After tying the game with less than 30 seconds remaining in regulation, the Calgary Roughnecks finally sealed the deal more than 11 minutes into sudden death overtime, defeating the Colorado Mammoth 11-10.
The win advances the Roughnecks to the West Division Finals against the Saskatchewan Rush next weekend.
For the Roughnecks, it was the eighth time they’ve beaten the Mammoth in the postseason, with their only playoff loss to Colorado coming in 2006—the Mammoth went on to win the Champion’s Cup that year.
Curtis Dickson was awarded the game’s first star, scoring five times—including the tying goal with only 25 seconds remaining in regulation—and adding four assists.
The starting goaltenders could just as easily have been co-winners of the first star. Calgary’s Mike Poulin made 56 saves over the course of the game, including eight in the overtime period; Dillon Ward made 47 saves for the Mammoth, making some game-saving stops throughout the contest.
In a game where neither team held more than a two-goal lead, there were a number of shifts in momentum. The lead changed hands seven times during regulation and both teams had opportunities to take the victory in OT, including a shot by John Grant Jr. that hit the goal post and stayed out.
The dagger came 10:17 into overtime when Jeff Shattler drew two defenders to him in the left corner and he shovelled a no-look pass to an open Dane Dobbie who was able to snap it home past Ward.
Jeremy Noble paced the Mammoth attack with four goals and an assist, while Adam Jones also added four goals.
This was unquestionably one of the best games of 2016 including hard hits, big saves, athletic plays, and Colorado’s famously loud crowd cheering every moment.
The Roughnecks will now host the Rush on Saturday, May 14 in the first game of a best-of-two series that will be decided by a 10-minute mini-game if the teams split the series.
