The Colorado Mammoth are set to take on the Calgary Roughnecks Friday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary. Last time these two teams met, the Riggers knocked the Mammoth out of the playoffs on April 27, 2013 by a score of 15-10. So, now it’s time for redemption.
According to Mammoth GM Steve Govett and Head Coach Bob Hamley, it’s always a tough game against the Roughnecks. The games are typically one goal games against their arch-rivals the Roughnecks.
With the Mammoth coming off an exciting win last weekend against Vancouver and the Roughnecks coming off a tough loss to Toronto, both teams have something to prove. Calgary is itching to win its first game of the season and the Mammoth are looking to capitalize on the momentum they have after their 13-12 victory over the Stealth.
The question is who will be in goal for the Mammoth? Dillon Ward #45 wants to prove to everyone that he deserves to be in goal after a stellar performance against the Rush with a save percentage of .833 versus Tye Belanger #31 only putting up a .577 percentage in saves and again with the Stealth where Ward had a save percentage of .789 versus Belanger with a save percentage of .692.
In goal for the Riggers you have Mike Poulin #30. Last week against the Rock he had 60 SOG with 45 saves for a .750 save percentage. But Poulin had a rough year in 2013 giving up the most power play opportunities (107) and the most goals in those situations (59).
The big story is the duel of the Snider brothers, Bob Snider #41 for the Mammoth and Geoff Snider #4 from the Roughnecks. Between the two Sniders, Roughnecks Geoff Snider was first in the league in 2013 with 75 percent on the draw winning 310 while losing only 99. He put up 28 points (17 goals, 11 assists), was a loose ball machine, scooping up 235 balls and forced an amazing 27 turnovers. Bob Snider was second in the league in 2013 with a 68 percent face-off success rate, 262 face-off wins and 169 loose balls (fourth in the NLL). In 2013 he compiled a 75 percent face-off win rate and 32 loose balls in two games against the Mammoth, set a career high in goals (5) and points (9). Whichever team can control the draws will be a determining factor in who wins this game.
Who do the Mammoth have to watch on Friday? You have Shawn Evans #15, forward and reining NLL MVP in 2013 who led with an 8 point effort (1 G, 7 A) against the Rock. In 2013 Evans led the way offensively for Calgary over Colorado with an impressive 30 points (11 G, 19 A) in the three-game set. Jeff Shattler #77, forward in 2013 had 15 points (6 G, 9 A) against the Mammoth and had a 6 point effort with 4 goals, 2 assists against the Rock.
The Roughnecks are going to have to keep an eye on Adam Jones #16, forward (4 G, 8 A), John Grant Jr. #24, forward, who led the Mammoth attack against the Riggers last year (12 G, 7 A), Jordan McBride #14, forward (4 G, 8 A), Sean Pollock #17, forward (5 G, 6 A) and Jamie Lincoln #44, transition (5 G, 2 A) who were all consistent contributors last season against Calgary as they hit the score sheet in all three contests.
A huge blow to the Roughnecks… who will replace Scott Ranger? He suffered a broken jaw during the off-season and is on the Physically Unable to Perform list for possibly the entire season. He was fifth in scoring for the Roughnecks in 2013, picking up 53 points. Half of his 20 goals were power play goals and that’s where Calgary Head Coach Curt Malawsky feels the absence would be most felt. They are working hard on the power play to pick up the slack and that’s where he was most valuable for the Riggers.
If the Mammoth can stay out of the penalty box and keep the power play opportunities for the Roughnecks at a minimum, consistently win the draws, stay strong on transition, defense, capitalize on loose balls and rebounds, Calgary has got a battle on their hands to take a win away from the Mammoth this Friday.
