As the final buzzer sounded, the final curtain closed on another season of below .500 play. The Philadelphia Wings (6-12) dropped the final game of the regular season 13-12 to the Colorado Mammoth (8-10). The Wings also finished with a 2-7 record at home.
The game meant nothing as far as playoff positioning or in the standings. Wings were eliminated two weeks ago and the Mammoth had their spot locked up. Notables John Grant Jr. and Drew Westervelt were scratched. Grant was a healthy scratch, while Westervelt is nursing a sprained shoulder. For the Wings, Kelusky and Evan Kirk were scratched. Kirk has been battling a bad stomach flu and was not cleared to play by the doctors.
When the game started it seemed that the Wings would control the tempo as Pat Saunders scored just 34 seconds into the game, followed by Jordan Hall scoring at 2:47 putting the Wings up 2-0. Colorado would score twice and we would end the period with the Wings ahead 3-2.
While shorthanded McGlone had the ball deep in the Mammoth zone and looked as if he would run the final five seconds off the clock. McGlone saw an opening and made a drive to the net, and with a dive across the crease and going short side he gave the Wings a 8-7 lead short-handed.
Wings would then go up by two as Kyle Buchanan would score 1:34 into the final stanza. The Mammoth would respond with three goal run to recapture the lead at 10-9. Rookie Garrett Thul would score twice in 26 seconds to give the Wings an 11-10 lead this would be the final lead the Wings would have. The Mammoth would score three of the final four and the Mammoth walked out with a 13-12 victory.
Adam Jones (5 G, 2 A) and Joel Delgarno (3 G, 2 A) led the attack for the Mammoth. Former Wing and still fan favorite in Philadelphia, Athan Iannucci (1 G, 4 A) received a nice ovation when announced at the start of the game and acknowledged the fans with raising his stick.
For the Wings, Garrett Thul & Kyle Buchanan had hat tricks, Saunders and Hall had two goals each while Kevin Crowley dished out six assists to go with his goal.
Wings went 1-5 on the power play and Colorado went 3-6. Wings outshot the Mammoth 59-53.
After the teams shook hands the Wings gathered in the center of the floor and saluted the fans for their support.
