Wings falls to Bandits, 12-11, in overtime

Buffalo’s Chase Fraser scored the winning goal in overtime on Friday, and the Wings likely saw the end of their slim hopes for postseason play. The 12-11 loss at the Wells Fargo Center may be one of those games the Wings will reflect on all summer.

“We gave them a game," coach Paul Day said.

After a two-week break in the schedule, the Wings’ defense looked revived, and injuries to defensemen Anthony Joaquim and Frank Brown were a non-factor, as Joaquim had a goal and Brown scored a pair of goals.

Things heated up early as both teams flashed their offensive firepower. The Wings just could not finish.

“We’ve played [11] games, so enough with giving games away,” said Day, whose team fell to 2-9 on the season. “I don’t care if it’s the best or worst team in the league.”

To open the second half, the teams went back and forth, which set up an 11-8 lead for the Wings entering the fourth quarter. Former Wings forward and first-round pick Chris Cloutier, who was traded last month, didn’t allow the Bandits to wilt. He knocked in a goal early in the fourth period to ignite his team to four unanswered goals, including the winning tally in overtime.

To start the second quarter, the Wings scored four unanswered goals to go ahead, 6-2. But Fraser led East Division-leading Buffalo (10-2) back with one of his team’s back-to-back goals to close out the half trailing, 6-4.

The Wings struck first. Kiel Matisz sent the ball into the net at 1 minute, 44 seconds into the game, and the teams ended the first quarter even, 2-2.

The Wings visit the San Diego Seals at 10 p.m. next Saturday at Valley View Casino Center. They return home at 7 p.m. on March 30 to play New England in one of their two remaining home games.