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Wings Lose to Toronto, 13-8

By- Kevin M. Neibauer

  My spin on Saturday's matinee against the First Place Toronto Rock...Toronto is led by the ageless, Colin Doyle and perhaps the best goaltender in the National Lacrosse League, Nick Rose.

  In what was probably the closest blowout that I have witnessed, Toronto prevailed with a 13-8 victory at the Wells Fargo Center.

The Wings were led offensively by Kevin Crowley who notched 4 goals and added an assist. Crowley had the distinction of scoring not one, but two buzzer beater goals.

 Paul Rabil continues to improve and Drew Westervelt matched Rabil's three point afternoon.

Brandon Miller was once again very strong in the net making 38 saves. The goaltender battle between Miller and Nick Rose of the Rock was won this time, by Rose.

 Rose was absolutely the player of the game and will no doubt take home the goaltender of the week award.
Rose made it look easy stopping 45 shots. The Philadelphia shot selection was vastly improved which made the Rose accomplishment even more impressive.

Philadelphia continued the trend of falling behind early and having to battle back. Trailing 4-1 after the first period it seemed as though things would get ugly again. The Wings kept battling and were not really outplayed. Josh Sanderson notched four first half goals and that would be the difference at halftime.

Kevin Crowley notched his first buzzer beater with .02 second remaining on the clock and the outcome still seemed in doubt.

The third quarter saw the Wings start strong scoring two quick goals. The bad karma returned when the home town team hit two posts in a one minute span.

The posts would be hit twice more and the karma would continue. Toronto's Damon Edwards took a five minute penalty for a brutal hit on Jeff Reynolds. As Coach Mouradian would point out after the contest, "We absolutely have to get two or three goals on that man up."

Not only did they NOT get the two or three goals, they actually gave up a shorthanded goal. That goal, the second shorthanded goal of the game seemed to signal the end. A wild flurry by Toronto would increase the lead to blow out proportions.

Crowley made it 13-8 with a second buzzer beater to end the bizarre afternoon.

WINGS THINGS- Rose came out of the game with about two minutes remaining and Zack Boychuk was tagged with the final two Wings goals.

Brett Manney, Brodie Merrill and Brendan Mundorf remain injured. Jeff Reynolds returned and made a huge difference on the faceoffs. Reynolds seemed to be stunned from the cheapshot and no prognosis has been made as to his status.

New addition, Angus Dineley was the back up to Miller. Mike Thompson did not dress.

Seen at the postgame party were Scott Gabrielson, Jake Bergey and former Philadelphia Eagle, John Spagnola.

The Wings have another bye week next week and returning to two road games in two nights, Minnesota then Colorado..