CALGARY, AB – The rocky mountain rivalry is coming to Calgary.
The Calgary Roughnecks and Colorado Mammoth will battle at Scotiabank Saddledome on Saturday in the second game of a home-and-home weekend series.
In the first game of the double-header, Dane Dobbie completed a hat trick when he scored the tying goal with 9.3 seconds remaining, sending the contest to overtime. In the extra frame, Mammoth goaltender, Alex Buque, made a couple huge saves before Colorado superstar John Grant Jr. scored the game-winner.
Dobbie (3g, 2a) and Curtis Dickson (3g, 2a) led the charge for the Roughnecks as they both registered five points. Shawn Evans did not register a goal, but he managed to find the scoresheet with four assists. Daryl Veltman (2g, 1a) was the only other goal scorer for Calgary.
For the first time in four weeks, face-off ace Geoff Snider was back in the line-up for Calgary. Going head-to-head with his younger brother, Bob, Geoff won 18 of 20 face-offs. Dan MacRae also returned to the lineup after suffering an injury on February 28th against the Rochester Knighthawks.
With the loss, Calgary drops to 3-10 on the season. They still hold out hope for the post-season with the Vancouver Stealth falling in overtime to the Edmonton Rush Friday. Calgary currently sits 1.5 games out of a playoff spot, however, with only five games left on the schedule, time is running out for the Roughnecks.
Improving to 8-5, the Mammoth clinched a post-season berth. Colorado is the second team to clinch, with the Toronto Rock being the first team to do so. Both teams managed to clinch after wins against the Roughnecks.
If Calgary plans to stop the Mammoth in the second game of the double-header, they will need to find a way to stop Grant. The 40-year-old forward was the most productive player in the first game, with five goals and an assist. Stopping Junior will be a tough task, but one the Roughnecks must do if they hope to win.
The last four matches between the two clubs have gone to overtime, so an intense, hard-fought, exciting battle is expected at the ‘Dome on Saturday night.
