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BUF at SD - Sat. 10pm ET on ESPNews Schedule

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WK
1
Fri, Dec 2
FINAL
Philadelphia
8
Halifax
18
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Vancouver
8
Toronto
19
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
San Diego
15
New York
14
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Albany
11
Buffalo
10
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Rochester
16
Georgia
11
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Colorado
6
Saskatchewan
18
WK
2
Fri, Dec 9
FINAL
Las Vegas
11
Panther City
13
Fri, Dec 9
FINAL/OT
Saskatchewan
12
San Diego
13
Sat, Dec 10
FINAL
Toronto
7
Rochester
11
Sat, Dec 10
FINAL
Vancouver
9
Calgary
11
WK
3
Fri, Dec 16
FINAL
Calgary
14
Vancouver
5
Fri, Dec 16
FINAL
Panther City
9
Las Vegas
3
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Buffalo
11
Toronto
8
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Rochester
14
Albany
13
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Philadelphia
13
Georgia
12
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Halifax
20
New York
11
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Colorado
12
Panther City
9
WK
5
Fri, Dec 30
FINAL
Halifax
13
Buffalo
18
Fri, Dec 30
FINAL
San Diego
17
Calgary
14
Sat, Dec 31
FINAL
Panther City
9
Saskatchewan
11
WK
6
Fri, Jan 6
FINAL
Philadelphia
14
Las Vegas
9
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Panther City
9
Rochester
17
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Halifax
14
Albany
11
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Buffalo
18
Georgia
9
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Toronto
15
New York
7
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Calgary
8
Colorado
9
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Vancouver
11
San Diego
16
WK
7
Fri, Jan 13
FINAL/OT
Albany
11
Halifax
10
Fri, Jan 13
FINAL/OT
Saskatchewan
10
Colorado
11
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Halifax
8
Toronto
17
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Panther City
12
Philadelphia
10
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Georgia
9
Buffalo
11
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
San Diego
10
Calgary
14
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Las Vegas
16
Vancouver
19
Sun, Jan 15
FINAL
Rochester
11
New York
8
WK
8
Fri, Jan 20
FINAL
Buffalo
12
Rochester
15
Fri, Jan 20
FINAL
Vancouver
14
Las Vegas
15
Sat, Jan 21
FINAL
Toronto
14
Philadelphia
5
Sat, Jan 21
FINAL
New York
16
Albany
10
WK
9
Fri, Jan 27
FINAL
Rochester
7
Halifax
17
Fri, Jan 27
FINAL
Buffalo
13
Philadelphia
9
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
Buffalo
16
New York
10
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
Las Vegas
10
Saskatchewan
15
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL/OT
Toronto
11
Calgary
10
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
San Diego
13
Colorado
9
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
Panther City
20
Vancouver
7
WK
10
Fri, Feb 3
FINAL
Georgia
10
Colorado
13
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL/OT
Calgary
12
Halifax
11
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
New York
14
Toronto
22
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Albany
5
Philadelphia
13
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Rochester
10
Buffalo
13
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Panther City
10
San Diego
12
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Saskatchewan
14
Vancouver
8
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Colorado
8
Las Vegas
13
WK
11
Fri, Feb 10
FINAL
Toronto
11
Georgia
10
Fri, Feb 10
FINAL
Saskatchewan
6
Calgary
13
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Halifax
14
Rochester
16
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Albany
12
New York
14
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Vancouver
13
Panther City
14
