COLORADO MAMMOTH (5-10) VS. PHILADELPHIA WINGS (5-11)
FRI. APRIL 12 | 7 P.M. MT | BALL ARENA
ALT 2 | ESPN+
DENVER – With the National Lacrosse League (NLL) postseason quickly approaching, teams around the league are doing all they can to better their ranking in hopes of securing a spot in this year’s playoff race. That, still, includes your Colorado Mammoth, who despite bringing a 5-10 record into Friday night’s matchup, have an outside chance to qualify for this year’s season-culminating action.
After dropping a tight 13-11 final to the Buffalo Bandits last weekend on Grateful Dead Night as Josh Byrne, Dhane Smith and the defending NLL Champs came to town just one game under .500 themselves. Able to pull out a dramatic, late-game win despite seeing Zed Williams (3g, 2a), Connor Kelly (4g, 1a) and Eli McLaughlin (2g, 2a) enjoy stellar nights while Dillon Ward stopped 30-of-42 on the night, the orange and white squad prevailed en route to improving to 9-7 on the year.
RELATED: Mammoth Drop Close 13-11 Final to Bandits Friday
Hosting a season-high 11,252 fans inside Ball Arena, the boys attempted the dramatic comeback effort, eventually coming up just short as the league’s top scoring threats in Smith and Byrne performed once again. But that’s in the past now, as the team turns its attention to a (5-11) Philadelphia Wings who hasn’t quite lived up to expectations after acquiring star forward Mitch Jones from the Vancouver Warriors late last year.
While the Mammoth will need to secure wins in each of its three remaining games in order to keep their playoff odds alive, the team will also need some help from around the league, as the team can only get to eight total wins at a maximum. With six teams (the Toronto Rock, San Diego Seals, Albany FireWolves, Georgia Swarm, Buffalo Bandits and Halifax Thunderbirds) already at nine wins or beyond, two spots remain available for Colorado. Four spots have already been officially claimed, with Toronto, San Diego, Albany and Georgia already dancing.
But with each of the (8-8) Panther City Lacrosse Club, (8-8) New York Riptide, (7-9) Calgary Roughnecks, (7-9) Saskatchewan Rush and (7-9) Vancouver Warriors already at the seven-win mark, there are plenty of scenarios that could play out which don’t involve the Mammoth returning to the postseason. So, the boys will look to take care of their own business first, beginning Friday night when the team hosts Philadelphia during LOUD HOUSE Appreciation Night.
With tons of interactive contests, Loud House Leader shoutouts, fan thank-yous of the sort, Citizens of the LOUD HOUSE will be treated to the final showdown of the season in dramatic playoff-searching fashion! And don’t forget to stick around after the game, as players are set to throw some signed lacrosse balls and other swag items into the crowd following handshakes!
Set to matchup with the Wings Friday night, Colorado brings a 4-4 home record at Ball Arena into the showdown. Which, as Mammoth fans know after watching the team produce stellar 7-2 records inside the LOUD HOUSE the past two seasons, is a bit of a down year when it comes to home results. That said, the boys are hungry and ready to put on quite the finale as they look to squeak out win No. 6 from a struggling Philadelphia squad. But with a Saturday night game against the Las Vegas Desert Dogs looming, as the team prepares to endure its first and only back-to-back of the campaign, Colorado will need to take care of business Friday and quickly get on the recovery train, as the white and black squad awaits what should be a spicy contest.
Representing the first of seven Week 20 games and the only contest scheduled for Friday night, the LOUD HOUSE is set to go out the only way we know how: ROWDY, LOUD AND PROUD!
Friday evening’s matchup with the Wings is set to begin at 7 p.m. MT inside Ball Arena, thus representing Colorado’s ninth and final home contest of the season. Fans can catch the team’s 16th showdown of the year locally on Altitude TV 2, stream the matchup live on ESPN+ and stay tuned to coloradomammoth.com and Colorado Mammoth social media channels for game highlights, postgame recaps and beyond!
