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Wings Lacrosse 2014 (4-12-14 at Toronto)

By Tom Hoffman

The Philadelphia Wings (5-10) will travel to the Air Canada Centre on Saturday night to face the Toronto Rock (6-9) in what amounts to a playoff game for both teams.  Faceoff is at 7 PM and can be seen live at www.youtube.com/thelacrossenetwork.

History

The Wings are 15-24 in regular season play against the Rock with a 6-12 all time regular season record on the road, 5-11 at the ACC.  The teams have met twice this season with Toronto defeating the Wings 20-10 on February 7 at the Air Canada Centre and the Wings winning 14-13 on March 22 at the Wells Fargo Center.  Prior to the February 7 loss the Wings had won in their last three visits to the ACC.   

Last Game

The Wings fell 13-9 at home last Friday to the Calgary Roughnecks.  The Wings trailed 5-4 at halftime but would lead Calgary 8-7 after three quarters.  Calgary would outscore the Wings 6-1 in the final frame aided by two of their three shorthanded goals on the evening.  Pat Saunders led the Wings with six points (4G, 2A) while Tracey Kelusky added four points (1G, 3A0 and Ryan Ward chipped in three assists.  Evan Kirk made 34 saves in the losing effort.  The Wings dropped to 2-6 at home for the 2014 season.

Playoff Scenario

For the Wings, a win Saturday is necessary to keep their hopes alive for third place and the final playoff spot in the NLL’s Eastern Division.  A loss and Toronto will wrap up the playoff spot as they will be two games ahead of the Wings in the standings and will own the tiebreaker between the two.  A Wings victory would give them the tiebreaker over Toronto and keep the playoff battle going.  A Wings victory and a Minnesota Swarm loss would eliminate the Swarm; a Swarm win would still keep them alive for the final spot in the East. 

Notes

Should Brandon Miller start in goal Saturday it will be the first time he’s started against the Wings since January 12, 2008 when he was with the Chicago Shamrox.  The Wings won that game 19-11.

Kyle Buchanan has scored four goals in his last nine games after scoring 14 in his first six games.

On this date

The Wings are 0-3 on April 12.  In 1996 the Wings lost to the Buffalo Bandits 15-10 in the Major Indoor Lacrosse League Championship game, the final lacrosse game played at Buffalo’s Memorial Auditorium.  In 2003 the Wings fell to the Rochester Knighthawks 12-10 at Blue Cross Arena and in 2008 the Wings lost 15-14 in overtime to the Minnesota Swarm at Xcel Energy Center.    

Next Game

The Wings will travel to Langley, British Columbia on April 19 to face the Vancouver Stealth.

Fourth quarter stumble costs Wings

By Tom Hoffman

In the end it was a 6-1 fourth quarter and three shorthanded goals that did in the Philadelphia Wings.  A huge turning point though in the Wings 13-9 loss Friday to the Calgary Roughnecks may have been a crease violation that stopped momentum the Wings carried from the third stanza.

The Wings and Roughnecks were sloppy and physical in their play but managed to keep the game close through the game first 45 minutes.  An early three goal Calgary lead was quickly overcome and after the Roughnecks added the game’s next two scores to lead 5-3 the Wings offense suddenly became the Pat Saunders show.  Saunders would score the game’s next four goals to give the Wings their first lead of the night at 7-5.  Calgary would score the next two goals, the second with 13 seconds to play in the third, and looked like they would be all even at seven entering the final period but the Wings CJ Costabile would score his first National Lacrosse League goal with three seconds left in the third to give the Wings an 8-7 lead heading to the final frame.  That’s when the momentum died.

A long distance blast from Jordan Hall that would’ve given the Wings a 9-7 cushion was called back after the officials called the Wings for a crease violation.  Calgary took advantage and scored the next four goals to take an 11-8 lead.  Former Roughneck Tracey Kelusky put one past Calgary keeper Mike Poulin to cut the deficit to a pair but an ill timed holding call to Wings Captain Brodie Merrill led to a Dane Dobbie power play goal that would put the game out of reach.  An empty net score by former Wing Geoff Snider was the final nail.

The loss slightly hurts the Wings playoff chances but a Toronto Rock loss Saturday in Vancouver would keep both teams tied for third when the Wings and Rock meet next weekend in Toronto with the playoff spot and tiebreaker on the line.  The Wings did get some help Friday at the Rochester Knighthawks won in overtime at Minnesota and with those to meeting again Saturday in Rochester another Knighthawk win would put the Swarm one game closer to elimination.  A win in Toronto would then put the Wings one step closer to a third straight postseason berth.  But to get that win the Wings will need to avoid the one bad quarter that has seemed to plague them all season.

For the Wings, the playoffs have unofficially begun.

