Minnesota Swarm (0-1 H 0-1 A 0-0)
	Philadelphia Wings (2-0 H 0-0 A 2-0)

Home Opener Lost in the Fourth Quarter

Friday, January 6, 2006
St. Paul, Minnesota
Attendance: 8,024

Not the best start to the season. Was hoping for more than 8,024 in the stands. That just won't do.

The Minnesota Swarm opened the second season of operation at The Hive against the Philadelphia Wings, who they beat at home to finish the 2005 season. This time, the Wings with a win under their belt already this season, came in and throttled the Swarm with five straight goals in the fourth quarter to beat the Wings, 15-10. Ryan Ward led the team with 4 goals and 2 assists while newcomer Kasey Beirnes kicked in three goals and three assists.

Sure hope Kelly Hall gets his rib healed fast because we sure needed him last night over lets say Tony Henderson. I sure wish the Swarm would attack the middle on offense more, but I am not sure if they have the game to do that. Well they better get it. Kasey Beirnes is a very nice addition to the offense, but it still needs to get better.

Peter Jacobs is one of the best face-off men in the league, maybe the best, for the Wings and has been doing it for a long time. Therefore, it was going to be tough for D'arcy Berthiaume and Nolan Heavenor to begin with. By game's end, we saw how tough it was. With Berthiaume playing for the first time since his injury in June, it is going to look a bit rough, but he will come through, mark my words.

I thought the defense did okay but it still needs a lot of work according to Coach Paul St. John. What they practiced on Thursday night just didn't translate as well on Friday. They kept the Wings from going underneath and it helped that Jeff Ratcliffe was unable to play. However,  they attack the middle and they do it well.

Matt Disher will be fine, even though it definitely wasn't his best game. Disher is so much slimmer that I didn't recognize him at Tom Reid's at first. Look around the league, the best goaltenders in this league are over 30, with Watson in Toronto, Dietrich in Buffalo, Eliuk in Portland and O'Toole, who may be the best, in Rochester. Goaltending in this league is not a young man's game.  Even Matt Roik who we saw last night and Anthony Cosmo in San Jose are in their late 20's.

At least, the Swarm kept out of the penalty box last night. Taking too many penalties will just kill this team.

Onward and upward to Philadelphia next weekend. Lets go Swarm.

Game Links