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Colorado
9
Calgary
13
WK
12
Fri, Feb 17
FINAL
Calgary
14
Vancouver
9
Fri, Feb 17
FINAL
Saskatchewan
16
San Diego
11
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL
Georgia
7
Toronto
16
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL
Las Vegas
12
Albany
10
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL/OT
Philadelphia
12
Buffalo
13
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL
Colorado
7
Panther City
13
Sun, Feb 19
FINAL
New York
12
Halifax
13
WK
13
Fri, Feb 24
FINAL
Panther City
12
Colorado
14
Fri, Feb 24
FINAL
Calgary
9
Las Vegas
11
Sat, Feb 25
FINAL/OT
New York
10
Rochester
11
Sat, Feb 25
FINAL
Albany
4
Georgia
20
Sat, Feb 25
FINAL
Vancouver
16
Saskatchewan
12
WK
14
Fri, Mar 3
FINAL
Buffalo
10
Halifax
9
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
New York
12
Philadelphia
19
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
Las Vegas
12
San Diego
15
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
Rochester
8
Toronto
9
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL/OT
Georgia
9
Albany
8
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
Saskatchewan
10
Panther City
16
Mon, Mar 6
FINAL
Toronto
10
Philadelphia
11
WK
15
Fri, Mar 10
FINAL/OT
Halifax
9
Buffalo
10
Fri, Mar 10
FINAL
Calgary
16
Colorado
10
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
Albany
6
Toronto
12
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
Philadelphia
10
New York
13
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
San Diego
12
Saskatchewan
11
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
Vancouver
14
Las Vegas
5
Sun, Mar 12
FINAL
Rochester
19
Georgia
18
WK
16
Fri, Mar 17
FINAL
Saskatchewan
6
Calgary
11
Fri, Mar 17
FINAL
San Diego
16
Vancouver
9
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Georgia
13
Philadelphia
12
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Toronto
12
Halifax
14
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Albany
10
New York
13
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Colorado
13
Buffalo
8
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Las Vegas
8
Panther City
11
Sun, Mar 19
FINAL/OT
Philadelphia
9
Rochester
8
WK
17
Fri, Mar 24
20:30:00
San Diego
Panther City
Sat, Mar 25
19:00:00
Toronto
Albany
Sat, Mar 25
19:00:00
Halifax
Philadelphia
Sat, Mar 25
19:30:00
Georgia
New York
Sat, Mar 25
21:30:00
Calgary
Saskatchewan
Sat, Mar 25
22:00:00
Buffalo
San Diego
Sat, Mar 25
22:00:00
Colorado
Vancouver
Sat, Mar 25
22:30:00
Rochester
Las Vegas
WK
18
Fri, Mar 31
19:00:00
New York
Georgia
Fri, Mar 31
21:00:00
Las Vegas
Colorado
Fri, Mar 31
22:00:00
Calgary
San Diego
Sat, Apr 1
19:00:00
Buffalo
Toronto
Sat, Apr 1
20:00:00
Albany
Panther City
Sat, Apr 1
21:30:00
Vancouver
Saskatchewan
Sun, Apr 2
13:00:00
Georgia
Halifax
Sun, Apr 2
18:00:00
Rochester
Philadelphia
WK
19
Sat, Apr 8
19:00:00
Albany
Rochester
Sat, Apr 8
19:00:00
Saskatchewan
Georgia
Sat, Apr 8
21:00:00
Panther City
Calgary
Sat, Apr 8
21:00:00
Vancouver
Colorado
Sat, Apr 8
22:30:00
San Diego
Las Vegas
WK
20
Fri, Apr 14
21:00:00
Las Vegas
Calgary
Fri, Apr 14
21:00:00
San Diego
Colorado
Sat, Apr 15
19:00:00
Philadelphia
Toronto
Sat, Apr 15
19:00:00
Georgia
Albany
Sat, Apr 15
19:30:00
New York
Buffalo
Sat, Apr 15
21:30:00
Halifax
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 15
22:00:00
Panther City
Vancouver
WK
21
Fri, Apr 21
20:30:00
Calgary
Panther City
Sat, Apr 22
18:00:00
New York
Halifax
Sat, Apr 22
19:00:00
Georgia
Rochester
Sat, Apr 22
20:00:00
Toronto
Buffalo
Sat, Apr 22
21:30:00
Colorado
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 22
22:00:00
Las Vegas
San Diego
Sun, Apr 23
15:00:00
Philadelphia
Albany
WK
22
Sat, Apr 29
19:00:00
Philadelphia
Rochester
Sat, Apr 29
19:00:00
Buffalo
Albany
Sat, Apr 29
19:00:00
Halifax
Georgia
Sat, Apr 29
22:00:00
Colorado
San Diego
Sat, Apr 29
22:00:00
New York
Vancouver
Sat, Apr 29
22:30:00
Saskatchewan
Las Vegas
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Stories/Op-Ed

