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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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Game Previews

Wings Must Get ‘Uncomfortable’ As They Settle In For 4-Game Homestand

After an overtime loss in Toronto earlier this month, Philadelphia looks to exact revenge and turn its season around

PHILADELPHIA — The first three adjectives Paul Day used to describe his team during the preseason were young, aggressive and fast. Now, as the Wings’ approach the middle third of their 18-game schedule, it appears the head coach/general manager was not bluffing. Philadelphia has played its best lacrosse when its fresh legs had some extra juice after halftime.

 

But as the Wings (0-5) kick off a crucial four-game homestand at the Wells Fargo Center  — one that concludes with a home-and-home weekend against New England — speed can not help them outrun the facts. They are a rookie-laden team aiming to shake loose of a winless start to its inaugural season. With each passing game, the chance to revive playoff hope dwindles.

 

So, ahead of Saturday’s 7pm ET rematch with Toronto (4-1), Kiel Matisz issued a challenge. The Wings’ captain does not want to sugarcoat reality. He wants his teammates to face the facts.

 

“We can’t be comfortable in this scenario,” Matisz told NLL.com in a phone call this week. “We have to be uncomfortable in order to improve, because 0-5 is kind of uncomfortable.”

 

The task of leading an incubating Wings team is in some ways not that different from Matisz’s day job as a district sales manager for Frito Lay. Just as he might check in with his associates during a workday, he’s almost constantly communicating with teammates during a gameweek. He calls each one at least once every two weeks. That’s about 12 calls a week. For 20 or 30 minutes, they talk about what the team could do better. They discuss how the player could improve. They share what matters off the floor, too, and for Matisz that most recently includes his eight-month-old son.

 

This week, Matisz took the discomfort associated with the bottom of the standings and applied it to everything a player must do to ready himself before the team reconvenes for Friday’s practice. That player’s training must push him out of a comfort zone, because if he’s comfortable with where Philadelphia stands as a team, “there’s something wrong,” Matisz said.

 

“I want to know what you’re doing to get us better,” Matisz said. “…It’s, ‘What are you doing and how passionately are you doing it?’

 

Matisz’ sense of urgency is one that came from the top down. Day no longer wants the Wings to just play fast. He wants them to do everything fast. Philadelphia will practice and warm up with pace and purpose. Quicker preparation, quicker start once the game-clock is on, Day hopes. If the alterations produce, the Wings could snip at the slow starts that have forced them to attempt epic comebacks nearly every week. They have been outscored 20-7 in first quarters. Every week, Matisz feels that an extra quarter would grant them enough time to earn a victory.

 

“It seems,” Day said, ”that we’re a team that needs to be punched in the face and be behind the eight ball to actually play well.”

 

The one time the Wings didn’t trail after the opening period? Earlier this month against Saturday’s foe, the Rock. The two teams entered the second quarter tied at one goal apiece. As a close contest played out, neither side led by more than three. The Wings lost their eventual advantage during the final minute of regulation and fell in overtime.

 

“That was our best consistent effort,” Day said. “We had pretty much 58, 59 consistent minutes. It really shows that it takes a full 60 minutes, or your best game, to compete in this league.”

 

It was the best defensive showing of the season for a Wings’ unit bolstered last week by the acquisition of veteran defenseman Eric Shewell. But a repeat performance will require betterment against Toronto’s top offensive trio. Tom Schriber and Adam Jones netted five goals each. Rob Hellyer dished three assists. More consistent goaltending, Day said, will help combat those “world-class players;” Although Wings goalie Doug Buchan had 51 saves that game, his teammate Davide DiRuscio owns slight edge in save percentage this season.

 

Shore up those issues and Philadelphia has some things working in its favor. Rookie transition Trevor Baptiste, at 96-for-142 (67.6 percent), quickly became the league’s premier faceoff presence. Kevin Crowley, acquired the morning after the Wings left Toronto, put in five goals in two games. But he needs help. All seven forwards who see the floor this weekend, Day said, must to score.

 

Maybe more desperately, the Wings crave production on the power play, during which they have scored at an 11.8-percent clip (2-for-17). No NLL team this year has fared worse in man-up situations. On his conference call this week, Day even joked about declining penalties as if his team was playing football.

 

“We’re not happy with our results,” he later said more seriously, “but we’re encouraged by our efforts and our resiliency.”

 

The Wings have not yet imploded despite the struggles. They lost a key offensive piece to injury and made a trade to fill the void. They have played awful first quarters but salvaged second halves. And although he’s felt tension during times of adversity with other teams, Matisz said this group reacts differently. Maybe it’s youth. Maybe it’s talent. Maybe it’s character. Just don’t confuse the lack of chaos with a sense of comfort, because there is no room for such a feeling in Philadelphia right now.

NLL