Thirty minutes from weekend sweep, Wings flatten out, split with Titans

By Tom Hoffman

Heading into this weekend the Philadelphia Wings knew a sweep of the rival New York Titans would be important in their quest for a return to the National Lacrosse League postseason. Winning both games would've given Philadelphia the tiebreaker, a key in the super tight Eastern Conference. After Saturday's 11-7 win in Newark and with an 8-4 lead at halftime on Sunday, the Wings looked to be in great position to do just that. Unfortunately, the Wings who came out on the floor in the second half of Sunday's rematch looked nothing like the team from the previous 90 minutes of play and that enabled New York to come back and earn a split with 16-13 win to the disappointment of most of the 10,806 on hand at the Wachovia Center.

Saturday night started out like it was going to be a shootout with the teams combining for three goals in the game's first minute. Play would settle down and the game was tied at three after one quarter, a feather in the Wings caps as they had to kill off four New York powerplays during the opening stanza. The Wings would shutout the Titans in the second and led 6-3 at half, all three goals coming as a result of two five minute majors issued to the Titans Jeff Bigas and Jarett Park. The Titans would outscore the Wings 3-2 in the third but would get no closer the remainder of the evening. Brandon Miller was superb in the net for Philly, making 45 saves to lead the Wings to the all important "W", while Drew Westervelt's four goals and a five point night from Merrick Thomson (3G, 2A) paced the offense.

Sunday's quick turnaround was, as many expected, on the chippy side. Philly jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead and seemed to hit any and everything moving or not. New York closed to within a goal but the Wings seemed determined to bring both teams to a tie in the standings and eventually pulled out to an 8-3 lead before NY rookie Steve Ammann scored his first NLL goal to make the game 8-4 at halftime. From this point, the game stopped resembling the one of less than 24 hours ago and looked more like the teams' first meeting of 2009. The Titans scored the first three goals of the second half before Athan Iannucci stopped the bleeding with a score to give the Wings a 9-7 lead. The teams would trade tallies until, trailing 11-9, New York would score the last three goals of the third quarter, to go ahead for the first time all weekend at 12-11 with just 15 minutes to play. Brandon Miller was chased after the Titans ninth goal and was replaced by Rob Blasdell.

Philly would quickly regain the lead on scores from Iannucci and Kyle Wailes but that would be their final lead of the day. Brendan Mundorf put NY ahead for good with 6:17 to play, Casey Powell added insurance with 2:54 left and Bill Greer iced the Titans win with an empty netter with 17 seconds to play. Powell ended up with five goals Sunday, after being held to just one on Saturday night while Mundorf, who was held scoreless on Saturday, finished the second game with six points on three goals and three assists. Matt Vinc stopped 47 shots in this game, after making 36 saves on Saturday. Kyle Wailes scored 10 points (3G, 7A) in the losing effort.

The win for New York on Sunday clinched playoff spots for not only themselves, but for the expansion Boston Blazers as well. For the Wings, their record falls to 6-8 and means that they pretty much need to win their remaining two games (Home vs. Toronto, at Rochester) and get some help to lock up the fourth and final spot in the East.

Wings 2009 Game 13 (at New York 4-4-09) and Game 14 (vs. New York 4-5-09)

By Tom Hoffman

The Philadelphia Wings (5-7) will look to make some noise in their quest for a spot in the National Lacrosse League postseason when they face the New York Titans (7-5) in a home and home weekend set. Saturday night's faceoff will be at 7:30 at Newark's Prudential Center while Sunday's game will be at 2:30 at the Wachovia Center. Both games can be seen for free on NLL.com.

History

The Wings and Titans have split the six games played with Philadelphia winning the first three and New York the last three, including their first meeting this season. Despite Merrick Thomson's five goal night, the Wings could not hold an early lead and dropped a 15-12 decision February 8th in Newark. On the road the Wings are 1-2 against the Titans (1-0 at Nassau Coliseum, 0-1 at Sovereign Bank Arena, 0-1 at Prudential Center) while going 2-1 in Philadelphia.

