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Minnesota Swarm
(8-4 H 5-0 A 3-4) |
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New York Titans
(6-6 H 2-1 A 4-5) |
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The Swarm are Fashionably Victorious
Saturday, April 5, 2008
St. Paul, Minnesota
Attendance: 10,854
The new look Minnesota Swarm not
only showed off their fantastic eye for fashion, they also regained their will to win with a 12-9 victory over the New York Titans last
night at the Xcel Energy Center. The victory has vaulted the Swarm back into first place pending today's Toronto-Philadelphia game.
Chad Culp (18g 23a) struck first for the Swarm on the power play just after a minute into the game. The
Titans soon after found themselves a man short and the Swarm made the pay again as Ryan Ward (25g 32a)
crept in from the restraining line and unloaded on Titan goaltender Matt Vinc to make the score 2-0 for the Swarm after three
minutes. The Titans regrouped the rest of the quarter as the Swarm had to kill three minors the rest of way. The Swarm killed
the first two, but Mike McLellan notched his league leading 14th power play goal to finally put the Titans on the board. That goal
was about two quarters earlier than the last game the Titans played here when they were shutout til nearly the halfway point of
the third quarter. McLellan added another late in the quarter when he was just able to keep his foot out of the crease to tie it
at 2. The Swarm nearly scored at the end of the quarter but Craig Point's (23g 28a) goal was a split
second too late to count.
Justin Norbraten (0g 5a) got the chance to be the fourth righty on offense in this game. He
may have made the play of the game when he was fighting for a loose ball behind the Titans net. Four Titans including the goaltender
joined him to make their unfriendly acquaintance. Norbraten was unfazed and was able to spot through the orange maze an wide open
Rory McDade (3g 6a) in front on the net for a go ahead goal. Andy Secore
(21g 38a) continued the scoring for the Swarm as he faked out his opponent on the way to the net. Ward added to the Swarm lead going
right to left before he released his shot on Vinc. The Titans narrowed the lead before half with a Ryan Boyle goal to make the score
5-3 in the Swarm's favor.
The third quarter for the Swarm in their history has been horrific at best and it was not looking like that was going to change.
By that time of the game, the Swarm were getting hacked up pretty good and illegal by the Titans without the referees raising an
eyebrow. That probably helped the Titans not only stay in the game but it got them the lead as Pat Maddalena led the charge with
two goals to put the Titans up 7-5 at 10:27 of the third. The Swarm cut the lead to one as Point sent a laser to Culp's stick to
the left of Vinc which Culp quickly deposited in Vinc's five hole. Momentum was halted somewhat but a terrible high sticking call
by the referee at the end of the quarter on Noah Talbot (0g 4a) put the Titans on a five minute power
play to start the fourth. Talbot clearly could not have done what the referee accused him of doing as he was falling backwards
onto the ground after Casey Powell ran into him. I think that call may have generated the loudest booing from the Swarm crowd in
their history because of complete imcompentency of the call by the referee and the timing of the call.
Lately, a call like that and there have been many of those lately going against the Swarm has been the Swarm's undoing in
second halves but not Saturday night. The Swarm dug deeper than they may have ever done before and began to look like the team we
all loved for the first six games of the year. The Titans had a chance to close the Swarm but were completely incapable of doing
so as Ward once again weaved right to left for a shorthanded goal to tie at seven at 0:52 of the fourth.
The Swarm were not finished yet in the quest to frustrate the man up Titans. If you look back in history at the Swarm, there is one player in my mind
who you can view as a barometer as to how up or down emotionally the team is. Just like last year in Portland when he got hot and c
crushed the funk of a 1-3 start, Sean Pollock (19g 27a) got hot in the fourth just when the Swarm
needed him the most. After the defense once again denied the Titans on the man up offense, Ryan Sharp
(8g 8a) got the ball up to McDade. McDade zeroed in onto the baby-faced red-headed assasin as he flew of the bench uncontested to
the net. Pollock reached up high for the pass from McDade and drew quickly on Vinc for the Swarm's second shorthanded goal on the
five minute major to regain the lead for the Swarm at 8-7. The Titans scored just before the five minute major was up but the
Swarm turned a refereeing catastrophy that had sunk them in previous games into a rallying cry of "our will is greater than yours and
we will not be be deterred". Basically the Titans were finished and Pollock was the guy polishing them off.
