The Philadelphia Wings went into Vancouver against the Warriors looking to build off two straight home wins versus Toronto and Las Vegas. However, the Warriors came out to play, letting the Wings know they came to the wrong house. The Warriors made a statement early in the first half with good ball movement, picking apart Philly’s defense. Keegan Bal was absolutely sensational in the first half, scoring 4 straight goals in the second quarter en route to an 11-point night with 6 goals and 5 assists. Jesse King had nice night as well, getting 2 goals and 5 assists. The Warriors win this game 17-10 over the Philadelphia Wings, improving to 13-5 on the year and 6-3 at home. The win gave Vancouver the top seed and home field advantage throughout the NLL playoffs.
As Warriors look to playoffs, Wings look to uncertain future
The Philadelphia Wings have nothing to be ashamed of in this loss. Philly went against one of the top contenders in the NLL and showed themselves and the Wings fan base a fast-improving team chemistry. For much of the year, Philly had games where they could only muster single-digit goal totals. However, putting up 10 goals against one of the best goalies in the league is a good sign moving forward. Although they finish the season with a 5-13 record, they have the #1 pick in the Entry Draft.
Wings GM Paul Day now has a young core of new talent that he can build on, as the search for a new owner continues into the offseason. Players like Lukas Nielsen who finished this game with 5 points on 2 goals and 3 assists, and Dalton Young who finished the game with a pair of goals. Paired with Brennan O’Neill and Michael Sowers, who continue to improve their box game each year. Add in savvy veterans Eric Fannell and Kyle Jackson, and the Wings could significantly improve their offensive production in 2027.
