By Tom Hoffman
A furious fourth quarter rally made it a close game but would not be enough as the Philadelphia Wings fell to the Rochester Knighthawks 14-13 in the opening round of the National Lacrosse League playoffs Friday night at Blue Cross Arena.
The Wings led the game 3-2 after the first quarter and were tied at five with 29 seconds to go before halftime when the wheels seemed to come off. Craig Point gave Rochester a 6-5 lead with four seconds to play and started a six goal run for the home team. Kevin Crowley ended the Knighthawks scoring spree but Stephen Keogh would give Rochester a 12-6 advantage heading into the final stanza.
The teams traded goals to open the fourth before the Wings added the next two courtesy of Ned Crotty and Crowley. But with 3:04 to play in regulation, Ryan Cousins scored for Rochester to seemingly lock up the game in Rochester's favor. The Wings, though, showed some heart in the final minutes by scoring four goals over a span of 2:05, Brodie Merrill getting the first two (12:28 and 13:09), Crowley 16 seconds later and Dan Dawson with 27 seconds to play. Jeff Reynolds would win the faceoff but the Wings could not get the goal to send the game to overtime.
Crowley led the Wings with a seven point night (4G, 3A) while Dan Dawson added a goal and five helpers. But while they made it close, the fact is the Wings saw a promising season end with six straight losses and still no victories over Matt Vinc and the Knighthawks since 2009.
And that should gnaw at them as they start making preparations for 2013.
Friday, May 4, 2012
Thursday, May 3, 2012
2012 NLL First Round Playoff Capsules
By Tom Hoffman
After Friday night's playoff opener between the Philadelphia Wings and Rochester Knighthawks, the remainder of the opening round games in the 2012 National Lacrosse League Playoffs will face off on Saturday night. Here is a look at each of Saturday's games.
Buffalo Bandits (7-9) at Toronto Rock (9-7)
7PM at Air Canada Centre (NLL Network)
Regular Season: Buffalo won the season series 2-1.
Playoff History: The teams have met three times with Toronto holding a 2-1 edge. The most recent meeting was in 2011 (Toronto 12-10).
Team Leaders
Buffalo: Goals - John Tavares (41), Assists - Tavares (39), Points - Tavares (80), GAA - Anthony Cosmo (12.41).
Toronto: Goals - Garrett Billings (32), Assists - Billings (82), Points - Billings (114), GAA - Nick Rose (10.69).
X-Factors: Toronto went 5-1 after releasing G Matt Roik and acquiring Rose from Calgary. Cosmo struggled in the Bandits net until a 17-7 win over Philadelphia on April 7 led him to wins in three of the last four games. Toronto was only 3-5 at home this season.
Minnesota Swarm (9-7) at Colorado Mammoth (11-5)
7:30PM at Pepsi Center (CBS Sports Network)
Regular Season: Colorado won the season series 2-1.
Playoff History: This will be the first postseason match between the teams.
Team Leaders
Minnesota: Goals - Ryan Benesch (33), Assists - Callum Crawford (58), Points - Crawford (83), GAA - Evan Kirk (9.81).
Colorado: Goals - John Grant Jr. (50), Assists - Grant (66), Points - Grant (116), GAA - Chris Levis (12.26).
X-Factors: Swarm won their last four games of the regular season, will that help them win their first ever playoff game? First winning season since 2008 yet a two game losing streak cost the Mammoth first place in the West. Minnesota 3-2 all time at Colorado but lost there on opening night. Colorado 0-4 in postseason since winning the 2006 NLL Championship.
Edmonton Rush (6-10) at Calgary Roughnecks (12-4)
9PM at Scotiabank Saddledome (NLL Network)
Regular Season: Calgary swept the season series 4-0.
Playoff History: The teams lone meeting was in 2010, Edmonton winning at Calgary 11-7.
Team Leaders
Edmonton: Goals - Zack Greer (31), Assists - Shawn Williams (52), Points - Williams (68), GAA - Aaron Bold (10.47).
Calgary: Goals - Shawn Evans (32), Assists - Evans (47), Points - Evans (79), GAA - Mike Poulin (10.27).
X-Factors: Which Evans brother (Scott or Shawn) will have the offseason bragging rights? Edmonton played .500 ball minus their games with Calgary. Will be a battle of the league's stingiest teams on defense (Calgary 170 GA, Edmonton 175 GA).
After Friday night's playoff opener between the Philadelphia Wings and Rochester Knighthawks, the remainder of the opening round games in the 2012 National Lacrosse League Playoffs will face off on Saturday night. Here is a look at each of Saturday's games.
