finally got the Wings on the board 5:30 into the second quarter and his second goal of the night late in the stanza allowed the Wings to trail by just two scores at halftime. The teams traded goals in the third, the Wings twice getting within a goal before Minnesota answered with a goal of their own.
The Wings caught fire in the fourth as goals from Iannucci (his fourth of the night), Rob Van Beek and Merrick Thomson gave Philly its first lead of the night at 10-9. Former Wing Dan Marohl continued to be a thorn in the side of his former team as he tied the game just 24 seconds after the Wings took the lead. Iannucci's fifth of the night gave the Wings their last lead of the night as Minnesota would reclaim it on goals from Aaron Wilson and Sean Pollock. When Thomson potted his third of the night with 1:25 left in regulation it appeared the Wings would force overtime, maybe even pull out a late win, until Culp's last second heroics sent the Swarm home victorious.
Rob Blasdell did a solid job in relief of starter Brandon Miller, making 41 saves and keeping the Wings in the game. Iannucci added three assist to his five goals for his best game of the season while Van Beek and the Swarm's Sean Pollock gave the fans a Flyer type highlight with a toe to toe bout early in the third quarter. For Dave Huntley's squad, they now find themselves in fifth place with the loss and have another week off before hosting the Colorado Mammoth on March 28. With five games remaining, there will need to be some sense of urgency if the Wings want a return to the postseason. And the scoreless first quarters will need to be put to rest.
