Saturday night’s game at the LEC featured a team out of the playoffs, and one that was not in control of it’s own fate. The visiting Philadelphia Wings had been eliminated just last week and the Vancouver Stealth had to win as well as rely on Colorado losing to Minnesota to keep their playoff hopes alive. Neither of those two things happened in favor of the Stealth, as they dropped the regular season series to the Wings with a 15-11 loss.
Things started well for the Stealth getting the first two goals quickly—a goal apiece from Justin Salt and Ilija Gajic. It wouldn’t take long for the Wings to answer back with a beauty from Tracey Kelusky to bring the Wings to within one. Gajic would pull the Stealth ahead again by two, before the Wings went on a four-goal run, goals by Pat Saunders, Jordan Hall, John Ranagan, and Brodie Merrill. The Stealth’s Tyler Garrison and Jamie Lincoln would get back-to-back goals to tie the game. Ryan Ward for the Wings and Lincoln for the Stealth would trade a goal each as they entered the second quarter with a 6-6 tie.
Although low scoring, the second quarter belonged to Vancouver. With a goal from Brett Bucktooth and a first half hat trick for Jamie Lincoln the Stealth entered halftime with an 8-6 lead.
The scoring in the third started with another goal from Vancouver’s Bucktooth. The 9-6 lead and momentum would be short lived as the Wings responded with a six-goal run. Goals scored by Mike Manley, Kevin Crowley, Kyle Buchanan, Stephen Hoar, Jordan Hall, and a second by Crowley gave the Wings a 12-9 advantage entering the final quarter of action.
Like the two quarters prior the final frame would start the same, with a goal from Brett Bucktooth. Cutting the Wings lead to two goals, it appeared the Stealth was not done yet. The Wings Jordan Hall, Kyle Buchanan, and Garrett Thul had something else to say about a comeback. Rattling off three straight for the Wings and sending them to victory. Vancouver would respond with one more goal with just four tics left on the clock with a Nick Weiss shot to the back of the net. Just like the rest of their season it was just too little too late for Vancouver.
