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The Colorado Mammoth headed into this weekend with their playoff destiny squarely on their shoulders. If they won both games, they would clinch the fourth and final spot. If they lost both, the Edmonton Rush would clinch that spot. And if they split the games, things wouldn’t be as simple.
Their destiny still is in Mammoth hands, now it’s just a matter of Colorado either winning in Denver against Calgary April 15 or in Minnesota April 23. For the Rush to get that fourth spot, they need to beat the Toronto Rock and the Mammoth need to lose both games.
The next two weeks will be pivotal.
The rivalry between the Calgary Roughnecks and the Colorado Mammoth is long-standing with much of it stemming from playoff battles. This year might not be any different. With the Mammoth and Roughnecks facing off twice in a week and the potential of playing a third time two weeks later in the playoffs, both teams will be giving it their all once again.
Friday, April 8 vs Calgary Roughnecks
The Mammoth started the game very strong with John Grant Jr scoring in the first 40 seconds followed quickly by a goal from Ned Crotty a minute later. Midway through the first, Daryl Veltman scored with Geoff Snider winning the subsequent faceoff and taking it down and immediately scoring and unassisted goal. Dan Carey scored for the Mammoth on the power play followed by another goal from JGJ.
Penalties and therein power plays had a big impact in the second quarter. Calgary capitalized three times while the Mammoth scored once on the power play in addition to two short handed goals. Starting shortly after the 5 minute mark, a flurry of goals began with one scored almost every minute. Heading into halftime, the teams were only separated by one goal.
Curtis Dickson scored for the Roughnecks off the opening faceoff but like in the in the second quarter, penalties were the big factor in the third as well. The Mammoth scored twice on the power play while the Roughnecks scored one power play and two short handed goals. The Roughnecks outscored the Mammoth 7-3 in the third giving Calgary a three goal cushion heading into the fourth.
Neither team was going down without a fight though. Early on, the Gajic brothers each score a goal to bring the Mammoth within one but unfortunately for the Mammoth, on the faceoff immediately following Alex Gajic’s goal, Geoff Snider managed to snag another face off which he then preceded to run down the field with and score to give the Roughnecks back a two goal lead. The remaining eight plus minutes were intense with both goalies standing on their heads blocking shots on goal. With eight seconds remaining in the game, Carey manages to get his third goal of the night past Poulin, but it wasn’t enough and the Roughnecks hold on to their lead.
Final: Colorado Mammoth 13, Calgary Roughnecks 14
Attendance: 12,213
MVP: Daryl Veltman
Saturday, April 9 vs Edmonton Rush
The Mammoth played a hard fought game the night before and lost. The Edmonton Rush were well rested and playing in front of their home crowd. Playoff implications were on the line.
Brian Langtry, who has been relatively quiet on the goal front this season, started off the scoring with trademark style. Leaping from the left side of the crease he pulled his stick around his body and shot from behind as he dove through the air, scoring before hitting the ground in a highlight real worthy goal.
Corey Small snuck a low shot past a screened Chris Levis a few minutes later to put the Rush on the board.
Nick Carlson has taken a lot of flack this season with many fans frustrated by his lack of production on the floor and mistakes resulting in goals. Many have even speculated that this is probably Carlson’s last season. But looking like the Nick Carlson of old, he runs down the field on a breakaway with a one on one opportunity against Matt Disher and scores.
A few minutes later, in a beauty of a goal, Joel Dalgarno manages to step around Kyle Sweeney, fakes a couple of times before shooting on net for the score to start off a flurry of goals. Mac Allen scores on a one on one opportunity from a turnover from Scott Evans for the Mammoth.  It’s quickly followed by a Rush goal by Ryan Ward less than thirty seconds later. John Grant Jr scores his first goal of the night a minute later to give the Mammoth a three goal lead heading into the second quarter.
After an offensive end to the first quarter, the second quarter was decidedly defensive with only two goals scored for each side as the quarter wound down. Three of the goals were scored in under 90 seconds starting with a power play goal from Ward cutting through the center. Dalgarno makes use of a solid screen to shoot around Sweeney for the score followed by another diving across the crease goal from Langtry.   With two minutes remaining and the Mammoth on a power play, Rush have the ball. Ward takes a shot, Levis blocks but Brodie Merrill gets the rebound. He passes to Bill Greer at the center of the crease line who puts it past Levis for the goal.
The third quarter starts off with frenetic play from both sides until the Mammoth begin to find their groove with John Grant Jr scoring on a pass from Gavin Prout. A minute later, Dan Carey scores undefended from the left side on a cross crease pass from Dalgarno. Scott Evans scores for the Rush on a low hand shot around Ian Hawksbee that hits the pipe before going in.
After several minutes of defensive play and many blocked shots from both goalies, Brian Langtry manages to notch two more to finish out the third quarter giving the Mammoth a five goal lead.
The Mammoth finish off the fourth quarter with solid defensive play but a relatively mellow offense. Alex Gajic scores on the power play mid way into the fourth while JGJ scores his third goal of the night a couple minutes later.
Final: Colorado Mammoth 13, Edmonton Rush 6
Attendance: 7,164
MVP: Chris Levis
Around the League
Friday, April 8
Buffalo Bandits 11, Toronto Rock 8
Saturday, April 9
Philadelphia Wings 7, Boston Blazers 9
Buffalo Bandits 9, Rochester Knighthawks 8
Minnesota Swarm 15, Washington Stealth 16 OT
Sunday, April 10
Rochester Knighthawsk 10, Philadelphia Wings 6
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