Di Miller, NLL Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©
Featured Image Photo Credit: David Stewart
The Philadelphia Wings (2-5) played host to the Halifax Thunderbirds (4-3) on Friday February 2, 2024. The last time these two teams met on December 29, 2023, in Nova Scotia, the Wings would be victorious in another high scoring contest that also went into overtime. Unfortunately for Philadelphia, they’d come out on the losing end after having come back from a six-goal deficit early in the third, tying the game with a spectacular power play crease dive goal by Ben McIntosh with 5:28 left in the contest. Blaze Riorden would notch the go-ahead goal with 4:29 in the fourth only to have Ryan Benesch tie it with 1:22 left. Final Score OT: Thunderbirds 15—Wings 14. The first quarter got off to a slow start. Ryan Benesch (2g, 2a) got things started with a power play tally 4:40 into the frame and Halifax was on the board. The netminders on both sides of the floor stood tall in their respective cages for almost six minutes before the Wings would put up two more. Joe Resetarits (2g, 4a) got the home team on the board and Blaze Riorden (2g) would notch the go-ahead power play tally with 3:43 left in the first. Score at the end of one: Wings 2—Thunderbirds 1.
Both teams found their groove in the second with Halifax outscoring Philadelphia 5-3. Aaron Woods (2g, 4a) made his NLL debut and would tie it up 1:19 in. Jake Withers (1g) would find twine with the go ahead tally three minutes later. He’d also notch 1,600 career face-off wins during the game. The Thunderbirds would put up three more before the end of the half with Philadelphia notching one. Clarke Petterson (3g, 3a) put in a power-play tally, Dawson Theede (3g, 4a) and Colton Armstrong (1g) would also tally goals. For the Wings, Ben McIntosh (3g, 2a) and Scott Dominey (1g, 1a) would get on the board and Resetarits notched his second. Score at the end of two: Wings 6—Thunderbirds 5.
In the first 2:09 of the third, Halifax would go on a five-goal run, notching 5 goals on 7 shots quickly quieting the arena. Cody Jamieson (3g, 2a) would find the back of the net twice within 17 seconds. Theede put up two and Petterson notched his second. But just like that, the Wings swooped in and put up four in a row. Taggart Clark (2g) got the run going with 9:44 left in the third. Mitch Jones (1g, 7a) finally found the back of the net, with Marcus Minichiello (1g) getting his only marker of the night and Sam LeClair (1g, 1a) on the break got one past Warren Hill with 1:59 on the ticker and they were within two. Score at the end of three: Thunderbirds 11—Wings 9.
Philadelphia would turn the tables outscoring Halifax 5-3 in the final frame. Woods got things started for the Thunderbirds and it was 12-9. But the Wings were passing well, their defense was strong, and they’d chip away at the lead again. McIntosh notched his second 5:43 in and Clark found the net less than a minute later and it was 12-11. But Petterson would increase the lead back to two 27 seconds later. The Wings would go on another three-goal run. Taite Cattoni (1g, 2a) got it started off the rebound and he’d twist in front of the cage and put it in. About a minute later, McIntosh was set up behind the crease all alone and he’d leap, wrap around the cage and put it in near side. The Thunderbirds Bench Boss Mike Accursi would throw the challenge flag and after review, it was overturned. But McIntosh wasn’t going to settle for his highlight reel goal to go by the wayside. The Wings went on a man up off a kneeing penalty on the Thunderbirds and Philadelphia took advantage. On the next possession, McIntosh was set up on the left side, got the pass from Jones, dove to the crease and put it far side to tie it up at 13 apiece with 5:28 to go. Riorden would get the go ahead tally with 4:29 left in the fourth and the fans went wild. But there was still plenty of clock left and Halifax would use it to their benefit. On the pick and roll, Theede passed to Benesch who was heading towards the crease, and he shot left to right and put it over the left should top corner on Higgins to tie it up at 14’s with 1:29 left. In the last 1:04, Wings Defenseman Ryan Wagner would get called for cross checking just as the T’Birds were trying to score in front of the crease and he’d head to the sin bin for two. The Wings would go man down, but Higgins made multiple saves to keep the Thunderbirds out of the net. Score at the end of regulation: Wings 14—Thunderbirds 14.
With the short gap between regulation and overtime, the teams would head to the face-off dot. With no time-outs allowed in OT this season, it was imperative for the Wings to win at the 50/50 circle as Withers was already 25 of 33 on the night. When the whistle blew, Withers flipped the ball, Theede grabbed the loose ball, passed to Shanks, who flipped to Petterson, he’d pass to Jamieson from the left side, and he’d notch his hat-trick with a step-down overhand bullet top corner for the GWG. Final Score OT: Thunderbirds 15—Wings 14.
STATS:
Philadelphia Wings: SOG 46; Saves 50; Sv% .769%; FO 7-33; PP 2-4
Halifax Thunderbirds: SOG 65; Saves 32; Sv% .696%; FO 26-33; PP 3-4
NEXT UP:
The Philadelphia Wings (2-5) have a bye-week and will be back in action on February 16, 2024, when they head to Michelob Ultra Arena to face the Las Vegas Desert Dogs (2-4)**, game time 10:00 p.m. EST. Fans in the USA can see the game on ESPN+. Fans in Canada get to catch the action on TSN+.
The Halifax Thunderbirds (4-3) will play host to the Las Vegas Desert Dogs (2-4)** at Scotiabank Centre on Friday February 9, 2024, game time 6:30 p.m. EST. Fans in the USA can see the game on ESPN+. This is the Game of the Week for fans in Canada and they get to see the action on TSN or TSN+
Di Miller, NLL Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©
**Record at the time of the article.