The Edmonton Rush are coming off of their first win of the season last night after they defeated Washington. Now they face a Colorado Mammoth team on the road looking for their third win to get to .500.
Edmonton could find themselves just a half game out of first place if they win and Calgary falls to Minnesota tonight. However, they focus has to be on a Mammoth team that has surprisingly struggled to score, and who have the most unstable goaltending situation in the league.
Mark Matthews scored six goals in the Rush win over Washington, so he is someone that Mammoth defense has to worry about with Matt Roik in net. Meanwhile, John Grant Jr, as always, will be the key offensive player to watch with the Mammoth.
Colorado struggled to score last week against a formerly red-hot Washington defense that the Rush broke through against. How do the Mammoth face a stingy Edmonton defense with a tough Aaron Bold in net?
Youngsters Colton Clark, Jamie Lincoln and Joey Cupido were some of the only contributors last week. If Grant, Gavin Prout and Joel Dalgarno can play as well as they are capable of, they might have an offensive outburst.
Both teams can score on any given night, but a difference here might be defense and goaltending. Edmonton has some of the best defensive personnel in the league while Roik has struggled at times in Colorado. That could be what gives the Mammoth a victory in front of their home crowd.
