Brian Langtry is a teacher and coach by day, above-average scorer on regular-season weekends and blind hot in the playoffs.
Langtry’s blistering shot 75 seconds into overtime Saturday night ended an emotional ride and gave the Colorado Mammoth an 18-17 victory over Calgary.
Langtry’s shot hit goaltender Andrew Leyshon and trickled in, setting off a celebration with the 13,426 fans at the Pepsi Center.
“(It was) the best feeling, the top moment in my lacrosse career,” said Langtry, who sprinted to the opposite end of the arena to see his wife, Missy, after the game-winner.
The second-seeded Mammoth advances to the West Division semifinals, which is Saturday at noon at the Pepsi Center against Arizona, which upset Portland 14-11. Tickets will go on sale Monday.
It was only the second playoff victory in Colorado’s four-year history.
Langtry, the Mammoth’s playoff scoring leader with 16 goals in five games, scored 24 goals in 15 regular-season games.
“It’s weird, it definitely is,” he said. “This time of year I start picking it up. I don’t know why I can’t do it all season long. It would help my career. There’s something about the end of the year I just feel more energized.”
Starting his streak early, Langtry scored eight goals in last weekend’s two-game sweep of the Roughnecks, who eliminated the Mammoth in 2004.
“I think he’s so confident,” Mammoth captain Gavin Prout said. “He’s been unstoppable.”
The same could be said of Prout, who scored five goals and had seven assists after spending three sleepless nights earlier this week wondering if he would play. He was suspended Monday by the National Lacrosse League for leaving the bench during an altercation amid Colorado’s 17-7 triumph over Calgary on April 15. Prout won his appeal Thursday.
Prout’s production broke the playoff single-game Mammoth records for assists and total points, both held by his coach, Gary Gait.
“I don’t think it could have turned out any better,” Prout said. “I think I played my best game of the season. The guys were getting me open, and I took my shots when I was open instead of hesitating.”
On the defensive end, relief goaltender Chris Levis made a save on a screened shot by Kaleb Toth in overtime.
“It is great we have a backup goalie who can come in and make those types of saves,” Prout said.
Levis took over for Gee Nash after the Roughnecks rallied to take a 12-11 lead midway through the third quarter.
Calgary also changed goalies and gained momentum, especially with two goals, tying it at 15, while Colorado’s Dave Stilley was in the penalty box for a five-minute high-sticking penalty. The game was tied 10 times.
