Mammoth Seek First Regular Season Win Over Rush

By Jessica McGuire | NLL.com Staff Writer
Photo Credit: GetMyPhoto.ca

DENVER – The Colorado Mammoth (7-6) will take on the Saskatchewan Rush (7-3) Saturday Night, March 25, on Cross Out Cancer Night at Pepsi Center in Denver. Cross Out Cancer Night is presented by Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children. Faceoff is set for 7 PM MST (9 PM EST).
After coming off a win that Colorado Head Coach Pat Coyle said was “like a championship game*”, the Mammoth are back in Denver seeking their first at-home victory since March 3rd. The team will be sporting custom Cross Out Cancer helmets designed by Pediatric Cancer Patients at Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children.

Colorado Forwards, Callum Crawford and Stephen Keogh, led the team in goals in Friday night’s battle against the Toronto Rock with 3 apiece. Crawford matched those 3 goals with 3 assists. He stepped into Air Canada Center Friday night tied for second place in NLL scoring and left the arena as the media’s first star selection. Mammoth Goalie, Dillon Ward, earned the game’s second star honor after achieving 44 saves of 55 shots on goal.

The Rush beat the Mammoth in Saskatchewan nearly two weeks ago (March 11) for the second time in 2017. Rush Defenseman, Nik Bilic, was the greatest scoring threat, raking in 4 goals for the home team. Forward, Mark Matthews, followed closely behind with 3 goals and 3 assists of his own. Goalie, Aaron Bold, snatched 76% of 45 total shots on goal (34 saves). Saskatchewan fired 18 more shots than the Mammoth, keeping Colorado Goalie Dillon Ward hustling in the net. Ward stopped 51 of those 63 shots on goal. That’s an impressive 81%.

Saskatchewan will arrive in Denver on Saturday after challenging the Calgary Roughnecks at home the night before (March 24). The Mammoth – Rush rematch will be the 3rd of 4 regular season games between the teams, and Colorado’s first home advantage opportunity. The Rush came out on top in both prior meetings, only by 1 goal each time and one of those 1-point-wins was earned in overtime. With that said, fans can likely expect a pretty even match-up with a fight to the finish from both sides of the ball.

For more information on Cross Out Cancer Night presented by Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children, or to purchase tickets, visit www.coloradomammoth.com or call (303) 405-1101.

*Quote courtesy of Matt Cullen/NLL.com staff writer