Before Pollock polished them off, Point got the lead back for the Swarm at 9-8 as Secore found him on the crease for the quick
stick goal. At 10:14 of the quarter, the Titans were called for a roughing penalty that would give the Swarm a power play. Not so
fast as once again, it seemed as if the refereeing was trying to beat the Swarm along with the Titans as McDade was called for a
mystifing delay of game penalty after the referee called him for playing without a helmet while McDade was sprawled out on the green carpet
as play continued around and above him. The Titans got the lucky break of not going a man down when they clearly should have but
remember, Pollock is hot and now is when he polished them Titans off. His second goal of his polishing act in the fourth quarter
occured as he got open in front of the net, received a timely pass for Secore and wrapped his shot around Titan defender Mitch
Belisle for the goal. The third and most crushing goal came 28 seconds later as he ripped a rocket from up high to put the Swarm
up 11-8 with 3:17 to go. The Titans got a goal back to cut the lead to 11-9 but were unable to mount a serious comeback as Sharp
finished the scoring with an empty netter.
Ward led the Swarm with three goals and four assists. Pollock got his hat trick all in the crucial fourth quarter and pocketed an
earlier assist and Secore assisted on six goals while scoring one of his own. Culp also had a big night with two goals and three
assists. Nick Patterson (8-3 11.90 GAA .770 Save %) won his league leading eighth game and stopped
33 of the Titans 42 shots on goal. The defense was first class as they were able to keep up with the constant Titan pick and rolls
and how they were able to limit the Titans to only seven shots in the fourth. Maddalena led the Titans with three goals and an assist
as the Titans are now 0-4 against the Swarm in their history. The Swarm victory continues the perfect home season at 5-0 and
ensures the first ever winning record at home during a season in their history.
As I mentioned up top, the Swarm are now in first place. If Philadelphia wins tonight, they will be tied for first after this
weekend. Philly has the advantage temporarily in tiebreakers as they beat the Swarm earlier this season but this upcoming
Saturday, the Swarm will get the chance for redemption as the host the Wings at 7:00 pm at the X. I have not delved deeply into
playoff scenarios but the Swarm will definitely clinch a playoff berth with the following next weekend:
- Swarm beat the Wings and
- Knighthawks lose to the Bandits and
- Titans lose to the Mammoth
By the time the Swarm beat the Wings on Saturday night, depending on those earlier games, Swarm fans will be able to congratulate
their team on making the playoffs for a third straight year.
Game Statistics
| Team Stats |
Sv/S |
PIM |
PP |
SH |
S |
SOG |
LB |
FO |
| Minnesota |
33/42 |
19 |
5/7 |
2 |
68 |
40 |
69 |
5/25 |
| New York |
28/40 |
16 |
4/8 |
0 |
65 |
42 |
83 |
20/25 |
| # |
Minnesota |
G |
A |
Pts |
PIM |
PPG |
SHG |
S |
SOG |
LB |
FO |
| 8 |
Rory McDade |
1 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0-0 |
| 9 |
Craig Point |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
9 |
4 |
5 |
0-0 |
| 12 |
Eric Pacey |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0-0 |
| 16 |
Noah Talbot |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0-0 |