Leading the Way
While assistant captain Eli McLaughlin continues to lead the overall scoring charges in each of the overall points (79), goals (38) and assists (41) category, right-handed forward Connor Kelly returned to the lineup to pace Mammoth scoring efforts last weekend against Buffalo. Recording four goals (4g, 1a) for the third time this season as the talent continues to get comfortable throughout his first season in Colorado, Kelly looked dominant in not only calling his shots, but converting when given the opportunity. Up to 51 points (29g, 22a) on the season, he’s got the second-most goals scored on the season and third-highest point total despite participating in just 12 games (compared to 15 for McLaughlin and company). Now averaging 4.25 points per-game, he’s scored at least one goal in all of the 12 contests in which he’s dressed for en route to racking up six hat tricks throughout the season, essentially averaging a three-goal effort every other game. Stepping up in the absence of Ryan Lee and continuing to let teammates like Zed Williams, Connor Robinson and friends operate in similar roles as the past, the talented finisher will need to continue lighting the lamp if the burgundy boys want to complete the March to May! Ranked within the team’s Top 5 producers in goals (29), assists (22) and points (51), he joins the following players in leading the charge so far, including:
Points: 79 (Eli McLaughlin)
Goals: 38 (Eli McLaughlin)
Assists: 41 (Eli McLaughlin)
Loose Balls: 111 (Robert Hope)
Caused Turnovers: 19 (Robert Hope)
Penalty Minutes: 29 (Jordan Gilles)
Blocked Shots: 26 (Robert Hope)
Faceoff Wins: 200 (Tim Edwards)
Consistency is Key
Officially surpassing his previous career-high points total (43) during last weekend’s showdown, Mammoth forward Tyson Gibson is enjoying the best season of his budding NLL journey. Up to 46 points (18g, 28a) on the season, he’s already surpassed his overall scoring figures and is now up to 18 goals on the season, two more than his previous high, which he recorded during his NLL Rookie of the Year season in 2020 with the New York Riptide. Needing three more assists this season to stamp a new career-high in that category, Gibson should be able to pass that test, especially considering he just posted a welcomed five points (0g, 5a) during last weekend’s 13-11 final against Buffalo. Sitting at No. 5 overall amongst the team’s overall scoring leaders, he also ranks tied for the fourth-most goals scored this year (18, tied with Connor Robinson), while his 28 assists rank third as he continues to work well with Kelly, Williams and company in operating the right side of the offense. “Gibby” has been the definition of consistency for Colorado this year. Now with at least one point in each contest he’s participated in, he joins the following players in regularly appearing on the scoresheet this season, including:
Eli McLaughlin: (2g, 3a), (1g, 2a), (2g, 2a), (3g, 2a), (3g, 3a), (2g, 4a), (5g, 5a), (0g, 3a), (2g, 3a), (3g, 3a), (4g, 5a), (3g, 1a), (2g, 0a), (4g, 3a), (2g, 2a) = 79 points (38g, 41a)
Connor Robinson: (0g, 2a), (3g, 0a), (4g, 3a), (0g, 1a), (2g, 3a), (0g, 6a), (1g, 4a), (0g, 1a), (0g, 4a), (1g, 0a), (3g, 4a), (1g, 1a), (0g, 2a), (2g, 3a), (1g, 3a) = 55 points (18g, 37a)
Connor Kelly: (3g, 2a), (2g, 1a), (3g, 1a), (1g, 2a), (4g, 0a), (1g, 1a), (3g, 0a), (4g, 4a), (2g, 3a), (1g, 6a), (1g, 1a), (4g, 1a) = 46 points (29g, 22a)
Zed Williams: (0g, 1a), (2g, 4a), (1g, 1a), (1g, 2a), (1g, 1a), (2g, 1a), (2g, 0a), (3g, 2a), (2g, 2a), (3g, 2a), (0g, 2a), (0g, 2a), (4g, 3a), (3g, 2a) = 49 points (24g, 25a)
Tyson Gibson: (1g, 4a), (1g, 2a), (2g, 1a), (0g, 2a), (0g, 2a), (1g, 0a), (2g, 3a), (1g, 1a), (2g, 3a), (2g, 1a), (4g, 2a), (0g, 1a), (2g, 0a), (0g, 1a), (0g, 5a) = 46 points (18g, 28a)
Evan Downey: (0g, 1a) = 1 point (0g, 1a)
West Philadelphia, Born & Raised:
At this late point in the season, the Wings understand that the 2023-24 slate just wasn’t their season. And with a talented finisher like Mitch Jones on the team, now pacing the squad with a whopping 101 points (30g, 71a), it surely stings a bit more, especially considering the team allocated assets late last season in acquiring the forward for what was supposed to be a windowed push, as several of the teams’ regularly are either approaching or exiting their prime. Guys like Joe Resetarits, who enjoyed one of the best NLL seasons (stats wise) last year for an American-born player, and Ben McIntosh, another skilled forward the team sent first-round selections for, have undoubtedly stepped up for the squad this year. Bringing 88 points (34g, 54a) into Friday night’s showdown, Resetarits has performed once again this season, regularly finding twine while continuing to embrace the role in dishing the rock. With McIntosh up to 61 points (26g, 35a) on the year, the trio has served as the team’s go-to guys thus far.
Playing in just 11 games this season, Holden Cattoni is back in the lineup for this weekend’s bad guys, already having recorded 57 points (23g, 34a) in limited playing time. Blaze Riorden (38 points) and former Mammoth forward Sam LeClair (36 points) represent the final scorers who have surpassed the 30-point mark. Deeper than most teams, the Wings haven’t had a problem putting goals on the board for the most part. Allowing more than 12 goals in each of its past four games (including 12, 16,18 and 21 goals against; all of which led to losses), Zach Higgins has been extremely busy in net. Sitting atop the league’s overall saves category with an NLL-best 669, the netminder has been doing his all to keep his team competitive. But with his defensive unit allowing opposing teams, he’s been making the best of his situation as the team looks to finish the season and put it in the rearview mirror.
If Colorado is to take advantage of its late-season matchups against the two teams it currently sits above in the standings (both Philadelphia and Las Vegas), they’ll want to come out firing early and often in testing Higgins and establishing a lead that the LOUD HOUSE can help them defend!
Get in the Game
Mammoth games can be viewed on Altitude TV and streamed live via ESPN+. Friday’s April 12 LOUD HOUSE Appreciation Night matchup against the Philadelphia Wings can be viewed locally on Altitude TV 2 and streamed live 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 2023-24 NLL season.
Limited tickets for the Mammoth’s LOUD HOUSE Appreciation matchup against the Philadelphia Wings at Ball Arena remain available as the organization prepares to celebrate the dedicated fans that make the LOUD HOUSE the LOUDEST venue in lacrosse!
