The Colorado Mammoth and Georgia Swarm met for the second time in three weeks Saturday night, this time at Gas South Arena in Duluth. Two weeks ago, the Mammoth nearly became the second team this season to be held to two goals in a 12-3 loss. However, they rebounded last week with an 18-goal output in handing Rochester their first loss of the season. The Swarm were looking for a series sweep and a chance to get back above .500 at home. But it was not to be, as they suffered their own offensive drought, losing 7-5. The Swarm fall to 2-3, while the Mammoth improve to 3-2 on the season.
Late power play goals give Mammoth first half lead
The Swarm got on the board first when Shayne Jackson scored a power play goal seven minutes into the game. Ari Stevens scored his first career goal for the Mammoth in transition (12:52) to tie the game at 1-1 after the first quarter. New acquisition Jack Hannah (2:36 second quarter) then gave the Mammoth a 2-1 lead before Nolan Byrne (8:13) tied it at 2-2 for Georgia. The Swarm found themselves in penalty trouble late in the half, and Colorado capitalized on the advantage. Power play goals from Will Malcom (12:00) and Owen Rahn (13:09) gave the Mammoth a 4-2 halftime lead.
Mammoth hold on in second half to earn series split
The Swarm cut the deficit to one on three separate occassions in the second half. However, the Mammoth had an answer each time to push the lead back to two. A power play goal from Lyle Thompson (3:52) was countered by a goal from Dylan McIntosh (4:46) as Colorado ended the third quarter with a 5-3 lead. Jackson’s second goal of the game (3:20 fourth quarter) made it 5-4, but Thomas Vela (9:43) beat Swarm goaltender Brett Dobson in close to make it 6-4. Jordan MacIntosh again narrowed the gap for Georgia at the 10:22 mark, picking up a loose ball and depositing it into an empty Mammoth net after goaltender Dillon Ward collided with a teammate while attempting to clear a loose ball. Warren Jeffrey closed out the scoring for the Mammoth with an empty net goal of his own with 39 seconds remaining in the game.
Other Stats of Note
Mammoth: Malcom (1g, 1a); Hannah (1g, 1a); Rahn (1g); Jeffrey (1g); Vela (1g); Stevens (1g); McIntosh (1g); Jalen Chaster (3a)
Swarm: Jackson (2g); Thompson (1g, 2a); Byrne (1g, 1a); MacIntosh (1g, 1a); Bryan Cole (2a); Kaleb Benedict (1a); Richie Connell (1a)
Dillon Ward (COL): 39 saves, 5 GA; Brett Dobson (GA): 50 saves; 6 GA
Power Play: COL 2 for 7; GA 2 for 5
Will Malcom recorded his 400th career point, and Jordan Gilles picked up his 800th career loose ball in this game.
