A piece of Gee Nash and a bit of the post were all that prevented San Jose’s Colin Doyle from forcing overtime Thursday night. Nash and the Colorado Mammoth survived three late Stealth possessions to hang on for a 13-12 victory, clinching the National Lacrosse League West Division title before a Pepsi Center crowd of 16,012.
“He’s one of the top three premier players in the league, and you know at that stage in the game they’re going to want the ball on his stick, and we were fortunate that he hit the post,” Nash said.
In his return to the lineup after a 1 1/2-game absence with a still-ailing back, Nash made 36 saves, looking sharp despite missing Wednesday’s practice and most of Thursday’s shoot- around because of flight cancellations caused by inclement weather.
“Gee played great,” coach Gary Gait said. “At the very end, when it comes to stopping a game-tying goal, that’s what you’re looking for, and that’s what he gave us.”
Nash’s childhood pal Gavin Prout scored the game’s most crucial goal, ending a 15-minute drought to give Colorado a 10-9 lead with 10:33 remaining in the fourth quarter.
“We were clutching our sticks a little hard and the nerves were coming in, and, of course, the fatigue,” Prout said of coming off a bye week. “With the 10th goal, a little nervousness left, and people finally started playing lacrosse instead of worrying about not making the next mistake.”
After each of his three goals, including two full wind-up lasers from the high slot, Prout unveiled new celebrations, blowing kisses and reviving the Mile High salute.
A week earlier, the Mammoth honored the U.S. military amid a loss to Arizona.
“It was a gesture of respect,” he said. “And I wish we would have won the game for them last week.”
Prout was content to limit most of the celebrations to the floor.
“The last two division champions lost in the first round,” he said in reference to the 2005 Mammoth team and the 2006 Portland squad.
The defending NLL champion Mammoth (12-3) secured home floor for at least the first two rounds of the three-round playoffs, beginning April 21 at the Pepsi Center. The regular season ends tonight at San Jose (8-7).
The Stealth gave the Mammoth all it could handle, minus league-leading goalkeeper Anthony Cosmo, who could not get out of his regular job for the rare Thursday game. Replacement Aaron Bold played well after giving up two early goals.
Footnotes
All-star defenseman John Gallant returned after missing the past three games with a torn hamstring. Defenseman Jim Moss, who came to the Mammoth in a Feb. 7 trade after six seasons in San Jose, scored what proved to be the game-winner, his third goal of the season. Defenseman Jamie Hanford scored his second goal in two weeks when he barreled over Curtis Hodgson. Jamie Shewchuk scored three goals, including a leaping catch-and-shoot as he twisted away from the goal.
