Wings stop losing streak, stay alive for playoffs

By Tom Hoffman

The Philadelphia Wings (4-9) ended a six game losing streak and crept within a game of the third spot in the National Lacrosse League's Eastern Division with a thrilling 14-13 victory over the Toronto Rock Saturday night. 

Wings forward Kevin Crowley had a huge game scoring six goals while assisting on three others.  Evan Kirk, after a shaky start in net, managed to make 43 saves, assist on a goal and deliver a huge hit.  The Wings will take to the road next weekend when they face the Colorado Mammoth in Denver next Saturday before returning home to face the Calgary Roughnecks on April 4.

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Deja vu for Wings in postseason

By Tom Hoffman

For the second consecutive postseason, the Philadelphia Wings saw their hopes for a 7^th indoor lacrosse title end at the hands of the Rochester Knighthawks.  Unlike last season when the Wings used a late flurry of goals to make the score close they played the type of game they needed to play against Rochester, one of solid defense.  Except this year the Wings could’ve used the late scoring as the sticks fell silent in the final stanza and Rochester got just enough offense to take a 10-8 decision in Saturday’s National Lacrosse League Eastern Division Semi Final at Blue Cross Arena.

For the Wings it was yet another slow start as Rochester jumped out to a 3-0 lead after 15 minutes.  The Philly offense came alive in the 2^nd quarter scoring four of the next five goals to tie the game at four apiece.  Former Wing Dan Dawson would give the Knighthawks a 6-4 halftime lead with his third and fourth goals of the half.  The third quarter saw the Wings Kevin Crowley outscore Rochester 2-1 setting up Brendan Mundorf’s game tying goal just 21 seconds into the final quarter.  The Wings could not, however, get that go ahead goal and with 10 seconds left in a cross checking penalty to Ned Crotty Rochester would take the lead for good as Craig Point hit for the extra man goal.  Goals by Paul Dawson and Mike Accursi were the final blows though Jeff Reynolds added the final score of the season for the Wings with seven seconds left to play.

For the Wings it was a disappointing end to a season that started with some promise and a 2-0 start.  And now they embark on another offseason of trying to figure out how to rejoin the NLL elite after losing their fourth straight playoff game since winning the 2001 NLL Championship.

2013 NLL Division Semi-Final previews

By Tom Hoffman

In addition to the Wings-Rochester matchup, three more games take place this weekend to open the 2013 National Lacrosse League playoffs.  Here is a look at these games.

 

Edmonton Rush at Washington Stealth

7:30 PM April 27 at Comcast Arena (CBS Sports Network)

Regular Season: Edmonton won the season series 2-1.

Playoff History: The teams met once in 2010 with Washington defeating the Rush 12-11 in overtime.

Team Leaders

Edmonton: Goals – Mark Matthews (38), Assists – Ryan Ward (54), Points – Ward (75), Goals Against Avg. – Aaron Bold (10.56).

Washington: Goals – Rhys Duch (45), Assists – Duch (51), Points – Duch (96), Goals against Avg. – Tyler Richards (10.92).

X-Factors: Edmonton went 7-1 on the road during the regular season and gave up the second fewest goals (170) in the NLL in 2013 (Rochester - 165).  The addition of Mark Matthews helped the Rush to the third most goals (203) scored this season (Calgary - 222 and Minnesota - 219). Rhys Duch had career highs in goals and points but the Stealth will need Lewis Ratcliff and Athan Iannucci to rebound from sub-par seasons.

Colorado Mammoth at Calgary Roughnecks

9 PM April 27 at Scotiabank Saddledome (You Tube/the Lacrosse Network)

Regular Season: Calgary won the season series 2-1.

Playoff History: The teams have met five times with Calgary holding a 4-1 advantage.  The last meeting was in 2011 with Calgary winning 10-6 at home.

Team Leaders

Colorado: Goals – John Grant Jr. (43), Assists – Grant (48), Points – Grant (91), Goals against Avg. – Tye Belanger (10.77).

Calgary: Goals – Curtis Dickson (42), Assists – Shawn Evans (80), Points – Evans (112), Goals against Avg. – Mike Poulin (12.70).

