The Philadelphia Wings and their fans knew this weekend would be tough at the start of the season, but coming in on a five game losing streak, and the chance to clinch a playoff spot dwindling, this weekend was huge.
Saturday night the Wings headed to Rochester to face the defending champion Knighthawks who have recently started to click. This game was big for both teams as they were playing two games each. But more importantly this would be for second place in the division and the winner would own the tie-breaker. Well once again a slow start by the Wings put them down 3-1 at the end of the first quarter, and 8-4 as we went to the locker room at halftime. The Wings cut the lead to three at 10-7 and seemed to get a little momentum as we headed to the final quarter, but Matt Vinc put on a show in the final 15 minutes and the Knighthawks went on to win 14-7 and hold onto second place in the East, and also own the tie-breaker over the Wings. Mike Accursi & Dan Dawson (2G/2A), Johnny Powless (3G/1A), and Cody Jamieson (1G/6A) led the way for the Knighthawks. The Knighthawks then played in Toronto on Sunday afternoon and fell 10-9 giving them a record of 6-7 and only a half game lead over the Wings for second place. Rochester has 3 games remaining all on the road. April 13-14 at Calgary, & at Edmonton. April 20th at Buffalo. Two very tough games this weekend, then a trip to Buffalo, and who knows what will happen there.
We know take our trip back home, past the Carrier Dome in Syracuse down I-81 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike and we come to the Wells Fargo Center for a rematch against the Minnesota Swarm who defeated the Wings 20-11. This game started out just the way the Wings and their fans wanted, taking a 5-2 lead at the end of the first quarter. The second quarter was the complete opposite of the first as the Wings were outplayed and obviously outscored 6-1 in the second frame. The backbreaker of that quarter was Jay Card’s shot from were the blue line would be in hockey. With :04 remaining in the half the Swarm called time, Card took the ball from the official, faked a pass to his left and quickly pulled back and fired a rocket past Miller who was looking to his right as the fake pass fooled everyone. When talking to Kevin Ross after the game he stated, “we had a slight mental breakdown in that quarter” When we started the third quarter, goals by Crowley, Westervelt and Rabil pushed the Wings ahead 9-8 just five minutes into the third quarter. Two more goals by the Swarm (Matisz & Gibson) sandwiched Westervelts goal for the Wings and we are knotted at 10 apiece with the final quarter to be played. The teams exchanged goals to start the final stanza, then at 8:08 is when it started. Callum Crawford puts the Swarm up 12-11, that would be the last time the Swarm would see the lead. Goals by Kyle Hartzell at 8:39, Rookie Mike Manley’s 1st career goal at 9:50, then two goals by Drew Westervelt 32 seconds apart at 10:23 & 10:55 put the Wings up 15-12. Kiel Matisz scored the final goal at 11:21 as the Wings defense and Brandon Miller put up a strong defense in the final 3:30 for the much needed win. The win snapped a six game losing streak, it brought the Wings closer to a playoff spot, and still a chance for a home playoff game.
This was a solid effort from top to bottom. Westervelt/Crowley (4G/4A) each, Rabil 2/3, Buchanan 2/2, Joel White 4 assists, Mundorf 3 assists and Kevin Ross 1/2 led the way for the Wings.
For the Swarm, Kiel Matisz (4G/1A), Callum Crawford (4G/4A), Ryan Benesch 1/4, Shayne Jackson 2/1 led the Swarm. Swarm are now 6-8 tied with Colorado. These teams will face each other in the final two weeks. Each of these teams hold a 1 game lead over the Bandits. Remember…IF the 5th place team in the West has a better record then the 4th place team in the East, they will get the spot.
Last time Wings had a home playoff game, April 20,2001 vs Rochester a 12-11 win. In 2002 Wings hosted a playoff game but were actually the road team as the Washington Power deferred the game to our arena so there be a bigger attendance. Wings were considered the road team in their own arena. That was the last time Wings fans have seen a playoff game in their arena.
Wings Scenarios:
Clinch a playoff berth: Wings Win or a Bandit loss in the final 2 games. Bandits need to win out and Wings lose out for Bandits to get the spot as Wings own the tie-breaker.
Host Home Playoff Game. If Wings win their final 2 games, the Knighthawks must go 1-2, OR if Wings split final 2 games, Knighthawks must go 0-3. Knighthawks own tie-breaker.
