BUFFALO, NY – After a 6-0 start to the season, the Philadelphia Wings suffered their first loss to the Buffalo Bandits by a score of 21-12 at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, NY.  The loss comes in the second game of the Wings first back-to-back series of the season.  Philadelphia defeated New York last night by a score of 16-12 at the Wachovia Center.  The Wings will return home next Saturday to face the Toronto Rock at 1 p.m. 

            “We knew this game was going to be a challenge being the second game in our first back-to-back weekend,” said Head Coach Dave Huntley.  “We took a lot of bad penalties throughout the game.  We had some opportunities to come back in the fourth, but Buffalo had a hot goaltender and we just couldn’t get back in the game.”

            Philadelphia got off to a quick start, scoring four straight goals in the first quarter.  But 19 minutes of Wings penalties in the first half worked to Buffalo’s favor.  The Bandits were able to capitalize on five of seven power play opportunities in the half and outscored the Wings 8-3 in the second quarter, to give Buffalo a 13-9 lead going into halftime.

            Buffalo held their lead through the third as the Wings continued to be plagued by penalties.  Down 16-11 going into the fourth, Philadelphia had an opportunity to get back in the game when the Bandit’s Rich Kilgour received a five-minute major for high-sticking.  But former Wings goaltender Ken Montour seemed unbeatable, only allowing a single Philadelphia goal in the fourth quarter.

            Leading the Wings in scoring were Athan Iannucci with five points (4G, 1A), Merrick Thomson with five points (3G, 2A), Drew Westervelt with four points (2G, 2A), Geoff Snider with four points (1G, 3A), Jamie Rooney with three points (1G, 2A), and Rob Van Beek with one goal.  Goaltender Rob Blasdell had 27 saves in the first 53:02 of play and Jay Preece had eight in the final 6:57.

            Leading the Bandits in scoring were Mark Steenhuis with ten points (4G, 6A), Cory Bomberry with ten points (3G, 7A), Delby Powless with eight points (3G, 5A), John Tavares with eight points (2G, 6A), Roger Vyse with six points (3G, 3A), Billy Dee Smith with four points (3G, 1A), Dan Teat with two goals, and Clay Hill with one goal.  Goaltender Mike Thompson had four saves in the first 5:18 of the game before being replaced by Ken Montour who made 41 saves on the night.

            For a box score from tonight’s game logon to www.pointstreak.com.