(Photo courtesy of C. Bender NLL)
The Colorado Mammoth (8-3) visited the Toronto Rock (6-4) in the back end of their home and home series. The Mammoth won convincingly last week 16-8 on the strength of nine points from Andrew Kew, and seven points from Braedon Saris. Mark Matthews had five points for Toronto to push him past 1100 for his career.
The goaltending match-up had Dillon Ward in net for the Mammoth facing Troy Holowchuk in net for the Rock.
An exciting first half that went back and forth with both teams getting many quality opportunities. The half was highlighted by the goaltending of both Troy Holowchuk and Dillon Ward facing 26 shots each. The half also was highlighted by Isiah Moran-Weekes scoring his first NLL goal. Late in the second quarter Colorado broke a 3-3 tie with a pair of goals to take a 5-3 lead to the intermission.
The third quarter saw special teams get involved scoring three combined tallies. The teams were tied heading to the fourth quarter. But Toronto’s best quarter was yet to come.
The Rock outscored Colorado 6-2 in the quarter, led by CJ Kirst with a pair, and Challen Rogers with his third of the game. When the Mammoth did get opportunities, Troy Holowchuk was sensational in the Rock net, making 41 saves on the night. Toronto beats Colorado 13-9.
To The Game:
The Rock got on the board first when Mark Matthews fired a howitzer that caught the near corner off an Isiah Moran-Weekes pass at 0:53 seconds, but Will Malcom replied for the Mammoth with a shot from the top of the crease off a Braedon Saris pass at 2:32.
Colorado took the lead when Dylan McIntosh fired a shot from in close off an Andrew Kew pass at 2:58, but CJ Kirst answered for Toronto on the power-play with just one second left on the shot clock off a Mark Matthews pass at 12:10.
After one quarter, Toronto 2 Colorado 2.
Second Quarter:
The Rock opened the second quarter scoring with a great individual effort from Isiah Moran-Weekes scoring his first NLL goal off a Chris Boushy pass at 5:35, but Owen Rahn tied the game grabbing a rebound from the side of the net off a Jack Hannah feed at 6:45.
Colorado took the lead in transition with Robert Hope firing a high to low shot to the shortside off a Matthew Paolatto pass at 10:49, followed by a power-play marker from Andrew Kew from the side of the net off a Braedon Saris pass at 12:59.
At the half, Colorado 5 Toronto 3.
Third Quarter:
Toronto opened the third quarter scoring on the power-play with Challen Rogers firing a laser off an Owen Hiltz pass at 2:55, followed by Hiltz himself scoring with a bounced shot off a CJ Kirst pass at 3:49 to tie the game.
Colorado regained the lead on the power-play with Dylan McIntosh finding the far corner off a Jack Hannah pass at 6:40, followed by Andrew Kew with a deceptive shot from the outside also off a Hannah feed at 7:25.
Josh Dawick got Toronto within one on the power-play with a blast to the top corner off a Mark Matthews pass at 10:33, followed by Challen Rogers with a great individual effort to score diving across the crease at 14:03.
After three quarters, Toronto 7 Colorado 7.
Fourth Quarter:
Sam English opened the fourth quarter scoring going coast to coast in transition to give the Rock the lead at 1:56, but Thomas Vela tied the game once off a perfect feed from TJ Comizio at 7:49.
The Mammoth took the lead when Owen Rahn converted a Jack Hannah pass all alone in front at 8:17, but Owen Hiltz stormed back finishing a Robert Hudson pass 0:28 seconds later.
Toronto again took the lead on the power-play when Mark Matthews fired another howitzer off an Owen Hiltz pass at 9:39, followed by CJ Kirst with a blast from the top of the crease at 12:44.
Challen Rogers added an insurance marker diving across the crease at 13:17, followed by an empty net goal from CJ Kirst at 14:01.
Final score, Toronto 13 Colorado 9.
(Photo courtesy of C. Bender NLL)
The Three Stars:
1. Challen Rogers
2. Troy Holowchuk
3. Mark Matthews
Game Stats:
- Shots on goal favored the Rock 60-50.
- The faceoff battle went to the Mammoth 19-7.
- The loose ball battle was won by Toronto 71-56.
- Colorado went 2 for 2 on the power-play.
- Toronto went 4 for 7 on the power-play.
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