Before I write my review I feel the need to vent. The officials in this game were HORRIBLE. There were calls on both ends that they missed, but some major ones that could have changed the game.
1-Since when is a back body drop legal? In first quarter while there was a scrum by the benches a Swarm player flipped a Wings player over their back.
2-Ryan Ward scores at 5:28 of final quarter and Brock Sorenson checks him from behind pushing him into the boards as he scores and only a two-minute call. He took two-three steps prior to hit so no excuse, should have been a major penalty.
3-Kevin Ross hit head high fom behind into the boards by Andrew Suitor and no call made at all. Should have been five-minute major.
4-Andrew Suitor’s goal. Obvious Goalie Interference!! Goalie was in the crease when Shayne Jackson hit his stick. You can not touch the goalie at all when he is in his crease, the official (#9) was on top of it and blew the call.
Yes I am a Wings fan, but these were so obvious it was ridiculous. I have seen this so far throughout the league in other matchups not involving the Wings. The officials are making it about them and not the players. This is one of the reasons attendance drops throughout the league. It used to be a bang-em up, hard hitting (legal) game. Now its like watching flag football. I’m done… here is my review of the game. Enjoy
After losing both games last weekend, including an overtime loss to the Bandits, the Wings came out quick and jumped on the Swarm opening up a 3-0 lead in the first 3:03 of the game. If lacrosse games were three minutes long, the Wings would have pulled out a victory. But Minesota pulled starter Tyler Carlson and put in Zach Higgins.
Higgins then proceeded to lead his team to victory as the Swarm outscored the Wings 11-7 in the last 56:57 of the game. This is where a qualified back-up comes in hand. With the score 3-0 the Swarm proceeded to out score the Wings 7-1 and take a 7-4 lead at the half. Six goals was the most the Swarm scored until now. Their defense also held the Wings scoreless for just under 22 minutes (21:56). This is the third game in a row that the second quarter was the downfall, and again this is where a back-up comes in handy. Your starter getting blasted again in second quarter, take him out to regain his thoughts, etc.. Kirk is a third year goalie, at this rate he will feel like a 20-year veteran of the game by season’s end.
You can not expect to win a game by only playing three out of four quarters of a game, and continue to go 22+ minutes every game without scoring. It makes for a very long season. Something the Wings can not afford as only 5,196 was announced as the attendance. The second lowest in team history.
Wings were a measely 1-5 on the power play and allowed a short handed goal, while the Swarm were 3-5 on the power play. The Swarm outshot the Wings 54-42.
Josh Gillam, Kiel Matisz, Jordan MacIntosh, and rookie Logan Schuss all had two goals on a well-balanced offense. For the Wings Jordan Hall’s four goals led the way, while Ryan Ward had another six assists. Rookie Garrett Thul is showing his size and strength with a two goal performance.
The Wings had plenty of second and third opportunities but couldn’t solve Higgins in the final minutes.
Positives from the game: Ryan Ward (1 G, 6 A) is playing very well, Jordan Hall (4 G) leads the team in goals with 11 and is tied in points with Kyle Buchanan (20).
Negatives: Kevin Crowley only three goals in four games, another game where the team was outplayed in the second quarter.
Last season after first four games the team was 2-2 scoring 42 goals and allowing 45, and 2-3 after the first five games (20-10 loss to Rochester). This season 1-3 after four games, 47 goals scored and 49 allowed.
