Minnesota Swarm (6-1 H 3-0 A 3-1)
at
Philadelphia Wings (4-0 H 3-0 A 1-0)
The Who Will Risk More Edition of Minnesota Swarm Lacrosse
Friday, February 22, 2008 - 7:00pm CST
Wachovia Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Live Statistics
Minnesota Swarm Game Center
TV/Internet/Radio Coverage: None
Webcast: B2 Networks $7.00 per game
More Coverage of this game at:
Minnesota Swarm Website
Minnesota Swarm Message Board
Philadelphia Wings Website
National Lacrosse League Website
NLL Insider
Overall: Swarm 5-3
Home Overall: Swarm 3-2
Road Overall: Swarm 2-1
Home Last Season: Swarm 1-0
Road Last Season: Swarm 1-0
The Swarm won both against the Wings in 2007. The first game was on March 18, 2007 with the Swarm victorious, 11-9.
The two teams met in Philadelphia on April 13 to play a game that was originally scheduled on March 17, but postponed due to
inclement weather. That game saw the Swarm clinch their second straight playoff berth with a 11-8 victory. The Swarm have won
four straight against the Wings going back to 2006.
Rosters:
Minnesota Swarm |
Philadelphia Wings
Regular Season Statistics:
Minnesota Swarm |
Philadelphia Wings
Former Wings With The Swarm:
Former Swarm With The Wings:
The Swarm enter this Friday's game after losing their first game of the year on Saturday in Buffalo by a score of 16-14 to the
Bandits. Andy Secore (16g 25a) and Ward led the team with two goals and four assists. Sean Pollock (11g 19a) recorded his 100th assist as a member of the Swarm against the Bandits.
The Wings continued their undefeated season by knocking of the previously undefeated Colorado Mammoth (5-1), 15-13, in Denver
last Friday night. Athan Iannucci (19g 10a) led the Wings with five goals and three assists including the game winner with 8:01
left in the game.
The battle for first place in the East will be the next biggest game of the year this season after last Friday's Wings-Mammoth
game. Both teams love to run and gun since each has speed to burn. The impression I get is that both teams are big risk takers.
They are not afraid to take them and they take them often. Both Head Coaches, the Swarm's Duane Jacobs and the Wings' Dave
Huntley let their players adapt to and overcome any situations that arise on the field rather than micromanaging them into
insanity. They do this because they have trust in their players instincts and from what Jacobs told me a couple weeks ago, that
is how you play lacrosse. So far this season, the risks have paid off more often than not and it could very well come down to
who is more really to risk more.
Iannucci leads the Wings offense having taken nearly 23% of the Wings shots (92) and 37 more shots than the Wings second
leading shot taker Merrick Thomson (11g 11a). Iannucci is similar to Rochester's John Grant in that he is a big
and strong
with great skills and is willing to take the punishment as he goes to the net. The only
three differences maybe that Iannucci is
eight years younger, righthanded and Philly fans don't get together to send Grant a Christmas card each year. Look for Iannucci to be a force
for years to come in Philadelphia. Jake Bergey (14g 8a) is the Wings' strongest righthander this year and in his career against
the Swarm he has scored 15 goals and 16 assists. This may also be the game that Dan Marohl (1g 7a) returns to the line up as he
has terrorized the Swarm in eight games by scoring 11 goals and 33 assists.
This year both the Swarm and Wings have a rookie of the year contender. Craig Point (14g 21a)
represents the Swarm and Thomson represents the Wings. Those two along with Jordan Hall of New York are the top three candidates
for this years award. Below is the tale of tape between the two newcomers that will face each other Friday:
Rookie of the Year Battle - Craig Point vs. Merrick Thomson
| ROTY | Drafted |
GP | G |
A |
Pts | Shots |
SPCT |
LB | PIM |
| Point | 3rd | 7 |
14 | 21 |
35 | 74 | .189 |
39 | 6 |
| Average | | |
2.00 | 3.00 |
5.00 | 10.57 | |
5.57 | 0.86 |
| Thomson | 2nd | 4 |
11 | 11 |
22 | 55 | .200 |
12 | 7 |
| Average | | |
2.75 | 2.75 |
5.50 | 13.75 | |
3.00 | 1.75 |
Point is definitely not the only offensive option for the Swarm. Secore is tied for second in scoring in the NLL and with
three more points will double his career high in points that he achieved last year in Arizona. Ward is sixth and Point is tenth
which gives the Swarm three players in the top ten. Chad Culp (12g 14a) has been extremely consistent
this year. In five of seven games this year, Culp has scored two goals and two assists. Culp also has done well against the
Wings scoring 14 goals and 15 assists in seven games.
Defensively, both teams will have their hands full with the two best offensive units. The Wings best defense is their own
ball control. They lead the league in loose balls per game at 101.25 and face off percentage at 72.39 thanks to the dynamic duo
of Geoff Snider (3g 8a) and Peter Jacobs (0g 0a). The Wings also have the league's best penalty kill at 67.57%. The Swarm
meanwhile keep offenses wary with the threat of their transition trio of Ryan Cousins (7g 2a),
Ryan Sharp (6g 5a) and Kyle Ross (2g 5a). Sharp; however, may miss
the game due to suspension because he incurred two misconduct penalties against Buffalo last Saturday. In addition to Sharp, the
Swarm may lose out on Travis Hill (1g 3a) whose suspension levied due to his actions against Portland
is still under appeal.
This year both teams have had clutch goaltending. For the Swarm, Nick Patterson
(6-1 11.99 GAA .765 Save %) leads the league in minutes played and saves made. Nick has a perfect 5-0 record against the Wings
with a save percentage of .806 and a goals against of 10.12. His first victory in net came against the Wings on April 15, 2005
in his first game back after suffering a serious leg injury against none other than the Wings on March 5, 2005. His opposite
number, Rob Blasdell (4-0 12.98 GAA .767 Save %) has played every minute for the Wings this season and has finally solidified
that position for the Wings since Dallas Eliuk left after the 2005 season. Inconsistent goaltending had often cost the Wings
late in games in the last two years but the acquisition of Blasdell in the dispersal draft has changed all that. The problem for
the Wings is a long term one in that the Arizona Sting own his rights and if they come back next year, the Wings will have to
patch together their goaltending once again.
The Wachovia Center will not be friendly to the Swarm. The Wings fans are excited not only about their good start but also
about the possibility of making the playoffs for the first time since 2002. The Swarm are looking to redeem themselves after they
struggled against the Bandits. Cousins' in his blog is extremely confident in the Swarm's ability to rebound and considering how
the season has went this year, I expect the Swarm to rebound and show well in Philadelphia. In an high scoring game with a lot
of momentum changes, I see the Swarm coming out on top late and I mean late in the game:
Prediction: Minnesota Swarm 18 Philadelphia Wings 17 OT
Game Winning Goal: Mike Hominuck (4g 16a)
Next game following this matchup:
- Minnesota at Buffalo - Saturday, March 8th 6:30 pm CST
- Philadelphia vs. New York - Friday, February 29th 7:00 pm CST
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