The Stealth needed overtime to beat the Mammoth 14-13 Friday night in a back and fourth game that saw both teams trade goal after exciting goal down to the closing minutes of the fourth quarter and into OT.
Vancouver would trail Colorado the entire game but only needed one shot from Lewis Ratcliff in the extra frame to earn it’s second win of the young season. The loss for the Mammoth is it’s third consecutive.
The Mammoth came out fired up and would jump out to an early 3-0 on goals by Delgarno, Pollock and the captain John Grant Jr. The home squad would get its first when Vancouver’s Cody Bremner tallied during some offensive work four-on-four. Continuing the scoring for the visitors was 6’5” Drew Westervelt, who unleashed a big shot right along the post beating Tyler Richards short side. Assist to Sean Pollock drawing the double team for the quick dish. Next, the Stealth would score one of three goals that went to review this night when Cliff Smith tip toed the crease and buried one in exciting fashion. One more goal, this time on the power play from Alex Gajic rounded off the scoring in the first quarter. A quarter that saw the Mammoth dictate the play and win the vast majority of loose ball battles, but receive two bench penalties for too many men. Dillon Ward looked very good early on and continued to play well all game.
The second quarter started with Westervelt scoring again off a feed from the fast breaking Cam Holding, credit Dan Coates with the turnover on a nice takeaway. After a PP marker from Adam Jones, Vancouver’s Digby made it 6-4; scoring a PP goal of his own. Sean Pollock put the visitors up by three, only to see the Stealth rookie answer again, showing gritty finish on a tough goal in tight. The Stealth really started to get tough on loose balls and wins some battles only to close out the frame with some ugly offensive possessions. Colorado led 7-5 at half despite being outshot 25-20.
The third started and Vancouver’s Rhys Duch and Cody Bremner would score to tie the game at 7-7. Following that, the Mammoth’s Adam Jones and Mat MacLeod restored a two goal lead. Scoring against your old team is a great feeling and Ilija Gajic experienced that when he beat Ward with a well placed bounce shot on the move. He was one of three Mammoth players had three goal games and Sean Pollock would get his hat trick almost immediately after to quiet the crowd and restore the Colorado two goal lead going into the fourth.
In the fourth quarter Vancouver rookie Tyler Digby finished a beautiful face dodge around a defender with a slick move on goaltender Dillon Ward notching his third of the game. A PP goal by Duch came next when the man advantage showed some fast ball movement and the game was tied at 10 apiece. What happened next is a goal most people will never forget. While short handed, future hall of fame player John Grant Jr. would give the spectators something to talk about for years to come. During a strong drive to the net he threw a behind the back, behind the legs shot with his off hand that beat a stunned Richards bouncing top corner. Difficulty factor 10/10, style points 10/10. You can see the poetry in motion here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNZm5BqB9_0
Vancouver’s Ratcliff followed that up with a PP goal and another Grant goal would see Colorado lead by one again.Once again the Stealth refused to quit and Cody Bremner evened the score at 12-12. A Drew Westervelt bomb from the outside looked as if it could be the last lead the Mammoth would need to close this one out. With a minute left in regulation Cliff Smith beat Ward and sent the drama filled game to overtime leveling the score yet again for Vancouver.
It looked as if the game was over and the Mammoth had won when Adam Jones appeared to score early in the extra frame. The Mammoth player lunged forward to swipe a ball past Richards simultaneously falling into the crease. The goal was reviewed for about three minutes before being waved off much to the delight of the home crowd. After exchanging one more possession each, Lewis Ratcliff would end the game unleashing a shot that beat Ward pipe and in as the shot clock expired. The goal was reviewed and the call was upheld. Credit to Vancouver for never quitting despite being behind all game. For Colorado this heartbreaking loss is not indicative of how they played and can find many good things to build on. This exciting game could have gone either way.
