By: Di Miller, Beat Writer Colorado Mammoth
It was a gorgeous Saturday night in Denver and the red hot Colorado Mammoth (8-2) were ready to face-off against the Eastern Division leaders the New England Black Wolves (5-3). Colorado fans, 15, 009 to be exact were stoked to see their team back in action for the second week in a row and boy did they get to see a great game. The Black Wolves needed to keep Adam Jones in check; and the Mammoth needed to do the same with Shawn Evans. Which team would have their super-star come out the hero? The Mammoth would go on to defeat the Black Wolves 14-13.
The first quarter started off a bit slow, with the Mammoth putting the first points on the board when Adam Jones who just broke the NLL Record for most goals scored in a quarter the previous week would hit net (3:43). This was the first of another seven goal night for Jones. John Grant Jr. would score (5:42) assist to Creighton Reid and Greg Downing. But Jonesy was on fire and hit two more within 30 seconds of one another giving him the hat-trick at 8:43 in the first, assist to Grant. Jordan Hall would be the only one to send it between the pipes (11:58). Score at the end of the first: Mammoth 4—Black Wolves 1. 
It didn’t take long for Hall to hit net for the Black Wolves (0:55). The Wolves would dominate the second quarter with six goals. The first from Derek Suddons (2:14) assist to Crowley. Grant Jr. would only 36 seconds later hit net. Jones would be allowed a penalty shot after an Unsportsmanlike call against Adam Suitor at 4:28. Unfortunately the penalty shot didn’t make it past Evan Kirk. But low and behold, it would only take Jones 16 seconds to make up for the missed penalty shot. The Wolves would then score four unanswered goals: Kyle Buchanan (6:05); Shawn Evans (8:50); and Buchanan with back-to-back goals (hat trick) at 10:11 and 11:26. The Black Wolves had overtaken the Mammoth at the end of the first by the score of 7-6.
At the start of the third, Colorado would see a change in net-minders when Dillon Ward was pulled in favor of Alex Buque. Mammoth fans were a bit concerned, but they knew their team as always would jump start their offense and again, the fans were given their treat. Jeremy Noble would get his first of the game (0:33); followed by Jones (4:19 & 5:18) both assisted by Noble and giving him yet another sock-trick. The only goal for New England in the third would come from Buchanan (5:52) giving him his fourth on the night. At the end of the third the Mammoth would take back the lead 9-8.
With the fourth quarter upon us, the game would become a nail-biter. Jackson Decker would be the first to score for the Mammoth in the fourth (0:53) assist to Downing. New England would quickly fire back with three unanswered goals coming from Suddons (1:24); Evans (3:31); and Hall for the hat-trick (5:54). But the Mammoth would control the game for the next three minutes with Noble getting his second (8:47); Jones his seventh (9:28); and Callum Crawford with back-to-back goals at 9:15 and 11:09. The Mammoth would lead 14-11. Typically the fans don’t get on their feet until the last 90 seconds of the game, but this was different. Mammoth fans know what their team is capable of; and they know that they louder they get, the better the Mammoth play. The Wolves tried a last ditch effort to tie the game. Jim Purves would score at 12:26; and the Wolves would pull Kirk for the extra attack (ea) and the final goal by the Wolves would come from Pat Saunders at 14:14. With Kirk still out of net, the Mammoth sent the ball down the field and hit an empty net unfortunately after time had run out. Final Score: Mammoth 14—New England 13.
Game Stats:
Colorado Mammoth: 56 SOG; 17 SOFF; 58 LB; 15-32 face-offs; .468 FO%; 4-7 PP: .571 PP%
New England Black Wolves: 53 SOG; 22 SOFF; 60 LB: 17-31 face-offs; .531 FO%; 2-2 PP; 1.000 PP%
Goalie Stats:
Colorado Mammoth: Dillon Ward—30 minutes; 20-27 SOG; .741 SV%; 7 GA
Colorado Mammoth: Alex Buque—30 minutes: 20-26 SOG; .770 SV%; 6 GA
New England Black Wolves: Evan Kirk—60 minutes; 42-56 SOF; .777 SV%; 14 GA
TRIVIA TIDBIT:
Adam Jones of the Colorado Mammoth going into this game was tied with John Grant, Jr. for 55 Consecutive Games for the most in NLL History. He now leads JGJ by one.
Adam Jones since April 20, 2012 has a 2.76 Average Goals/Game and a .203 Shooting Percentage
The Mammoth (8-2) have another bye-week coming up and will head to Calgary to face the last place Roughnecks (3-7). The Roughnecks have come out on the short end last weekend. Calgary heads to the Air Canada Centre in Toronto to face the Rock on March 11, 2016. Toronto is coming off a bye-week after they defeated the Knighthawks on February 27 by the score of 17-6. Are the Rock on the come-back and can they overtake the Roughnecks who want a win in the books.
Di Miller, Beat Writer Colorado Mammoth
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