Buffalo Bandits (7-9) at Toronto Rock (9-7)
7PM at Air Canada Centre (NLL Network)
Regular Season: Buffalo won the season series 2-1.
Playoff History: The teams have met three times with Toronto holding a 2-1 edge. The most recent meeting was in 2011 (Toronto 12-10).
Team Leaders
Buffalo: Goals - John Tavares (41), Assists - Tavares (39), Points - Tavares (80), GAA - Anthony Cosmo (12.41).
Toronto: Goals - Garrett Billings (32), Assists - Billings (82), Points - Billings (114), GAA - Nick Rose (10.69).
X-Factors: Toronto went 5-1 after releasing G Matt Roik and acquiring Rose from Calgary. Cosmo struggled in the Bandits net until a 17-7 win over Philadelphia on April 7 led him to wins in three of the last four games. Toronto was only 3-5 at home this season.
Minnesota Swarm (9-7) at Colorado Mammoth (11-5)
7:30PM at Pepsi Center (CBS Sports Network)
Regular Season: Colorado won the season series 2-1.
Playoff History: This will be the first postseason match between the teams.
Team Leaders
Minnesota: Goals - Ryan Benesch (33), Assists - Callum Crawford (58), Points - Crawford (83), GAA - Evan Kirk (9.81).
Colorado: Goals - John Grant Jr. (50), Assists - Grant (66), Points - Grant (116), GAA - Chris Levis (12.26).
X-Factors: Swarm won their last four games of the regular season, will that help them win their first ever playoff game? First winning season since 2008 yet a two game losing streak cost the Mammoth first place in the West. Minnesota 3-2 all time at Colorado but lost there on opening night. Colorado 0-4 in postseason since winning the 2006 NLL Championship.
Edmonton Rush (6-10) at Calgary Roughnecks (12-4)
9PM at Scotiabank Saddledome (NLL Network)
Regular Season: Calgary swept the season series 4-0.
Playoff History: The teams lone meeting was in 2010, Edmonton winning at Calgary 11-7.
Team Leaders
Edmonton: Goals - Zack Greer (31), Assists - Shawn Williams (52), Points - Williams (68), GAA - Aaron Bold (10.47).
Calgary: Goals - Shawn Evans (32), Assists - Evans (47), Points - Evans (79), GAA - Mike Poulin (10.27).
X-Factors: Which Evans brother (Scott or Shawn) will have the offseason bragging rights? Edmonton played .500 ball minus their games with Calgary. Will be a battle of the league's stingiest teams on defense (Calgary 170 GA, Edmonton 175 GA).
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
2012 Wings Lacrosse (Playoffs-1st Round at Rochester 5-4-12)
By Tom Hoffman
The Philadelphia Wings (7-9) will look to put a poor finish to the 2012 National Lacrosse League regular season behind them as they make their first postseason appearance since 2008 with a return visit to Rochester's Blue Cross Arena and a matchup with the Knighthawks (7-9) on Friday night at 7:30 PM. The game can be seen live on the NLL Network at NLL.com.
Playoff History
The Wings and Knighthawks have met three times in the postseason with the Wings holding a 2-1 advantage. All three meetings have been in Philadelphia. In 1995 the Wings won their fourth Major Indoor Lacrosse league title with a 15-14 overtime win at the Core States Spectrum. In 1997 the Knighthawks left the Core States Center with a 15-13 victory in a MILL semi-final. In 2001 the Wings earned a trip to the NLL title game with a 12-11 win. The Wings are 16-10 in postseason play, 6-6 on the road. Rochester is 12-13 in the playoffs, 6-2 at Blue Cross Arena. Each team has lost its last two postseason games with the last playoff win for both teams occurring in the NLL Championship Game (Wings 2001, Rochester 2007).
Regular Season
The Knighthawks won all three meetings in 2012 and have won nine straight times over the Wings. The teams opened the 2012 season in Philadelphia with Rochester winning a fight filled game 22-12. On March 3 the Knighthawks returned to Philadelphia and won 11-8, outscoring the Wings 4-1 in the fourth quarter. Last Saturday, the Knighthawks completed the season sweep with a 9-7 victory in Rochester. Kevin Crowley led the Wings vs. Rochester this season with 17 points (6G, 11A). Dan Dawson added 15 points (4G, 11A) while Brendan Mundorf added 12 points (6G, 6A). Cody Jamieson and Mike Accursi led Rochester with 19 points (6G, 13 A each) while Stephen Keogh added 16 points (8G, 8A).
