A big second half by the Colorado Mammoth proved to be the difference as they defeated the Las Vegas Desert Dogs 13-8 on Friday night.
The win moves Colorado into a tie for first place in the National Lacrosse League with the Saskatchewan Rush and Vancouver Warriors, with a record of 11-5.
Meanwhile, the Desert Dogs remain in a dogfight for the eighth and final playoff spot with a record of 8-8.
With Friday night’s game tied 5-5 at the half, Colorado’s offence exploded, outscoring Las Vegas 8-3 in the big second half.
Will Malcom led the way for Colorado with a six-point night, including five goals. Andrew Kew added two goals and four assists for six points as well, including his 200th career goal.
The Desert Dogs were led by Jonathan Donville and Adam Poitras, who each had two goals and two assists.
Dillon Ward got the start for Colorado and stopped 43 of 51 shots and picked up his 200th win as a member of the Mammoth. Alex Buque got the nod for Las Vegas and stopped 40 of 55 shots.
First Quarter
Colorado jumped out to an early 2-0 lead. Will Malcom opened the scoring at 2:58.
Just over a minute later, Tim Edwards converted off a feed from Jalen Chaster.
Las Vegas replied with a three-goal run to take the lead.
Connor Kirst broke the goose egg at 4:06 with a solo effort. Kevin Crowley then tied the game at 5:15.
Jonathan Donville gave the Desert Dogs the lead on the power play at 9:47 off a feed from Mitch Jones to make it 3-2.
Colorado finished the first quarter with a two-goal run.
Ari Stevens scored off a Warren Jeffrey pass with 4:13 left on the clock to tie it 3-3.
Andrew Kew found Malcom with 1:21 left in the quarter to give the Mammoth a 4-3 lead heading into the first break.
Second Quarter
Las Vegas struck early in the second quarter to tie the game, with Adam Poitras finding the back of the net at 1:57.
The Mammoth replied at 2:36 as Dylan McIntosh found Kew to make it 5-4.
Crowley took a feed from Jones with 8:36 left on the clock on the power play, sending the game into halftime tied 5-5.
Third Quarter
Colorado had a big second half, outscoring the Desert Dogs 8-3.
The Mammoth opened the third quarter with a three-goal run. Malcom scored on the power play at 2:17.
McIntosh added another power-play marker at 5:22 to give the Mammoth a 7-5 lead.
Malcom rounded out the run at the 6:10 mark.
Poitras found Donville with 4:13 left on the clock to get Las Vegas back on the board and make it 8-6.
Braedon Saris rounded out the third-quarter scoring with 1:17 remaining as the Mammoth led 9-6 heading into the fourth quarter.
Fourth Quarter
Colorado got on the board just 26 seconds into the fourth quarter when Kew found Malcom to give the Mammoth a four-goal lead.
The Desert Dogs replied at the 55-second mark, with Kyle Killen finding the back of the net.
Kew struck again at the 7:01 mark to make it 11-7. McIntosh followed that up with 3:54 left on the clock.
Poitras scored his second of the game with 1:47 remaining to get the Desert Dogs within four.
However, McIntosh capped off the big second half for the Mammoth, scoring 43 seconds later to make the final 13-8.
Will Malcom gave his comments after the game:
Top Scorers
Colorado Mammoth
- Will Malcom, 5g 1a
- Andrew Kew, 2g 4a
- Dylan McIntosh, 3g 1a
Las Vegas Desert Dogs
- Jonathan Donville, 2g 2a
- Adam Poitras, 2g 2a
- Mitch Jones, 3a
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