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NLL Colorado Mammoth

Mammoth in Calgary for West Division Semifinal

April 29, 2011 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Colorado Mammoth News Release


DENVER - The Colorado Mammoth returns to the Champion's Cup playoffs on Saturday for the eighth time in nine seasons since moving to Denver. The team's West Division Semifinal opponent? The NLL regular-season-champion Calgary Roughnecks.

In three match-ups between the teams this season, Colorado won twice, including its final regular-season home game that clinched the team a postseason berth.

"We've accomplished one of our goals and that's to make the playoffs," said Mammoth Head Coach Bob Hamley. "The guys are excited about it and looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead."

The first step in the quest for the Champion's Cup will be a challenge for Colorado, as Calgary boasts the league's second-best power-play this season, as well as the top short-handed scoring offense. While the first two head-to-head games between the Mammoth and Roughnecks were one-goal affairs (8-7 Colorado on January 15 and 14-13 Calgary on April 8), the last game, an 11-7 Colorado win, was against a depleted Roughnecks roster.

"They were missing two of their top offensive guys and two of their top defensive guys, but a win is a win and we always take that in our league of course," said Hamley. "It's behind us now and it's a new season."

Collectively, the Semifinal will feature the NLL's three most potent man-up offensive players. Mammoth forward John Grant Jr. led the league in power-play points with 28, while Roughnecks' forwards Dane Dobbie and Kaleb Toth tied for second with 27 apiece.

Calgary's offense produced 12.38 goals per game this season, second to only the Washington Stealth. Meanwhile, Colorado's 9.44 goals-per-game average was ninth. Defensively, it was a different story.

The Roughnecks defense allowed 11.31 goals per game (8th overall), while Colorado's 10.75 goals-against-average (GAA) was fifth overall and the best in the West. The Colorado anchor was Mammoth goaltender Chris Levis, whose 9.99 GAA was a career-best. The 54 saves he recorded against the Roughnecks on January 15 in the 8-7 Mammoth victory were the most by any goaltender in a game this year.

"Between the pipes, Chris Levis has given them the opportunity to win any game in this league and he literally has, as their coaching staff alluded to, been their MVP," said Calgary Head Coach Dave Pym. "He seems to rise to the occasion every time he plays us, perhaps because of extra motivation from being with us at one point in time."

While Levis has frustrated opposing offenses throughout the season, Dobbie and teammate Jeff Shattler have been a challenge to the defenses they've faced. Both finished the regular season with 75 points. Shattler's point total was far and away the most by any transition player in the NLL.

Hamley, who's well aware of the test his team will face in the West Division Semifinal, said he's anxious for Saturday night. "It's a big game and going to be a tough one against the Roughnecks, but we are excited for the opportunity."

Calgary hasn't lost at home at Scotiabank Saddledome in more than three months. One of its two home losses this season was to Colorado.

Fans can join the Mammoth's Wild Bunch dance team and mascot, Wooly, for the official playoff game viewing party at Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery (16th and Lawrence) at 6:00pm MDT on Saturday. The opening face-off is set for 6:30pm. The game will be broadcast live online on the NLL Network.

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National Lacrosse League Stories from April 29, 2011


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