Wings Spear Landsharks, 13-12
PHILADELPHIA - The Wings scored five goals in the final quarter to defeat the Columbus Landsharks, 13-12, Saturday at the First Union Center in front of 14,035 fans. Captain Tom Marechek led Philadelphia for the second straight week with five goals and three assists as the team keeps its playoff hopes alive. Goalie Dallas Eliuk made 34 saves for the win.
"I don't think we played a full game the last two weeks, but we came away with the win," said Mueller. "Our offense got timely goals. Defensively, we need some work. We held them down the stretch, and that's what's important."
Philadelphia opened the first quarter with goals by Dan Marhol and Marechek. The two teams traded goals by Columbus defender Daniel Dawson and Philadelphia forward Greg Traynor before the Landsharks were able to tie the game at three with goals by Kasey Beirnes and Pat Maddalena. Keith Cromwell gave the Wings the lead again, but Dawson and the Landsharks tied the game at four with power-play goal in the final two minutes of the quarter.
Columbus took the lead for the first time in the game a minute into the second quarter with a goal by Travis Gillespie and added another goal from Kyle Arbuckle. The Wings answered with two skillful goals by Marechek, who completed the hat trick. The first goal came on a shot backwards over his shoulder and he scored the second while diving through the crease. The game was tied at six going into the locker rooms.
The Landsharks started the scoring in the second half with Arbuckle's second goal of the game. Philadelphia answered with two goals in a minute and a half span from Keith Cromwell and Traynor. However, the Landsharks finished the scoring in the quarter with goals from Maddalena and Jamie Taylor to take a one-goal lead going into the final quarter.
The beginning of the fourth quarter was filled with action as five goals were scored in the first four minutes. Marechek netted his fourth of fifth of the game and Richard Brzeski and Tony Henderson added goals for Philadelphia.
Peter Lough tallied for the Landsharks. Columbus goalie Mark Miron was replaced with Ken Montour after the flurry of early goals. Arbuckle completed the hat trick to make it a one-goal game on the power play, but Paul Cantabene recorded his first goal of the game to give the Wings a cushion. A late power-play goal by Beirnes wasn't enough to come back.
Tom Marechek led the Wings in scoring with seven points (5G,2A). Six other players scored goals for Philadelphia, including Ryan Traynor (2G,1A), Dan Marohl (1G,1A), Keith Cromwell (2G,1A), Tony Henderson (1G,1A), Paul Cantabene (1G,4A) and Richard Brzeski (1G).
Kyle Arbuckle led the Landsharks in scoring with five points (3G,2A). Six other players scored for Columbus including Kasey Beirnes (2G,4A), Travis Gillespie (1G,3A), Pat Maddalena (2G), Daniel Dawson (2G,1A), Peter Lough (1G) and Jamie Taylor (1G,2A).