| 17 |
Sean Pollock |
3 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
8 |
4 |
7 |
0-0 |
| 19 |
Chad Culp |
2 |
3 |
5 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
12 |
9 |
2 |
0-0 |
| 20 |
Kyle Ross |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
0-0 |
| 21 |
Andy Secore |
1 |
6 |
7 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
15 |
9 |
6 |
0-0 |
| 23 |
Jon Sullivan |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0-0 |
| 24 |
Justin Norbraten |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
0-0 |
| 26 |
Ryan Sharp |
1 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
9 |
0-0 |
| 27 |
Colin Achenbach |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0-0 |
| 34 |
Nick Inch |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0-0 |
| 44 |
Ryan Ward |
3 |
4 |
7 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
15 |
9 |
5 |
0-0 |
| 47 |
Travis Hill |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
5-25 |
| 50 |
Ryan Cousins |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
7 |
0-0 |
| 93 |
Nick Patterson |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0-0 |
| 31 |
Kevin Croswell |
Back Up Goaltender - Did Not Play |
| 3 |
Chris Courtney |
Did Not Dress |
| 11 |
Keith Cromwell |
Did Not Dress |
| 18 |
Andrew Biers |
Did Not Dress |
| 40 |
Ian Rubel |
Did Not Dress |
| 73 |
Dean Hill |
Did Not Dress |
| |
| # |
Minnesota |
MIN |
GA |
Saves |
Shots |
Dec |
|
| 31 |
Kevin Croswell |
0:00 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
| 93 |
Nick Patterson |
60:00 |
9 |
33 |
42 |
W 8-3 |
|
| |
| # |
New York |
G |
A |
Pts |
PIM |
PPG |
SHG |
S |
SOG |
LB |
FO |
| 2 |
Brendan Mundorf |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
3 |
4 |
0-0 |
| 3 |
Matt Alrich |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
0-0 |
| 5 |
Jamie Hanford |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
19 |
20-25 |
| 12 |
Jarett Park |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
7 |
0-0 |
| 14 |
Ryan Boyle |
1 |
5 |
6 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
3 |
5 |
0-0 |
| 15 |
Patrick Merrill |
0 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
0-0 |
| 19 |
Mike McLellan |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
6 |
4 |
6 |
0-0 |
| 20 |
Greg Peyser |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
7 |
0-0 |
| 22 |
Casey Powell |
1 |
4 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
13 |
9 |
7 |
0-0 |
| 24 |
Rory Smith |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0-0 |
| 36 |
Mitch Belisle |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0-0 |
| 41 |
Bryan Barrett |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0-0 |
| 42 |
Pat Maddalena |
3 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
15 |
13 |
1 |
0-0 |
| 44 |
Jordan Hall |
1 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
2 |
5 |
0-0 |
| 48 |
Matt Vinc |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0-0 |
| 56 |
John Orsen |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
6 |
0-0 |
| 90 |
Jeff Ratcliffe |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
3 |
0 |
0-0 |
| 21 |
Erik Miller |
Back Up Goaltender - Did Not Play |
| 10 |
Brian Tower |
Did Not Dress |
| 32 |
Rich Brzeski |
Did Not Dress |
| 34 |
Anthony Kelly |
Did Not Dress |
| 47 |
Jeff Spano |
Did Not Dress |
| 71 |
