NLL Week 8 Recap: Edmonton Stymies Colorado

from press releases

Edmonton 10, Colorado 9

DENVER - The Colorado Mammoth was defeated by the Edmonton Rush 10-9 at Rexall Place on Sunday night.  The win, Edmonton's first ever home win over Colorado, improves their record to 3-5 on the season while Colorado slips to 4-4.

For the second consecutive night, the Mammoth offense sputtered on the road.  Showing the apparent effects of playing two games within 24-hours, Colorado was held scoreless in the first quarter while the offense struggled to find their legs early on.  Edmonton, meanwhile, streaked out to a 2-0 at the end of the first quarter, thanks to goals by Callum Crawford and Chris Seller within 15-seconds of each other midway through the period.

The Mammoth offense showed signs of life during the second quarter, putting four goals on the board to Edmonton's three.  A pair of Matt Danowski goals gave Colorado hope as Brian Langtry and Jamie Shewchuck each tacked on scores as well.  The Mammoth fought back to tie the score at 3-3 and 4-4 in the second frame.  But, in a game that seemed eerily similar to Saturday night's contest in San Jose, the Mammoth just could never get over the hump and take control of the game.  Each time Colorado would make a move and draw close, Edmonton had an answer.  Andy Secore netted a power play goal just before the halftime horn and the Rush would take a 5-4 lead to the locker room.

The second half proved more of the same.  Following a Chris Gill score for the Mammoth early in the third quarter, Edmonton ripped off four consecutive goals - two by Ryan Benesch - to take a commanding 9-5 lead and the tone was set. 

The fourth quarter, which had been strength for the Mammoth coming into the weekend, saw Colorado score four goals in the last period, and a Brian Langtry goal with a few ticks left on the clock drew Colorado within 10-9, but the visitors would come up short for the second consecutive night.  Former Mammoth goaltender, Chris Levis, held the Mammoth offense to nine goals for the second time this season in earning his second victory in net against his former team.

Chris Gill and Matt Danowski each scored a pair of goals on the night for Colorado.  Danowski also added two assists while Brian Langtry added a pair of goals and four assists.  Gavin Prout tacked on a goal and two assists.  Gary Rosyski assisted on five goals.

For Edmonton, Callum Crawford led the way with four goals and a pair of assists.  Jamie Floris and Ryan Benesch each added a pair of goals while Andy Secore chipped in with a goal and four assists.  The Rush outshot the Mammoth 47-33 on the night.

Boston 11, Calgary 10

CALGARY - Dan Dawson scored the game-winning goal with 36 seconds remaining in regulation to lift the Boston Blazers past the Calgary Roughnecks, 11-10, at Pengrowth Saddledome on Sunday.

Dawson finished with two goals and five assists, while Daryl Veltman scored three goals. Six others scored singles for the Blazers. Blazers backup goaltender Mike Poulin got the start, giving All-Star Anthony Cosmo the night off, and Poulin delivered with 38 saves in the win.

The Roughnecks led 9-7 after three quarters, but Boston scored three straight goals to take their first lead since the opening minutes. Josh Sanderson tied the game with a power-play goal with just under four minutes remaining, before Dawson delivered the winner.

Sanderson led Calgary with five goals, while Tracey Kelusky added two. Pat Campbell made 40 saves in the loss.

Feb. 21, 2009

Philadelphia 13, Minnesota 12

PHILADELPHIA - The Philadelphia Wings defeated the Minnesota Swarm, 13-12, at Wachovia Center on Saturday.

The Wings grabbed a 4-0 lead and never looked back, leading 8-4 at halftime and 9-7 after three quarters.

Athan Iannucci returned to the Wings lineup and produced three goals, while Merrick Thomson also added a hat-trick. Geoff Snider and Drew Westervelt each scored twice for the Wings as well. Brandon Miller got the win in goal with 39 saves.

Ryan Ward led the charge for Minnesota with three goals, while Sean Pollock and Ryan Sharp each added two goals. Dan Marohl chipped in five assists and one goal.

Kevin Croswell recorded 41 saves in the loss.

Philadelphia (3-5) travels west next weekend to play the Edmonton Rush (Friday) and Portland LumberJax (Saturday). Minnesota (2-5) plays two games as well next weekend, meeting the Toronto Rock (Friday) and Buffalo Bandits (Saturday).

