As the final seconds of the fourth quarter ticked away, there was a collective sigh of relief from the home side. In a tightly contested ball game, the Calgary Roughnecks found a way to do something in the fourth quarter they hadn’t done in the previous two games – score. As the final horn sounded, it was the hometown Riggers picking up their second win of the season defeating the Colorado Mammoth 9-7.
Just six days ago, the Roughnecks had surrendered 14 goals to the same Mammoth team including a sock trick from Conner Robinson. With only a short time between games, the Roughnecks were able to make the necessary adjustments.
“We just went back to our system. They had a really good game plan against the we play defense,” stated Zach Currier after the game. “I wouldn’t say we changed anything too much, we just got back to our fundamentals and really played good, hard, tough, defense and Del Bianco was Del Bianco tonight.”
Playing in their second home game of the season, Calgary jumped out to a quick lead scoring twice in the opening minutes. Colorado responded with a three-goal run moving them out in front. An even second quarter with each team finding the back of the net three times meant the Mammoth would end the half with a slim 6-5 lead.
Calgary’s second-half woes of late have been well documented. In their last two games they’ve scored a combined four goals in the third and zero goals in the fourth. As if on cue, the opposition struck early with a Ryan Lee goal to extend Colorado’s lead to 7-5. With the game hanging in the balance, Calgary’s head coach Curt Malawsky could be seen at every stoppage coaching and urging his team forward.
Led by their veterans, Tyler Pace struck first followed by Currier with the goal of the game. Currier neatly scooped up a one-handed loose ball and proceeded to ignite the afterburners for a full 175 feet. After blowing by Zed Williams, Currier went airborne on Dillon Ward and tucked the ball short side tying the game at 7-7.
With only a quarter left to decide the game, the defensive intensity made scoring chances hard to come by. Both teams were delivering hard crosschecks and denying entry into the middle of the floor. Shots that did make their way through were turned aside by Ward and Del Bianco. Ten minutes into the fourth, Calgary took advantage of a small mistake by the Mammoth when Eli McLaughlin got trapped playing defense. A simple back pick set by Dan Taylor allowed Jesse King to undercut Tim Edwards, run by McLaughlin and dive across the crease tucking the ball past Ward. That goal proved to be the winner with Currier adding an empty-net goal to make the final 9-7.
Colorado was led by an Eli McLaughlin hat trick, while Ryan Lee contributed two goals and two assists. Dillon Ward was his usual stingy self allowing 8 goals on 49 shots. The Mammoth were missing Joey Cupido and Brett Craig.
Calgary, once again, was led by Jesse King who tallied two goals and four assists. Zach Currier snatched 12 loose balls, caused five turnovers and added two goals of his own. Christian Del Bianco allowed seven goals – his fewest of the season. Curtis Dickson, Mitch Wilde, Shane Simpson and Andrew Mullen were all scratches while Tyler Pace and Nate Wade drew into the starting lineup.
Next Friday, the Roughnecks (2-4) will stay at home to take on the Vancouver Warriors (4-3) in TSN’s game of the week. The Mammoth (5-2) return home to the Ball Arena for a matchup with the Saskatchewan Rush (2-4).
