NLL Colorado Mammoth

Mammoth advances to NLL championship game

Published on April 29, 2006 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Colorado Mammoth News Release


DENVER - Heading into the fourth quarter of a tie game, with a trip to the National Lacrosse League championship game on the line, the Colorado Mammoth put the game on its goaltender's shoulders. Gee Nash promptly turned in one of the finest quarters of his career, making 19 of his 48 saves in the fourth quarter to backstop the Mammoth's 13-12 victory over the Arizona Sting.

The Mammoth was outshot 20-10 in the final quarter, but Nash dazzled the increasingly loud Saturday afternoon crowd of 12,537 at Pepsi Center with one big save after another.

The win over Arizona in the NLL's West Division final for the first time propels the Mammoth into the league's title bout on May 13 against the winner of tonight's East Division final between the Buffalo Bandits and Rochester Knighthawks. If the Bandits win they will host the Mammoth in the title game, but if the Knighthawks win they will travel to Denver.

"This is an absolute thrill for everyone associated with the team," Colorado Mammoth general manager Steve Govett said. "This arena was packed with emotion, from the guys on the floor to every single fan and we're proud to move on to the championship."

Nick Carlson started the scoring in the fourth quarter, giving the Mammoth a 12-11 lead after he took a long pass from Nash and beat the Sting down the floor for a breakaway goal. Dan Carey extended the lead to 13-11 when he scored what would prove to be the game winning goal. As Chris Gill fell backward he fed the ball to Carey in the low slot, who leaped across the goal mouth and deposited the ball behind Sting goaltender Rob Blasdell.

More than 10 minutes remained in the game and the Mammoth wouldn't score again, but Nash was up to the challenge. He made a series of five saves on a Sting power-play to keep the Mammoth ahead 13-11 before Arizona scored at even strength to pull within one. Nash kept the remaining 6 minutes, 43 seconds and helped the Mammoth reach the title for the first time in the team's four-year history.

"It's a terrific feeling to make the championship round and we're all looking forward to playing one more great game this season," Mammoth head coach Gary Gait said. Gait has coached the Mammoth to the NLL championship game for the first time since the team moved to Colorado four seasons ago, and in his first season as coach, following an illustrious 15-season playing career.

Five players scored twice and three others chipped in one goal as the typically balanced Mammoth offense outpaced the visitors. Mammoth captain Gavin Prout led the team with six points on one goal and five assists. Arizona's Craig Conn scored a game-high four goals and pitched in two assists.

Mammoth forward Dan Stroup broke a 10-10 tie when he took the carom of a Prout shot off the glass behind the goal and scored. The Sting tied it back up at 11 before the third quarter ended with a goal by Scott Self.

The Sting started the second half with a three-goal run, taking a 10-9 lead and moving ahead for the first time since scoring the game's first goal. Carlson ended the run and tied the game at 10 with a coast-to-coast rush and scoring as he was checked to the floor by two Sting defenders.

Earlier, Peter Veltman cut through the Mammoth defense and scored over Nash's shoulder to cut the lead to one, but Gill answered and sent the Mammoth off to halftime with a 9-7 lead after his leaping power-play goal.

After Lindsay Plunkett scored to pull Arizona back within two, Prout gave a behind-the-back feed to Josh Sims, who scored to give the Mammoth a 7-4 advantage. Chris Seller and Mark Cochrane then scored to bring the Sting to within one, before Brian Langtry's second goal of the game put the Mammoth ahead 8-6 midway through the second quarter.

Carey put the Mammoth ahead 5-3 with the first goal of the second quarter, scoring on an underhand shot after taking a feed in transition from Sims. Moments later Andrew Burkholder extended the lead to three with his second goal of the game.

Goals by Langtry and Burkholder gave the Mammoth a 4-2 lead, but Arizona's Matt Brown cut the lead in half before the end of the first quarter.

Gill put the Mammoth ahead 2-1 with a power-play goal, but Veltman tied it moments later with a breakaway goal after a Mammoth turnover.

Craig Conn started the scoring 3:47 into the game, but Prout tied it just 12 seconds later.

Blasdell took the loss in net for the Sting, making 39 saves on 52 shots.

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National Lacrosse League Stories from April 29, 2006


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