The Wings are back. Their championship history is, too.

Philadelphia Wings enter inaugural season with championship history in mind

PHILADELPHIA — Before he had a Captain’s “C” slapped on his charcoal jersey, before he exchanged that very garment with the Phillies’ Jake Arrieta and before he ran the “Rocky” steps after scarfing down cheesesteaks from Pat’s and Geno’s, Kiel Matisz was a visitor in this city. Then a rookie with the now-relocated Minnesota Swarm, Matisz in 2013 saw firsthand how the home crowd at the Wells Fargo Center treated visitors.

 

It was not a warm welcome, but a lot has changed in almost six years. The Wings team from those days has a new moniker and plays a few miles up I-95. Matisz, with at least 60 points in each of his last three seasons, has grown into an offensive force in the NLL. That maturation got his name called in this summer’s expansion draft, and earlier this week contributed to his being named captain of the latest installment of box lacrosse in Philadelphia.

 

This weekend, Matisz will hope that the only thing that has stuck — besides, of course, the Wings name — is how fans treat the opposition. That’s because he and the reincarnated Philadelphia Wings return to the Wells Fargo Center to host the Buffalo Bandits in the new franchise’s first ever regular season contest this Saturday at 1 p.m. ET. The NLL’s Game of the Week can streamed on any device via B/R Live seen in-market on PHL17.

 

I think with such a rich sports culture that Philadelphia has, the fans really back the players,” Matisz said this week. “We want to be able to almost return the favor by playing hard every single shift, being physical and not taking this game for granted.”

 

Because part of that culture includes the Wings club that occupied South Philadelphia from 1987-2014, the league’s 11th franchise has not shied away from its roots. Assistant captain Jordan Hall and assistant coach Tracey Kelusky both played in the former franchise’s last game in the Wells Fargo Center on April 26, 2014. Rookie forward Matt Rambo was coached in high school by Bill Leahy, who occupied the same position for the Wings in the mid-1990s.

 

Before faceoff Saturday, the team will hoist a team banner as a nod to the six Wings championships (1989, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2001), along with three individual banners honoring Tom “Hollywood” Marechek (retired no. 42), Dallas Eliuk (retired no. 35), and Jake Bergey (retired no. 66). This, head coach and general manager Paul Day said, will come after a Friday-night practice that, thanks to a few alumni visits, will double as a reminder that a storied past can affect the present.

 

“We want to make it as good as it was and better,” Day said.

 

A veteran presence from Matisz, Hall and fellow assistant captain Dylan Evans will lead that quest. The forward position is further stacked with the likes of Blaze Riorden, who will miss this weekend’s game on injured reserve, and Josh Currier and Brett Hickey, both capable scorers. Young offensive talents Chris Cloutier, second overall pick of the 2018 entry draft, and Matt Rambo, former Tewaaraton Award winner, offer tons of potential, too.

 

“We’ve built a pretty good group that should be able to score every night,” Day said. “I think our identity is going to be that we’re young and we’re fast and we’re physical and aggressive. Our young guys defensively can really pick up the pace of the game and that’s really the type of identity we want for a team in Philadelphia.”

 

Behind the defense will be two inexperienced but promising goalies. Doug Buchan, who went 8-1 for Day’s Peterborough Lakers of the MSL this summer, joins Davide DiRuscio in net. Both impressed Matisz during a shortened two-week training.

 

“I think the reality is that all of us were picked to play a role on this team,” Matisz said. “As long as you don’t go outside that role, at least early on, and you kind of play to your strengths, we’re going to see success. And I’ve been really impressed with our defensive core back there.”

 

Opposite the Wings netminders will be six-time NLL goalie of the year Matt Vinc, Buffalo’s best hope for improving on an 8-10 campaign that left it out of the 2018 playoffs. The newly-acquired Vinc and a revamped defensive unit should fare better than the seventh-ranked 240 goals the Bandits allowed a season ago.

 

Up front, Corey Small joins an already strong unit led by 100-point scorer Dhane Smith and Shawn Evans, who notched 83 points a season ago between New England and Buffalo. In scrimmage against the Wings two weeks ago, second-year forward Chase Fraser notched four goals.

 

Saturday’s matchup, though, counts for real. It’s will be the revival of an historic NLL rivalry and the culmination of a lengthy team-building process for Day, who since taking the job has aimed for chemistry. He sought guys that had played together before. He wanted leaders. In Matisz, Hall, Evans, and other expansion drafts picks, he found filled those needs. Now it’s time to test how they mesh with the rest of a young roster and a franchise aiming for the playoffs in its first year of competition.

 

“We’re lucky that we have a fresh culture,” Day said. “We have the history of the Wings but we have the fresh locker room and culture…It’s a ‘we’ culture that we want to build. It’s not a ‘me’ culture. And it’s family first. That’s the type of people that we’ve brought here.”

 

NLL