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NLL Colorado Mammoth

Stealth sneak past Mammoth in OT

April 21, 2007 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Colorado Mammoth News Release


DENVER - After failing to capitalize on a late fourth-quarter power play and another in overtime, the Colorado Mammoth suffered a stunning loss to the San Jose Stealth in the National Lacrosse League playoffs on Saturday night at Pepsi Center.

Jeff Zywicki, who tormented the Mammoth all night, scored his seventh goal of the game 4 minutes, 42 seconds into overtime to give the fourth-seeded Stealth a 15-14 victory over the No. 1-seed Mammoth in the West Division Semifinal.

The Stealth (10-7) advances to the division championship game next weekend against the Arizona Sting.

The Mammoth (12-5) lost at home for just the second time this season, and to the dismay of the 16,309 fans in attendance, lost a home playoff game for the first time since 2004.

"We had some opportunities but didn't take advantage," Mammoth coach Gary Gait said. "(The Stealth) capitalized when it mattered and we didn't."

While Colorado's power play struggled, scoring on just 3-of-8 chances, the Stealth's was nearly perfect. San Jose scored seven power-play goals, punishing the Mammoth on all but one of its man-up situations.

After a shaky start, Stealth goaltender Anthony Cosmo made 22 second-half saves and five more in overtime to shut the door on the Mammoth's season. The Stealth rallied to tie the game at 11-11 after trailing by three at halftime on the strength of Cosmo's 12 third-quarter saves. Beginning late in the first half, the Mammoth was held scoreless for 20:10 and lost the lead, finally getting a goal from Jamie Shewchuk that tied the game at 12-12 with 10:57 remaining.

Dan Carey reclaimed the lead for the Mammoth, but a power-play goal by San Jose's Gary Rosyski evened the score at 13-13 with 5:18 left. Cam Sedgwick scored to put the Stealth ahead again but Brian Langtry scored the final equalizing goal after mixing up his defender, blowing past him and putting a shot over Cosmo's shoulder with 2:48 left in regulation.

But the Mammoth couldn't score after Andrew Guindon took a holding penalty just 11 seconds after Langtry's tying goal, and failed to convert Shaydon Santos' checking-from-behind penalty into a goal in overtime.

Stealth forward Colin Doyle recorded game-highs with nine assists and 10 points. Shewchuk and Langtry led the Mammoth with three goals apiece, while Mike Law and Gavin Prout led the team with three assists each.

Chris Levis took the loss in goal for the Mammoth after replacing starter Gee Nash. Levis made 14 saves in the fourth quarter and three more in overtime.

After trailing by four in the second quarter, San Jose whittled the Mammoth lead down to 10-8 with goals by Zywicki and Luke Wiles just 18 seconds apart. Law sent the Mammoth into halftime on a high note, scoring to make it 11-8 with 1:07 left in the half.

The Mammoth showed offensive depth in the first quarter, building a 7-3 lead on goals by six different players. Nenad Gajic's unassisted tally with 1:37 remaining gave the Mammoth a 7-2 lead, prompting Stealth coach Walt Christianson to remove Cosmo in favor of backup Aaron Bold. Cosmo returned to start the second quarter and surrendered another goal before leaving again. He started the second half and stayed in for good.

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