Buffalo Bandits goaltender Steve Dietrich might frustrate Colorado Mammoth shooters at times Saturday. That’s common for his opponents, because Thursday he was selected the National Lacrosse League’s most valuable player.
Dietrich studies an opponent’s tendencies, including preferred shooting locations, number of fakes and whether a release point is high or low after a high fake.
In its bid for the Champion’s Cup, Colorado is bracing for Dietrich’s ability to dishearten a team.
“What’s different this year more than any other year is our ability to stay on an even keel,” Mammoth defenseman Dave Stilley said. “We were a very emotional team that got rattled in the past. This year, we really focused on just staying level-headed, no matter what the situation.”
Compatibility among Mammoth players has allowed the team to react well to adversity.
“Everyone on this team can’t wait for the weekend to see each other and play with each other,” captain Gavin Prout said.
First-year coach Gary Gait, an NLL Hall of Fame player who retired from the Mammoth last season, sets the game-day tone. Although a confident personality and slightly more vocal as a coach than as a teammate, Gait’s reaction to an opposing goal is almost imperceptible.
It’s not a lack of passion so much as an intent focus on directing the next move. His approach to dealing with Dietrich is a case in point.
“We don’t try to climb into our shooters’ heads too much,” Gait said. “We try to gently massage them to the style of play and strength of the opposing goalie, and we’ll continue to do that.”
Similarly, Gait is unlikely to ask his six Champion’s Cup veterans to share their experiences. Nor will he talk about his three NLL championships.
“In our mental preparation, we haven’t talked about outcomes,” Gait said. “We’ll talk about first shift, the first five minutes, the next five minutes, rather than building up the game and putting on additional pressure.”
As an underdog playing on the Bandits’ home floor, the Mammoth players cite the keys to victory as strong goaltending, balanced scoring, including a few transition goals, and a defense that limits the opposition to outside shots and prevents NLL all-time scoring leader John Tavares from dominating as a playmaker or scorer.
Unlike the previous meeting between the teams, a 14-12 Mammoth loss April 8 at Buffalo, Gee Nash will be in goal for Colorado. Chris Levis, who is stronger in relief, started last time because of Nash’s concussion.