Regular Season Leaders
Wings
Goals: Kevin Crowley and Drew Westervelt (36)
Assists: Dan Dawson (78)
Points: D. Dawson (103)
GAA: Brandon Miller (12.64)
Knighthawks
Goals: Cody Jamieson (36)
Assists: Jamieson (49)
Points: Jamieson (85)
GAA: Matt Vinc (12.21)
Notes
Five players (Brandon Miller, Drew Westervelt, Pat Heim, Tom Hajek, Taylor Wray) remain from the Wings last playoff appearance, a 14-12 loss to the Buffalo Bandits on May 2, 2008. Three members of that Bandits squad (Pat McCready, Kyle Laverty and Mike Accursi) are now with Rochester. That game was the only other time the Wings have played in the month of May.
The Wings last beat Matt Vinc 11-7 on April 4, 2009 at the Prudential Center when Vinc played for the New York Titans. The Wings last victory over the Knighthawks came on January 10, 2009 at the Blue Cross Arena by a 16-13 score.
Next Game
A victory will put the Wings in the Eastern Division finals the weekend of May 11 against the winner of Saturday's matchup between the Buffalo Bandits and Toronto Rock. The game would be in Toronto should the Rock win, in Philadelphia with a Bandits victory.
A loss and the next game will be the 2013 season opener.
The Philadelphia Wings (7-9) will look to put a poor finish to the 2012 National Lacrosse League regular season behind them as they make their first postseason appearance since 2008 with a return visit to Rochester's Blue Cross Arena and a matchup with the Knighthawks (7-9) on Friday night at 7:30 PM. The game can be seen live on the NLL Network at NLL.com.
Playoff History
The Wings and Knighthawks have met three times in the postseason with the Wings holding a 2-1 advantage. All three meetings have been in Philadelphia. In 1995 the Wings won their fourth Major Indoor Lacrosse league title with a 15-14 overtime win at the Core States Spectrum. In 1997 the Knighthawks left the Core States Center with a 15-13 victory in a MILL semi-final. In 2001 the Wings earned a trip to the NLL title game with a 12-11 win. The Wings are 16-10 in postseason play, 6-6 on the road. Rochester is 12-13 in the playoffs, 6-2 at Blue Cross Arena. Each team has lost its last two postseason games with the last playoff win for both teams occurring in the NLL Championship Game (Wings 2001, Rochester 2007).
Regular Season
The Knighthawks won all three meetings in 2012 and have won nine straight times over the Wings. The teams opened the 2012 season in Philadelphia with Rochester winning a fight filled game 22-12. On March 3 the Knighthawks returned to Philadelphia and won 11-8, outscoring the Wings 4-1 in the fourth quarter. Last Saturday, the Knighthawks completed the season sweep with a 9-7 victory in Rochester. Kevin Crowley led the Wings vs. Rochester this season with 17 points (6G, 11A). Dan Dawson added 15 points (4G, 11A) while Brendan Mundorf added 12 points (6G, 6A). Cody Jamieson and Mike Accursi led Rochester with 19 points (6G, 13 A each) while Stephen Keogh added 16 points (8G, 8A).
Regular Season Leaders
Wings
Goals: Kevin Crowley and Drew Westervelt (36)
Assists: Dan Dawson (78)
Points: D. Dawson (103)
GAA: Brandon Miller (12.64)
Knighthawks
Goals: Cody Jamieson (36)
Assists: Jamieson (49)
Points: Jamieson (85)
GAA: Matt Vinc (12.21)
Notes
Five players (Brandon Miller, Drew Westervelt, Pat Heim, Tom Hajek, Taylor Wray) remain from the Wings last playoff appearance, a 14-12 loss to the Buffalo Bandits on May 2, 2008. Three members of that Bandits squad (Pat McCready, Kyle Laverty and Mike Accursi) are now with Rochester. That game was the only other time the Wings have played in the month of May.
The Wings last beat Matt Vinc 11-7 on April 4, 2009 at the Prudential Center when Vinc played for the New York Titans. The Wings last victory over the Knighthawks came on January 10, 2009 at the Blue Cross Arena by a 16-13 score.
Next Game
A victory will put the Wings in the Eastern Division finals the weekend of May 11 against the winner of Saturday's matchup between the Buffalo Bandits and Toronto Rock. The game would be in Toronto should the Rock win, in Philadelphia with a Bandits victory.
A loss and the next game will be the 2013 season opener.
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