Last Game

The Wings put forth their highest offensive output of the 2009 season in defeating the Colorado Mammoth 17-13 last Saturday at the Wachovia Center. Athan Iannucci paced the Wings with four goals while Mat Giles added six assists. Brandon Miller made 37 saves while also scoring an empty net goal for Philadelphia. New York defeated the Buffalo Bandits 11-9 Saturday night at Buffalo's HSBC Arena.

Stats and Stuff

Several Wings are approaching career highs in point totals. Merrick Thomson (30-19-49) has already eclipsed his goal total from last season (26) and needs seven more points to top his point total from his rookie season of a year ago. Mat Giles (17-36-53) needs eight points to set a new career high (60 points with Ottawa in 2003) while having already set a career high in assists (previously 30 in 2007 with Chicago). Kyle Wailes (10-26-36) needs two points for a new career best while having already topped his assist total from his first season in 2007 (21).

Quotes

Wings Coach Dave Huntley on the playoff push: "We play all three teams (New York, Toronto and Rochester) we're competing for a playoff spot with. We totally control our destiny, if we win all those games we're in. If we stumble then we'll need some help. I like the way our team is playing right now."

Next Game

The Wings will conclude the home portion of their 2009 schedule when they host the Toronto Rock on April 11th.

Playoff Push On, Wings Move Forward

By- Kevin M. Neibauer

The Philadelphia Wings dug a hole for themselves this season. Entering the Saturday with the Colorado Mammoth, the Wings were on the outside looking in at the playoff hunt.

But, the team finally got some luck. Every player is now healthy, Toronto lost to Edmonton.

For the first time this season, Philadelphia put together a strong contest for the entire game.

Game MVP, Brandon Miller stopped 37 Colorado shots and added an assist and a goal.

Drew "The Highlight Film" Westervelt, who improves every game, was again impressive with two acrobatic goals.

Athan Iannucci showed why he is the reigning mVP of the National Lacrosse League. AI is getting stronger andeven better each game.

"I think we have played pretty good the last month." said Head Coach, Dave Huntley. "It's the first time all year that we had everyone available to us. This is the best result that we have had all season. After the Boston game, we could only get better."

Huntley continued, "The Boston game, we only had twelve guys who were healthy...that makes it difficult.'

When asked about the solid game turned in by Brandon Miller, Huntley went on to say, "Brandon has played really solid for us...Coaches get fired because of the way players play and goalies get pulled for the way teammates play. Goalies get pulled, that's the nature of the beast."

"He was very solid tonight, those last two games he was pulled, but, he is our starter and that's why we came back with him. Blazer (Rob Blasdell) was real good for us in those two games...we have two real good goalies."

Focus then shifted to Brandon Miller.

"I felt a little rusty, with the week off. I didn't feel as though I was on top of my game, I don't think I was seeing the ball as well as I have. I thought the defense was awesome tonight." I gave up a few that I shouldn't have but, overall a solid sixty minutes a big win." Miller stated.

I proceeded to ask him about his goal. "That was my second goal, I got one when I played in San Jose. It was in Anaheim. It's nice to get one every now and again."

"Next week is huge. New York won tonight, Rochester won tonight and Toronto won last night...we really have to get both those games. It's a playoff weekend for us for sure. We are coming off a big win, everyone played hard.

DID YOU NOTICE-That Kyle Sweeney had a goal and three assists....Both Wings goaltenders have scored goals....the officials were much improved...for the second straight game, a Wings player was given a cheapshot...Jamie Shewchuk punched Geoff Snider where no man whould ever be hit...Snider was 25 of 30 on face-offs...that is what wins games...the postgame auction for Chris Sanderson was a rousing success. Class move by the Colorado and Rochester organizations for sending a jersey to be sold..
_________________
Kevin
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Wings earn playoff-like win over Mammoth

By Tom Hoffman

With five games remaining in a very tight race for the playoffs in the National Lacrosse League's Eastern Conference it's safe to say Saturday's matchup with the Colorado Mammoth was an unofficial playoff game for the Philadelphia Wings. In this first test, the Wings passed with flying colors as they used a solid effort from start to finish to pull out a 17-13 win over the Mammoth in front of a season high crowd of 11,876 at the Wachovia Center.

