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As much as I wish I could say otherwise, there really isn’t much for me to say about this weekend. The same Mammoth offense showed up with the result being identical to every other game this season save one. Friday night, the Mammoth defense played on par with the offense and needless to say, the Washington Stealth made them pay.
But, when your defense spends the majority of the time on the floor, your goalies face a total of 64 shots and your defense is playing exhausted trying to stop some of the best offensive talent in the league, is it any surprise the Mammoth got their butts whooped?
No, it really isn’t.
I’ve said it elsewhere, but the Mammoth offense needs to get over themselves. I don’t care who you are, where you’ve played, what accolades you’ve received or what trophies you’ve won. If you’re not scoring, there are issues. If you can’t play hard for four quarters, or play as a team, or actually play intelligently, then sit your ass down.
Some people speculate we have too many egos on the team. Some think it’s a lack or issue of leadership. Fans are certainly calling for firings all the way from top with GM Steve Govett down to everyone on the bench and everywhere in between.
Maybe they’re right. Maybe they’re wrong.
What I see is an offense more interested in the name on their back than what’s on the front trying to be heroes and since everyone is trying to be an individual hero, no one is doing jack as a team.
On paper, we have one of the most talented teams in the league. Unfortunately, that’s not what wins games.
The Mammoth run the most stagnant predictable offense I think I have ever seen. Occasionally we get lucky and score, which probably reinforces this bad play. But it’s no wonder we can’t score half the time when the goalie doesn’t have to work to block it and the defense doesn’t have to work to keep our guys away from the front of the net. If your fans, many of which have never played the game and are only slightly knowledgeable, know where and when you’re going to shoot, then the defenders with years of pro experience probably do too.
Usually teams get better as the season progresses, but this one seems to be getting worse. When a team is given multiple 5:3 opportunities and still can’t score, you really need to take a step back and ask yourself why. This is one issue I put squarely on the Mammoth; this is not a case of opponents doing that great of a job.
The Games
Friday vs the Washington Stealth
The Washington Stealth essentially put on a shooting clinic against the Mammoth with ten different players, three of them defenseman, scoring goals. D man, Jeff Moleski had a hat trick along with Forwards, Rhys Duch, Joel Dalgarrno, and Lewis Ratcliff. Luke Wiles and Craig Conn each scored two with Paul Rabil, Mike Grimes, Eric Martin, and Cam Sedgwick each scoring one a piece.
For the Mammoth, John Grant Jr‘s 55 game scoring streak was finally broken. Alex Gajic scored three goals, Ilija Gajic two and Dan Carey and Mike McClellan each with one. Mammoth D man Mac Allen received a 2 minute Unsportsmanlike Conduct, a 10 minute Misconduct and a 10 minute Game Misconduct resulting in his ejection in the second quarter. Captain John Gallant received a 10 minute Game Misconduct in the third quarter resulting in his ejection. Unfortunately, the game feed had several visual issues and the Washington Stealth announcers are more interested in what’s happening on Facebook than what’s going on in the game so I really can’t tell you much more than that about what Allen or Gallent did to warrant ejections.
Final Score: Colorado Mammoth 7, Washington Stealth 20
MVP: Tyler Richards
Attendance: 3,160
Sunday vs the Minnesota Swarm
The first quarter, the Mammoth actually showed up and looked like they might have a strong showing with two goals from John Grant Jr. and one each for Jed Prossner and Connor Martin while Ryan Benesch was the only Swarm goal. Excitement was high and it was feeling a bit like the Pepsi Center of old heading into the second quarter, especially after Mac Allen scored 17 seconds in to give the Mammoth the lead, 5-1.
In the second, the Swarm showed they weren’t going to go down without a fight with Kevin Ross, Andrew Watt, Richard Morgan, and Matt Giles scoring before Brian Langtry was able to stop their run with his own goal that was quickly countered by Minnesota who pulled the goalie for the extra attacker. Benesch was able to capitalize and the half ended tied at 6.
And then things got crazy. Possibly stemming from an early cheap shot Brian Langtry gave to a Swarm player that may have been in retaliation for some in-net aggression by the Swarm…Pushing and shoving ensued and turned into punching and general chaos with all the players involved in one way or another. At one point it looked like there would be a rare goalie fight between Chris Levis and Nick Patterson. For the most part, none of the skirmishes got anywhere but Mac Allen and I believe Shane Bennet dropped their gear and went toe to toe. The refs finally got everything under control and the players went back to their dressing rooms.
The start of the third quarter brought out several penalty assessments.
For Minnesota, Travis Hill was given a 2 min Unsportsmanlike Conduct, a 10 minute Misconduct and a 10 minute Game Misconduct resulting in his ejection. Shane Bennett received a 5 minute Fighting and a 10 minute Misconduct. While Rory Smith only received a 10 minute Misconduct.
For Colorado, Mac Allen received a 5 minute Fighting and a 10 minute Misconduct. Brian Langtry was given a 2 minute Unsportsmanlike Conduct and a 10 minute Misconduct and finally, Cliff Smith received a 10 minute Misconduct. While I haven’t heard anything yet, I won’t be surprised if the league hands down additional penalties and/or fines.
The third quarter in comparison was quiet with the Mammoth once again being held scoreless for a quarter while Ryan Benesch notched two and Jamie Schewchuck notched oen for the Swarm. Andrew Watt continued the scoring streak into the fourth followed by one from Aaron Wilson before the Mammoth could finally stop their run. Cliff Smith scored followed by power play goals from Dan Carey and Alex Gajic. Ryan Benesch scored his fifth goal of the night with a minute and a half left. Carey scored again on an extra attacker play, but yet again, the effort was too little, too late.
Final Score: Colorado Mammoth 10, Minnesota Swarm 12
MVP: Nick Patterson
Attendance: 15,825
The Mammoth head into their first of two long breaks. The NLL All Star Game will be held Sunday. The Colorado Mammoth will be represented by John Grant Jr, Mac Allen, and Chris Levis. They will return home to face the Swarm again March 4.
Around the League
Friday
Rochester Knighthawks 5, Toronto Rock 10
Saturday
Philadelphia Wings 10, Buffalo Bandits 9
Toronto Rock 13, Rochester Knighthawks
Boston Blazers 14, Minnesota Swarm 11
Calgary Roughnecks 12, Edmonton Rush
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