Gary Gait is coming off a five-goal game, his brother Paul is rounding into form and the Colorado Mammoth defense hopes to contain Arizona Sting all-star Dan Dawson.
That’s the way the third seed Mammoth views the National Lacrosse League West Division playoff opener at 8:30 p.m. Friday against second seed Arizona at Glendale Arena (Altitude/KKFN 950 AM).
Never mind a three-game losing streak, a 1-2 regular-season record against Arizona or playing on the road.
“In my personal opinion, even though we lost the last three games, we’ve been playing better and better,’ goalkeeper Gee Nash said. “We haven’t gotten the breaks.’
Dawson, the NLL’s second-leading goal scorer, scored 10 goals in the three regular-season games against the Mammoth. Yet in the last meeting, a 15-12 Colorado loss, Mammoth coach Jamie Batley felt his defense progressed while allowing three goals to Dawson, including two late ones.
“We felt we did a pretty good job on him – except the last four minutes,’ Batley said.
At 6-feet-5, Dawson is among the tallest players in the league. He makes use of his long arms and legs by gaining position near the net and releasing shots from side angles. At .306, he leads the NLL in shooting percentage (minimum 100 attempts).
Dan Stroup leads the Mammoth at .256. Gary Gait shot .178 and Gavin Prout, who has a history of success against Arizona goalkeeper Mike Miron, shot .201.
In four games since emerging from a three-year retirement, Paul Gait has shot .240, including six goals, and is showing the skills that made him the NLL’s No. 3 all-time goal scorer.
“We knew when we picked up Paul we were about a month out,’ Batley said. “It would take a month for him to get in the right shape and the right mind-set and pick his skills back up. And he’s done that.’
While the retiring Gait twins are trying to end their careers with another NLL Champion’s Cup (they each have three), the Self brothers, Brad and Scott, need to defeat each other to reach the West semifinals April 30 at Calgary.
Scott is a defender for the Sting, and his younger brother Brad, 24, has scored seven goals in eight games since joining the Mammoth at midseason.
Footnotes
Toronto’s Colin Doyle is the first player since 1990 other than Gary Gait, Paul Gait or John Tavares to win the NLL scoring title. Doyle tallied 111 points, followed by teammate Blaine Manning and Rochester’s John Grant Jr. with 105 each. …
Grant claimed the goal-scoring title with 49, followed by Dawson at 48 and Calgary’s Tracey Kelusky at 45. …
Toronto’s Josh Sanderson led the league in assists with 71, breaking the NLL record of 68 he set in 2002. …
Colorado’s Jamie Hanford posted the best face-off percentage, .667. Buffalo’s Steve Dietrich won goals-against average (10.96) and save percentage (.789); Nash was third in both areas (11.16 and .774).