San Jose 14, Colorado 9

SAN JOSE, Calif. - San Jose used a six-goal run at the end of the first half and a five-goal run that stretched from the third to the fourth quarter to beat Colorado 14-9 on Saturday night. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for Colorado and allowed the Stealth to pull within one game of the Mammoth for second place in the West Division.

Colorado led 5-2 after Brian Langtry's goal early in the second quarter, but the Stealth scored the game's next six goals to take an 8-5 halftime lead. Colin Doyle, who had seven assists in the game, had a goal and four assists during the six-goal spurt.

Colorado scored three of the first four goals of the second half to pull within one, but San Jose answered with another five-goal run, highlighted by three straight goals from Rhys Duch to put the game away.

Rochester 15, New York 7

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - The Rochester Knighthawks topped the New York Titans, 15-7, at Blue Cross Arena on Saturday.

New York held an early 4-1 lead, but the Knighthawks cut the score to 5-4 at halftime before scoring four straight goals to take the lead for good.

Shawn Williams led the charge with four goals and four assists. Shawn Evans scored three goals, while newcomers Craig Point and Bobby McBride each scored twice. Jason Henhawk also added two goals, and Pat O'Toole earned the win in goal with 33 saves.

New York, playing without Casey Powell, was led by Brendan Mundorf and Pat Maddalena, who each scored two goals. Matt Vinc made 41 saves in the loss.

Rochester (2-5) hosts the Toronto Rock next Saturday at Blue Cross Arena. New York (5-4) hosts the Calgary Roughnecks next Saturday and the San Jose Stealth next Sunday.

Feb. 20, 2008

Buffalo 17, Toronto 16 (OT)

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Mark Steenhuis has scored 27 points in Buffalo's last two games - both wins over Toronto. He scored the game-winner in OT on Friday night.

TORONTO - Mark Steenhuis scored his eighth goal of the evening 46 seconds into overtime to lead the Buffalo Bandits past the Toronto Rock, 17-16, at Air Canada Centre on Friday.

Toronto led 11-5 at halftime, but the Bandits outscored the Rock 11-5 in the second half to tie the score at 16 goals apiece.

John Tavares added six goals for the Bandits, while Sean Greenhalgh, Mike Accursi and Cory Bomberry chipped in singles.

Steenhuis scored five goals in the second half, not including his overtime game-winner. With Buffalo down by two goals with five minutes remaining in regulation, he scored a natural hat-trick, including the game-tying marker with 48 seconds remaining, and the game-winner. Steenhuis set NLL records with 17 points and 13 assists in a win over the Rock last weekend.

Ken Montour, who replaced starter Mike Thompson in the second quarter, made 28 saves and allowed eight goals for the win. Thompson made 15 saves and allowed eight goals in a no-decision.

Luke Wiles and Chad Thompson scored three goals apiece for the Rock, while Blaine Manning, Josh Wasson and Lewis Ratcliff each scored two. Bob Watson made 37 saves and allowed 17 goals in the loss.

Toronto (2-5) hosts the Minnesota Swarm next Friday at Air Canada Centre. Buffalo (7-1) hosts the Swarm on Saturday at HSBC Arena.

Boston 16, Minnesota 12

MINNEAPOLIS  - The Boston Blazers defeated the Minnesota Swarm, 16-12, at Xcel Energy Center on Friday.

Boston took an early 5-1 lead and never trailed, leading 10-7 at halftime and 12-9 after three quarters.

Rookie Daryl Veltman scored four goals and three assists, while Nick Cotter chipped in three goals. Dan Dawson, Gary Bining and Jason Bloom each scored twice, while Dawson also added 10 assists. Jay Thorimbert, Mitch Belisle and Paul Dawson chipped in singles.

Anthony Cosmo made 39 saves in the win.

Ryan Ward led Minnesota with four goals and three assists, while Chad Culp addded three goals. Sean Pollock and Dan Marohl each scored twice. Nick Patterson (9 saves, 8 goals against) and Kevin Croswell (20 saves, 7 goals against) split time in goal.

Boston (5-3) meets the Calgary Roughnecks on Sunday at Pengrowth Saddledome. Minnesota (2-4) meets Philadelphia on Saturday at Wachovia Center.