Wings Lacrosse 2014 (4-4-14 vs. Calgary)

By Tom Hoffman

The Philadelphia Wings (5-9) will look to extend their win streak to three and stay in the hunt for the National Lacrosse League playoffs when they host the Calgary Roughnecks (8-5) on Friday night at the Wells Fargo Center.  Game time is at 7 PM and the game can be seen live at www.youtube.com/thelacrossenetwork.

History

The Wings are 2-3 all time against the Roughnecks, 1-2 at the Wells Fargo Center.  Calgary has won the last three meeting with the Wings including last season’s 16-8 win in Philadelphia.  Kevin Crowley scored five points (2G, 3A) while Jordan Hall added three assists in that game.  Kevin Croswell started in goal for the Wings that day and gave up seven goals in 19:21.  Former Wing Geoff Snider notched a hat trick in his first game against the Wings (he missed the 2011 matchup in Philadelphia due to injury).     

Last Weekend

The Wings defeated the Colorado Mammoth 14-12 last Saturday in Denver.  Tracey Kelusky scored the game winning goal with one minute to play in regulation and Joel White added an empty netter to seal the win.  Evan Kirk made 36 saves in net while the offense was led by a hat trick from rookie Garrett Thul and seven points (1G, 6A) from Brodie Merrill.

Trivia

This former Wing in 2004 was the National Lacrosse League Rookie of the Year award winner, Co-Defensive Player of the Year, First team All-Pro and an All-Rookie team selection while a member of the Calgary Roughnecks.  Name the player.

On this date

The Wings are 4-1 all time on April 4.  In 1992 the Wings defeated the New York Saints 8-6 at Nassau Coliseum to advance to the Major Indoor Lacrosse League Championship game.  In 1998 the Wings beat the Rochester Knighthawks 20-19 in overtime at the Blue Cross Arena.  In 2003 the Wings dropped a 14-13 decision to the Albany Attack at Pepsi Arena.  In 2004 the Wings won 17-15 over the Buffalo Bandits in Buffalo and in 2009 defeated the New York Titans 11-7 at the Prudential Center.

Notes

 Evan Kirk set a new career high in wins (5) during a regular season last week at Colorado (previous best was four in 2012 with Minnesota).  

Jordan Hall set a new career high in goals scored (26) last week at Colorado (previous best was 25 in 2009 with the NY Titans) as did Brett Manney (2, previous best was 1 in 2011).

Answer

Taylor Wray.  Wray played for the Wings from 2008-2012 after being traded from Calgary on July 24, 2007.

Next Game

The Wings will return to action on April 12 when they visit the Air Canada Centre to face the Toronto Rock in a battle for the third and final playoff spot in the Eastern Division.

Wings Lacrosse 2014 (3-29-14 at Colorado)

By Tom Hoffman

The Philadelphia Wings (4-9) will look to stay alive for a spot in the 2014 National Lacrosse League playoffs when they take on the Colorado Mammoth (5-8) Saturday night in Denver.  Game time at the Pepsi Center will be at 9PM and the game can be seen live at www.youtube.com/thelacrossenetwork.

History

The Wings are 31-15 all time against the Mammoth, 9-5 since the franchise relocated to Denver.  On the road the Wings are 14-9 overall and 4-3 at Pepsi Center.  In 2013 the teams split their matchups with the Wings winning at home 14-12 on February 24 and the Mammoth returning the favor in Denver 10-9 on March 30.  Kevin Crowley scored 11 points (6G, 5A) last season against Colorado.

Last Weekend

The Wings ended a six game losing streak with a 14-13 win over the Toronto Rock last Saturday night at the Wells Fargo Center.  Kevin Crowley led the Wings offense with six goals and three assists while Jordan Hall dished out six assists and Kyle Buchanan added a pair of goals and three helpers.  Evan Kirk made 43 saves in goal for the Wings.               

Hello old friends

Saturday night will be the first time that former Wing Drew Westervelt will be facing his former team.  Westervelt was dealt to Colorado back on September 13, 2013.  Westervelt is currently second on the Mammoth with 48 points (24G, 24A) in 12 games.  Also on the Colorado roster are former Wings Athan Iannucci and Bob Snider.  

On this date

The Wings are 2-2 on March 29.  In 1992 the Wings defeated the Baltimore Thunder 14-12 at the Spectrum in an opening round playoff game and also defeated the Rochester Knighthawks 13-9 in 1997.  The Wings dropped decisions in 2008 to Rochester (20-12) and to the Minnesota Swarm (20-11) in 2013.

Notes

Stephen Hoar has won 69% of faceoffs in his three games with the Wings.

Brodie Merrill is second with 140 loose ball pickups.

CJ Costabile is fifth in faceoff wins with 134.

Jordan Hall is fifth in power play goals with 8.

Next Game

The Wings will return home on April 4 to face former Wing Geoff Snider and the Calgary Roughnecks.