Keevin Galbraith |
Did Not Dress |
| |
| # |
New York |
MIN |
GA |
Saves |
Shots |
Dec |
|
| 21 |
Erik Miller |
0:00 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
| 48 |
Matt Vinc |
59:59 |
11 |
28 |
39 |
L 5-5 |
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|
Empty Net |
0:01 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
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| Scoring |
| Time |
MN |
NY |
Team |
Goal |
1st Assist |
2nd Assist |
Notes |
| First Quarter |
| 1:16 |
1 |
0 |
Minnesota |
Chad Culp |
Andy Secore |
Sean Pollock |
PP |
| 3:00 |
2 |
0 |
Minnesota |
Ryan Ward |
Andy Secore |
Chad Culp |
PP |
| 12:01 |
2 |
1 |
New York |
Mike McLellan |
Ryan Boyle |
Pat Maddalena |
PP |
| 14:07 |
2 |
2 |
New York |
Mike McLellan |
Ryan Boyle |
Brendan Mundorf |
|
| Second Quarter |
| 4:55 |
3 |
2 |
Minnesota |
Rory McDade |
Justin Norbraten |
|
|
| 5:20 |
4 |
2 |
Minnesota |
Andy Secore |
Ryan Ward |
Ryan Sharp |
|
| 13:01 |
5 |
2 |
Minnesota |
Ryan Ward |
Rory McDade |
Andy Secore |
|
| 13:21 |
5 |
3 |
New York |
Ryan Boyle |
Casey Powell |
Jordan Hall |
|
| Third Quarter |
| 3:55 |
5 |
4 |
New York |
Pat Maddalena |
Patrick Merrill |
|
|
| 7:43 |
5 |
5 |
New York |
Jeff Ratcliffe |
Casey Powell |
Patrick Merrill |
|
| 8:37 |
5 |
6 |
New York |
Casey Powell |
Jordan Hall |
Ryan Boyle |
PP |
| 10:27 |
5 |
7 |
New York |
Pat Maddalena |
Ryan Boyle |
Casey Powell |
PP |
| 13:01 |
6 |
7 |
Minnesota |
Chad Culp |
Craig Point |
Andy Secore |
PP |
| Fourth Quarter |
| 0:52 |
7 |
7 |
Minnesota |
Ryan Ward |
Chad Culp |
Jon Sullivan |
SH |
| 3:31 |
8 |
7 |
Minnesota |
Sean Pollock |
Rory McDade |
Ryan Sharp |
SH |
| 4:38 |
8 |
8 |
New York |
Pat Maddalena |
Jeff Ratcliffe |
Ryan Boyle |
PP |
| 7:24 |
9 |
8 |
Minnesota |
Craig Point |
Andy Secore |
Ryan Ward |
PP |
| 11:15 |
10 |
8 |
Minnesota |
Sean Pollock |
Andy Secore |
Ryan Ward |
PP GWG |
| 11:43 |
11 |
8 |
Minnesota |
Sean Pollock |
Chad Culp |
Ryan Ward |
|
| 12:13 |
11 |
9 |
New York |
Jordan Hall |
Casey Powell |
|
|
| 14:23 |
12 |
9 |
Minnesota |
Ryan Sharp |
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EN |
| Penalties |
| Time |
Team |
Player |
Penalty |
Bench |
Duration |
| First Quarter |
| 0:47 |
New York |
Matt Alrich |
Holding |
|
2:00 |
| 2:12 |
New York |
Casey Powell |
Slashing |
|
2:00 |
| 3:15 |
New York |
Ryan Boyle |
Unsportsmanlike Conduct |
|
2:00 |
| 3:54 |
Minnesota |
Andy Secore |
Checking from Behind |
|
2:00 |
| 8:27 |
Minnesota |
Nick Inch |
Illegal Cross Checking |
|
2:00 |
| 11:45 |
Minnesota |
Eric Pacey |
Illegal Cross Checking |
|
2:00 |
| Second Quarter |
| 2:24 |
New York |
Jarett Park |
Interference |
|
2:00 |
| 14:48 |
Minnesota |
Kyle Ross |
Slashing |
|
2:00 |
| Third Quarter |
| 8:05 |
Minnesota |
Kyle Ross |
Checking from Behind |
|
2:00 |
| 8:05 |
Minnesota |
Kyle Ross |
Unsportsmanlike Conduct |
|
2:00 |
| 12:52 |
New York |
Brendan Mundorf |
Interference |
|
2:00 |
| 14:58 |
Minnesota |
Noah Talbot |
High Sticking |
|
5:00 |
| Fourth Quarter |
| 6:32 |
New York |
Matt Alrich |
Holding |
|
2:00 |
| 10:14 |
Minnesota |
Rory McDade |
Delay of Game |
|
2:00 |
| 10:14 |
New York |
Jarett Park |
Roughing |
|
2:00 |
| 10:57 |
New York |
Jeff Ratcliffe |
Illegal Substitution |
X |
2:00 |
| Referees |
| Crew Chief |
Assistant Referee |
Technical Referee |
| 4-Roy Condon |
7-Grant Spies |
17-Jeff Dolan |
| 