X-Factors: Tye Belanger was 5-2 in goal for the Mammoth after Matt Roik, Chris Levis and Dan Lewis combined to go 2-7.  The Mammoth went 4-2 after the acquisition of Casey Powell.  Calgary led the NLL in goals scored (222) but was tied for last in goals against with Buffalo (211). 

Minnesota Swarm at Toronto Rock

3 PM April 28 at Air Canada Centre (YouTube/the Lacrosse Network)

Regular Season: The teams split their two games, each team winning at home.

Playoff History: This is the first meeting.

Team Leaders

Minnesota: Goals – Ryan Benesch (34), Assists – Callum Crawford (63), Points – Crawford (95), Goals against Avg. – Tyler Carlson (11.04).

Toronto: Goals – Kasey Beirnes (31), Assists – Garrett Billings (70), Points – Billings (100), Goals against Avg. – Nick Rose (10.61).

X-Factors: The Swarm offense (2^nd with 219 goals) against the Rock defense (3^rd giving up 176 goals).  How much will the Swarm miss Andrew Suitor against a well balanced Toronto offense?  

Wings Lacrosse 2013 Postseason (4-27-13 at Rochester)

By Tom Hoffman

The Philadelphia Wings (7-9) return to the National Lacrosse League playoffs for the second consecutive season seeking to win their 7^th pro lacrosse championship (1989, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2001) when they take on the defending champion Rochester Knighthawks (8-8) on April 27 at Rochester’s Blue Cross Arena.  Game time is at 5 PM and the game can be seen live on the CBS Sports Network.

Playoff History

The Wings and Knighthawks will be meeting for the fifth time in the postseason having split the previous four games.  In 1995 the Wings won their fourth title defeating the Knighthawks 15-14 in overtime at the Spectrum.  In 1997 Rochester defeated the Wings at the Core States Center 15-13 while the Wings returned the favor with a 12-11 victory in 2001 at the First Union Center.  Last season the Knighthawks held on for a 14-13 win at Blue Cross Arena.  All time in the postseason the Wings have a 16-11 record and are 6-7 on the road.  The Wings have lost three straight playoff games since winning the 2001 championship in Toronto.  Rochester is 15-13 in the postseason, 8-2 at Blue Cross Arena and has won three championships (1997, 2007 and 2012).

Regular Season

Rochester won two of the three meetings with the Wings during the 2013 season.  On February 8 the Knighthawks defeated the Wings 20-10 at the Wells Fargo Center.  The Wings ended a long losing streak to Rochester on February 23 with a 10-8 victory at Blue Cross Arena.  The teams met again at the BCA on April 6 with the Knighthawks taking a 14-7 decision.  The Wings were led by Kevin Buchanan (4G, 8A) and Drew Westervelt (4G, 8A) with 12 points each while Kevin Crowley added 10 points (4G, 6A) and Brodie Merrill added five goals.  Rochester was led by Cody Jamieson with 18 points (5G, 13A) while Dan Dawson had 17 points (6G, 11A).  Mike Accursi and Johnny Powless also added six goals each.

Last Time Out

The Wings closed the regular season with a 17-13 loss on the road to the Washington Stealth.  Rochester defeated the Buffalo Bandits 10-9 in Buffalo to finish regular season play.    

Stat Leaders    

Wings: Goals: Kevin Crowley (34), Assists: Crowley and Kevin Buchanan (38), Points: Crowley (72), Goals Against: Brandon Miller (11.92).

Rochester: Goals: Cody Jamieson (28), Assists: Jamieson (61), Points: Jamieson (89), Goals Against: Matt Vinc (10.17).

On this date

The Wings are 2-0 on April 27 with both wins coming at the Air Canada Centre against the Toronto Rock.  In 2001 the Wings defeated the Rock 9-8 to win their sixth championship while in 2008 the Wings closed the regular season with a 15-14 win over the Rock.

Next Game

With a win in Rochester the Wings will either travel to Toronto to face the Rock or host the Minnesota Swarm next weekend.  A loss and the next game is the 2014 opener.