Unlike the last two games, the Wings actually got on the board in the first quarter, opening a 2-0 lead on scores from Merrick Thomson and Mat Giles. Colorado would tie the game at two before Thomson's second of the night briefly regained the lead. Again the Mammoth would get a pair of goals to go ahead before the Wings tied the game on a shorthanded goal by Kyle Sweeney to end the first quarter 4-4. The goal by Sweeney was the first of four shorthanded goals the Wings would score on the night.

Chris Gill gave the Mammoth their final lead of the night just 31 seconds into the second quarter. Philadelphia would then score the game's next five goals to take a 9-5 lead early in the third. After the teams traded scores to make the game 11-7, the Wings would have their one real lull in the game, allwoing Colorado to score the next three goals, making it an 11-10 nailbiter with 8:19 remaining to play. In the past the Wings might have found a way to deliver the game to their opponents but that would not happen this evening. Goals by Thomson, Kyle Wailes, Drew Westervelt and Athan Iannucci in a two minute, seven second stretch would give the Wings a comfortable 15-10 lead.

The excitement did not end there.

After the Mammoth's Jed Prossner scored on a power play to get Colorado within four, Mammoth coach Bob McMahon opted to pull goalie Andrew Leyshon for an extra attacker. And for a second straight year a Wings goaltender would score an empty net goal, this time being Brandon Miller. Geoff Snider would end the night early for Leyshon with his second goal of the night with 66 seconds left to play. The Mammoth would score twice in the game's final half minute but the night, and the victory, would belong to the Wings.

Snider played in his first game since suffering a fractured windpipe in Edmonton on February 27 and looked very sharp in the lineup. Snider would win 25 of 30 faceoffs and played his usual physical style. The points leaders tonight for the Wings were Mat Giles (1G, 6A) and Athan Iannucci (4G, 3A) while Merrick Thomson (3G, 2A) and Kyle Wailes (2G, 3A) had big nights as well. In addition to his goal, Brandon Miller also made 37 saves.

With Rochester defeating Boston and Toronto losing in Edmonton, the Wings (5-7) find themselves a half game behind the resurgent Knighthawks (5-6) and a half game ahead of the Rock (5-8). With games against both of those teams, along with next weekend's home and home with the New York Titans (7-5), the Wings are clearly in charge of their own destiny. Winning out not only assures the Wings of a winning record, but would also give them three key tiebreakers in a race that will most likely go down to the season's final weekend. Tonight's efforts will need to continue to assure Philadelphia of a second straight trip to the postseason. Next stop will be Saturday in Newark, NJ.

Wings 2009 Game 12 (vs. Colorado 3-28-09)

By Tom Hoffman

With no more off weeks for the rest of the season, the Philadelphia Wings will make their push for teh playoffs when they host the Colorado Mammoth on Saturday night. The Wings final regular season game against the West Division will start at 7:30 PM and can be seen on NLL.com.

History

All time the Wings hold a 26-12 record against the franchise that played in Baltimore (1987-1999), Pittsburgh (2000) and Washington (2001-2002) before moving to Denver. Since the move to the Mile High City, the Wings are 4-2 against the Mammoth and have won three straight in the series, including last season's 15-13 win at the Pepsi Center. In Philadelphia, the Wings are 14-4, with the last loss occurring in 2000 to the then Pittsburgh Crossefire.

Last Game

For the second straight game the Wings were shutout in the first quarter and could not come all the way back as they fell on a late goal to the Minnesota Swarm 13-12 on March 14th at the Wachovia Center. Athan Iannucci led the Wings with five goals and three assists while Rob Blasdell made 41 saves in relief of starter Brandon Miller.

Stats and Stuff

The Wings are third in the NLL in powerplay percentage (52.17) trailing only Calgary and San Jose. Philadelphia also leads the NLL with 10 shorthanded goals (Merrick Thomson scoring three).

The Wings lead the league in faceoff percentage (.650) and faceoffs won (195). Philly has taken 809 shots (most in the league) yet are just eighth in shots on goal (523). The Wings trail only Toronto in loose ball pickups (Tor. 895, Phila. 883).

Next for the Wings

Following the game with Colorado, the Wings will begin a key home and home weekend series with the New York Titans starting with a visit to the Prudential Center on Saturday, April 4th.