COLORADO MAMMOTH (4-5) VS. PANTHER CITY LACROSSE CLUB (6-4)
FRI FEB 24 | BALL ARENA
7 P.M. MT FACEOFF
ALT TV | ESPN+
Since dropping a 13-9 final to the San Diego Seals inside Ball Arena Jan. 28, Colorado has managed a 1-3 record in its past four games, with the team’s win coming against the now 0-7 Georgia Swarm Feb. 3. Most recently dropping a 13-7 decision Panther City last weekend, the defending NLL Champions have dealt with a variety of injuries throughout the first half of its season, and heading into Friday night’s rematch against the Lacrosse Club, are expected to make another set of transactions as the availability roller coaster continues to circulate.
RELATED: Mammoth Drop 13-7 Final to Panther City with Rematch Looming Friday
Limited to just seven goals last weekend, after seeing veteran forward Rhys Duch get moved to the Physically Unable to Perform List prior to the game, Colorado will now host the second-year squad at the Loud House Friday, Feb. 24 as the regular season series wraps up between the regional rivals. After seeing a few heated skirmishes erupt as the action concluded in Dickies Arena last weekend, both squads will be hungry to earn the potential postseason seeding advantage as the 2023 NLL Postseason quickly approaches.
Friday’s Military Appreciation Night matchup represents the third of three regular season matchups against Panther City, and the only to be hosted at Ball Arena this year.
Coming into the competition with a 6-4 record, Panther City sits in fourth place of the West Conference with 118 goals for, while limiting opponents to 10 goals per-game after allowing just 103 through the team’s first 10 opportunities. After receiving productive performances last weekend from Will Malcom (2g, 4a), recent trade acquisition Callum Crawford (3g, 4a) and Jonathan Donville (3g, 4a), the team is riding a two-game win streak, but will have to deal with the thrills of the Loud House as Colorado gets ready to host Panther City Friday.
Mammoth fans can stay tuned to the team’s social media channels and NLL.com’s transaction page for the team’s latest transactions, news and beyond heading into Friday’s contest against Panther city.
Friday’s matchup at Ball Arena is slated to begin at 7 p.m. MT and can be viewed locally on Altitude TV and nationally via ESPN+.
Leading the Way
Through the first half of the 2022-23 NLL campaign, forward Eli McLaughlin continues to lead Mammoth personnel with 42 points (21g, 21a) and 18 goals, while veteran forward Rhys Duch paces the squad with 22 helpers amongst his 30 points (8g, 22a). Connor Robinson’s 31 points (18g, 13a) round out the top three point totals for the defending champions. Zed Williams has continued to provide a balanced scoring attack with 24 points (14g, 14a), most recently tying McLaughlin last weekend with a team-best four points (3g, 1a). In his first seven appearances of the season, Chris Wardle has added 20 points (5g, 15a), while fellow forward Tyson Gibson has chipped in five points (1g, 4a) in his first two appearances this season.
After dominating the draw two weekends ago against the Calgary Roughnecks, credited for winning 23-of-26 draws, faceoff specialist Tim Edwards has now secured 123-of-215 draw opportunities (57.2%) after winning 10-of-22 Saturday night in Fort Worth. Edwards also continues to lead the loose ball charge, having collected 75, while defenseman Warren Jeffrey’s nine caused turnovers represent a team-best on the disruptive front.
Last Time They Played
Just six days before Friday night’s contest, Colorado dropped the 13-7 decision down south, but got off to a hot start thanks to Eli McLaughlin, who provided two of the team’s first three goals as the Mammoth took a 3-1 lead. Eventually allowing Panther City to go on a five-goal scoring streak throughout the second, they trailed by just three heading into the break, down 7-4.
Coming out of the break, Tyson Gibson recorded his first goal of the season to bring Colorado within two, but veteran forward Callum Crawford matched the effort a few minutes later. Panther City went on to outscore the Mammoth 5-2 for the duration, with McLaughlin finishing his hat trick late in the game and Connor Robinson logging his 18th of the year.
