Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 4/26/08
The struggling Philadelphia Wings try to salvage a National Lacrosse League playoff berth Sunday (1 p.m.) when they travel to Toronto for their regular-season finale.
Philadelphia (9-6), which started 7-1 but has lost five of seven games, can clinch a playoff berth for the first time since 2002 with a win or if Rochester loses to the New York Titans tonight.
Toronto is 7-8.
This will also mark the last game for the Rock’s Jim Veltman as a player after a 16-year professional career. Toronto will feature a pre-game ceremony to honor Veltman.
“It is make or break,” said Wings coach Dave Huntley. “I’m also very excited to be able to participate in Jim’s last game, but we have another mission. Overall, I think it will be a great afternoon in Toronto.”
The Wings’ offense is led by forwards Athan Iannucci (league-record 67 goals, 28 assists) and Jake Bergey (28 goals, 29 assists). Center Geoff Snider has also been instrumental for the Wings, winning 291 of 399 face-offs this season. Goaltender Brandon Miller made 43 saves against New York last weekend and has a 78.5 percent save percentage.
Lewis Ratcliff has recorded 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists) for the Rock in the past four games, and Blaine Manning leads Toronto in points with 71 (27 goals, 44 assists).
So far, Buffalo and Minnesota (both 9-6) have clinched berths in the Eastern Division. The Wings and the Titans (9-6) are one game ahead of Rochester.
