In the wake of a second consecutive home loss, Colorado Mammoth general manager Steve Govett is preaching patience and adjusting his goalkeeper situation.
Veteran former all-star Gee Nash, whose back tightened in the second quarter of Saturday’s 11-9 loss to Edmonton, was placed on injured reserve Monday.
Nash, who has a history of back trouble, will spend the six-week period undergoing new, more aggressive treatment.
“It has been a bit of an issue, but I don’t want it be an excuse,” Nash said Monday by phone from his Toronto home.
In Nash’s place, Govett signed eight-year veteran Curtis Palidwor to team with keeper Andrew Leyshon.
Palidwor, the MVP of the 2004 Champion’s Cup final for Calgary, played for Edmonton last season, posting a 12.26 goals-against average, which ranked 14th among 17 keepers. After the Rush signed Steve Dietrich and ex-Mammoth backup Chris Levis for 2009, Palidwor opted for free agency.
Last week, in the wake of the lowest-scoring output in the team’s seven-year history, a 14-5 loss to Portland, Govett announced the firing of offensive coordinator Russ Heard, replacing him with Dan Perreault of the Coquitlam Adanacs of the British Columbia Junior League.
On Monday, Govett said: “I don’t think it’s time to panic. We’ve got new faces in there. We’ve got to get those guys on the same page, but it starts with confidence in goal. . . . I have great faith in this team, I have great faith in this coaching staff, and I’m excited for the next game.”
The Mammoth plays the New York Titans at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Pepsi Center.
