Buffalo, N.Y. – Despite a game-high five goals from Chris Gill and seven points from Gavin Prout, the Colorado Mammoth dropped to second place in the West Division after a 14-12 loss Saturday night to the Buffalo Bandits at HSBC Arena.
The Bandits (10-4) extended their winning streak to six games and kept the lead in the East Division.
After Brian Langtry opened the scoring, Buffalo scored four unanswered goals and the Mammoth (8-6) was forced to play catch up. Two of Gill’s goals and one from Josh Sims allowed Colorado to keep pace, trailing 8-6 at halftime.
Buffalo’s John Tavares, the NLL’s all-time leading scorer, extended his point streak by adding a team-high four goals.
With Gee Nash recovering from a concussion suffered last weekend against Arizona, Chris Levis started in goal for the Mammoth and made 38 saves. Prout had two goals and five assists.
Trailing 12-8 to start the fourth quarter, the Mammoth tried to rally on two goals from Gavin Prout and one from Matt Leveque. But Buffalo added another pair to claim the 14-12 win.
“Any loss is a tough one but we’re ready to finish the season with a fight,” Mammoth general manager Steve Govett said.
The Mammoth plays the Calgary Roughnecks next weekend in a home-home series to end the regular season.
Colorado 3 3 2 4 – 12
Buffalo 4 4 4 2 – 14
Colorado – Prout 2 goals-5 assists-7 points, Gill 5-1-6, Carey 2-2-4, Langtry 1-3-4, Jalbert 0-3-3, Carlson 0-2-2, Sims 1-0-1, Leveque 1-0-1, Gallant 0-1-1, Prepchuk 0-1-1, Burkholder 0-1-1, Stroup 0-1-1.
Buffalo – Teat 3-3-6, Tavares 4-1-5, Powless 1-3-4, Steenhuis 1-3-4, Bomberry 1-3-4, Squire 1-2-3, McCready 1-1-2, Kilgour 0-2-2, Vyse 0-2-2, Smith 1-0-1, Bonterre 0-1-1, Laverty 0-1-1, Dietrich 0-1-1, Crosbie 1-0-1.
Goalkeepers – Colorado, Levis 52 shots-38 saves; Buffalo, Dietrich 52-40.
A – 11,895.
