Wings Run Into a Buzzsaw

The flailing Philadelphia Wings (5-7) went into The Key Bank Center in Buffalo, NY for a pivotal East Division match-up with the Buffalo Bandits (10-1). The Wings run into a buzzsaw. Buffalo dominated the entire affair and came out with a 17-5 victory. The Bandits showed why they are arguably the juggernaut of not only the Division but, also the league.

A recipe for disaster? In their current four-game losing string, Philadelphia has only scored 28 times. They have surrendered 51 including 17 in the 17-5 defeat. In contrast, the Panther City Lacrosse team has scored 37 goals in two games!

To the Action

A low-scoring first, which was what Philadelphia probably hoped for, saw Matt Rambo (1g) take advantage of a setup from Kevin Crowley and Blaze Riorden (3a) for his 17th of the season at 8:14. That would be the Philadelphia highlight as Dhane Smith, and Josh Byrne took over with a combined 21 points.

Not to be outdone, Tehoka Nanticoke made it 27 points. Chase Fraser (3g,1a) set up by Smith and Byrne evened things at 9:21. Four minutes later, Smith (2g,10a) yes….10 assists, closed the first with a 2-1 Buffalo edge.

Second Stanza

Buffalo stayed aggressive and planted markers at 1:26 from Tehoka Nanticoke (5g,1a), and again at the 3:53 mark.bbByrne and Kyle Buchanan assisted on the second of the night, 14th of the season from Fraser. 3:10 later, Kevin Crowley (1g,2a) stopped the run with his 17th with help from Ben McIntosh (2a) and a second helper from Riorden. Nanticoke closed the half-off helpers from Smith and Matt Spanger (2a). The Bandits went to the locker room smiling with a 6-2 edge.

Congrats to Corey Small for scoring his 300th career goal! #BangTheBoards pic.twitter.com/b13Q0V5qbO
— Philadelphia Wings (@NLLwings) March 14, 2022

To the Third

Buffalo blew it open with a 5-1 quarter. Nanticoke continued his hot hand, Ian MacKay (1g,1a) joined in. Corey Small (3g) put an end to the Bandits run but, Smith and Fraser nailed power-play goals with Byrne hitting net at 14:41 and we went to the final quarter with Philly looking at a major mountain to climb, 11-3. Where it all ends.

Philly showed a bit of fight with Kiel Matisz (1g) at :14 followed by Small at 5:57 cut it to 11-5. Buffalo simply yawned and went back to work. Chris Cloutier (2g), Connor Fields (2g), with a pair five minutes apart and a second from Cloutier. Kyle Buchanan (1g, 3a) joined the goal party with Nanticoke putting the ribbon on the 17-5 game.

Game Notes

Matt Vinc stopped 50 of the 55 Philadelphia shots. The normally steady, Zach Higgins went 51:50 in the Wings nets allowing 13 goals on 54 shots. Angus Goodleaf relieved Higgins by making 1 save on 6 Bandits shots. Buffalo was perfect on the advantage, 2 for2 with Philadelphia going 0 for 1. Philly’s Trevor Baptiste was 18 for 26 from the “X”. Philadelphia Wings run into a buzzsaw in Buffalo.

Kevin Neibauer

Kevin has followed and promoted the game of lacrosse since May 19, 1974.
The same day the Philadelphia Flyers won the Cup, the Philadelphia Wings were introduced to Neibauer and Philadelphia.

Kevin has covered many sports, including baseball, football, basketball, and.. lacrosse. A former licensed football referee and baseball umpire, Kevin brings a unique insight to his game coverage.

A published writer in JustHockey Magazine, Kevin covered the American Hockey League as well as a monthly story on a pugilist where Kevin used the pen name, The Rink Rat. Neibauer turned his attentions to lacrosse for a few years and does his part, whether podcasting or writing to grow the game. Kevin branched out to his roots and currently provides insight for all Philadelphia teams for Edge of Philly as well as his full-time duties with LaxPhilly.