Game Preview: Toronto Rock vs Colorado Mammoth

(Photo Credit: NLL.com)

Tomorrow night the new-look Colorado Mammoth take on the Toronto Rock in the first pre-season tilt of the NLL season. This will be the first time the two franchises have played each other since 2003, when the Mammoth moved to Colorado. The game will be seen on the National Lacrosse League's online channel, The NLL Network.
Game Notes:

Leading Scorer from last season: COL- Jamie Shewchuk TOR- Colin Doyle

Goaltender: COL- Matt King TOR- Bob Watson

Injuries:COL- Jed Prossner

Notes:

* This will be the first time John Grant jr does not wear a Rochester Knighthawks uniform.

* Former cup winning goaltender Gee Nash will make his return to Colorado as Bob Watson's backup.

* Mammoth head coach Bob Hamley said he wants to win this game, despite it only being in the pre-season.

* Matt King makes his Mammoth debut.

* Ned Crotty will make his NLL debut.

* Come over here tomorrow evening for an Open Game Thread.

NLL Preview Colorado Mammoth

The NLL Draft will be soon upon us. The NLL season is now only a few months away, and it's time to preview them.

The Mammoth had their worst season in franchise history last season, finishing last in the west and in the NLL. The year before, Colorado was the last seed to make the playoffs in the west, but lost in the first round to the champion Calgary.
The Mammoth's biggest problem last season was their goaltending. Their starting goaltender, Andrew Leyshon, had the worst goals against average in the NLL at 13.38 and only a .718 save percentage. That is one thing the Mammoth have sured up this offseason; Goaltending.
The Mammoth were in a good spot when the Titan's dispersal came with the #1 pick. They could have had last year's MP Casey Powell, but they went with the goaltender of the year, Matt Vinc. Last season Vinc was third in GAA and S%. That sures up their biggest issue.
The Mammoth did not have any of their runners in the top 20 goals scored. In fact, their highest goal scorer was ranked 22nd in the league, Jamie Shewchuk. After him at 23d was Brian Langtry. Even with Vinc between the pipes this season, the Mammoth will need better scoring from their veterans. Alex Gajic is their next ranking scorer. Gajic had a great rookie season, competing for rookie of the year. But this season he will need to take the next step to become a true goal scorer in this league.
The Mammoth, even with their horrible record, did have a shot at the playoffs with two weeks left. Minnesota had gone cold and the Mammoth had a game in Boston. If they won the next two and Minnesota lost, they could have still made it. But Colorado lost a heart breaker to Boston, one of the best games of the year in the NLL. The Mammoth showed fight even when there was little hope left. The Mammoth will compete for a playoff spot again this season.

Game Preveiw: Boston @ Colorado

photo credit: NLL.com
Preview: Boston faces another must win in Colorado tonight, tied with the Bandits and Knighthawks for the final playoff spot. The good news is Buffalo is playing the east's top team, the Orlando Titans. The Knighthawks play the Rock tonight, with the winner clinching a playoff berth. Meanwhile, Colorado needs a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. They are only a game back of the Minnesota Swarm for the last spot in the west.

Leading Scorer: Boston: Dan Dawson, 73 pts
Colorado: Jamie Shewchuk, 62 pts

Goaltender: Boston: Anthony Cosmo, 9.47 GAA, .801 S%
Colorado: Andrew Layshon, 13.38 GAA, .716 S%

Injuries: Boston: None
Colorado: Ilija Gajic (Illness)

Game Notes: * The Mammoth power play is 2 for it's last 10 attempts.

* The Mammoth can clinch a playoff spot with two wins and two Minnesota losses.

* The Mammoth win over Edmonton last week was their first in regulation.

* The Blazers can clinch a playoff spot with two wins, a win and two Rochester losses, or beating Buffalo next week and Buffalo losing this week to Orlando.

* 17% of the Blazers goals this season have come on the power play.

* The game can be seen at NLL.com at 9pm.

NLL Game Preveiw: Mammoth @ Rush

photo credit: NLL.com
Preveiw: The Edmonton Rush, who last week clinched a playoff spot, look to the beat the Colorado Mammoth. With a win, the Rush will move ahead of the Washington Stealth in the West. Along with a Roughnecks loss, they will clinch a home game in the playoffs. For the Mammoth, a loss and a Minnesota Swarm win would eliminate them from playoff contention.

Leading Scorer: Edmonton: Ryan Ward 60 pts
Colorado: Jamie Shrewchuk 48 pts

Goaltender: Edmonton: Matt Disher 12.84 GAA, .754 S%
Colorado: Andrew Layshon 13.39 GAA, .716 S%

Injuries: Edmonton: Chris McElroy (Questionable)
Colorado: Ilija Gajic (Illness)

Notes: * The Mammoth are 0-5 in games where they score less than 10 goals

* The Mammoth have lost four one-goal games this season

* Edmonton penalty killers gave up four goals on five Stealth PP attempts last week

* The game can be heard on CFRN 1260 AM in Edmonton. You can watch the game at NLL.com

* The game is in Rexell place in Edmonton

* The Rush lost the lose ball battle in Minnesota, 105-85

NLL Game Preveiw: Mammoth @ Bandits

photo credit: NLL.com
The Bandits look to gain ground as they take on the lowly Colorado Mammoth at home. The Bandits have won five in a row, and look to make it sixth. The Blazers take on the tough Titans tonight, which gives the Bandits an opportunity to overtake them. Meanwhile Alex Gajic, fresh off his Rookie of the Month award, looks to lead Colorado past the surging Bandits.

Leading Scorers: Buffalo: Mark Steenhius, 66 pts
Colorado: Jamie Shewchuk, 43 pts

Goaltenders: Buffalo: Ken Montor, 10.89 GAA, .788 s%
Colorado: Andrew Layshon, 13.39 GAA, .716 S%

Injuries: Buffalo: None
Colorado: None

Notes: * With the Rock winning Friday, the Bandits need a win to tie for second

* The Mammoth can be mathematically eliminated with a Roughnecks and Swarm win.

* The Bandits will play their first home game in nearly a month at HSBC arena.

* John Tavares of Buffalo was named player of the month.

* The game is at 7:30 and can be seen at NLL.com Network.