Eli McLaughlin (3g, 1a) and Zed Williams (1g, 3a) paced the away team, with Tyson Gibson and Connor Robinson the only other Mammoth scorers to record multi-point outings. Goaltender Dillon Ward stopped 40-of-52 as Panther City netminder Nick Damude limited Colorado to seven goals, stopping 39-of-46 shots. Callum Crawford (3g, 4a), Jonathan Donville (3g, 4a) and former Mammoth draft selection Will Malcom (2g, 4a) topped the scoresheet for Panther City.
Consistency is Key
Seeing Williams and McLaughlin record four points each last weekend, while Gibson and Robinson kept their streaks alive with three (1g, 2a) and two (1g, 1a) points, respectively, Colorado’s offensive leaders have continued to show up to work, but they’ll need to find twine early Friday night against a squad averaging 11.8 goals per game. McLaughlin hasn’t scored less than three points in any matchup this year, with a season-best seven-point outing (4g, 3a) marking his top performance so far. He’s also got a pair of six-point efforts, and was a visible force in helping Colorado make a run in the second half last weekend. Colorado’s O-unit is successful when he and Robinson, who’s got a five-goal and pair of four-tally games to his credit this season, are finding space and shooting often, as the team has had to lead on its left side without All-Pro Ryan Lee. Once Lee returns, he’s sure to show up on the scoresheet each week, joining the following Mammoth players who have produced at least one point in each contest played, including:
Eli McLaughlin (0g, 5a), (4g, 3a), (2g, 1a), (1g, 3a) (3g, 1a), (2g, 4a), (2g, 1a), (4g, 2a), (3g, 1a) = 42 points (21g, 21a)
Connor Robinson (1g, 0a), (0g, 1a), (5g, 1a), (4g, 1a), (2g, 2a), (4g, 3a), (1g, 4a), (1g, 1a) = 31 points (18g, 13a)
Rhys Duch (2g, 1a), (1g, 4a), (1g, 6a), (0g, 2a), (2g, 5a), (1g, 3a), (1g, 1a) = 30 points (8g, 22a)
Zed Williams (2g, 0a), (3g, 5a), (3g, 0a), (1g, 0a), (1g, 2a), (2g, 1a), (1g, 3a), (1g, 3a) = 28 points (14g, 14a)
Brett McIntyre (1g, 1a), (1g, 1a), (0g, 1a), (1g, 4a), (1g, 1a), (1g, 0a) = 13 points (5g, 8a)
Ty Thompson (2g, 0a), (1g, 3a), (0g, 1a) = 7 points (3g, 4a)
Tyson Gibson (0g, 2a), (1g, 2a) = 5 points (1g, 4a)
Best of Three
With Colorado capturing the first of three matchups between the Conference opponents earlier this year, a 12-9 final, the regular season series is tied heading into Friday’s matchup following last weekend’s 13-7 win by Panther City. Now, all of the regular season marbles will be on the line inside Ball Arena, as Colorado looks to get back to .500 while capturing its first regular season series of the year, and first ever against the second-year squad after seeing the new guys pick up the series 2-1 last year. Courtesy of a pair of early-season matchups against the Vancouver Warriors, Panther City has already earned their first series victory of the season.
Get in the Game
Mammoth games can be viewed on Altitude TV and streamed live via ESPN+. Friday’s game against Panther City can be viewed locally on Altitude TV and nationally on ESPN+. Mammoth fans can keep an eye on the team’s social media channels and coloradomammoth.com for the latest news, transactions and organizational updates throughout the 2022-23 NLL season.
RELATED: Altitude Announces 2022-23 Colorado Mammoth Broadcast Schedule
Limited tickets for Colorado’s Feb. 24 Military Appreciation Night matchup against Panther City Lacrosse Club are available for purchase.
