The struggle that’s befallen the Colorado Mammoth this season in the National Lacrosse League will come all the way back around again tonight in Denver … if the glass is half empty.
Or, the Colorado Mammoth will finally erase its troubles in the NLL this season by eliminating its sorest spot tonight against a division rival at the Pepsi Center … if the glass is half full.
Either way, the Mammoth’s season will be on the line at 7 p.m. when it faces the Edmonton Rush in a crucial contest airing on Altitude.
If the Mammoth can top the Rush, it will qualify for the fourth and final playoff spot in the NLL’s West Division. If Colorado loses, it will miss the NLL playoffs for the first time since moving to Colorado in 2003.
That Colorado (6-9) concludes its regular season against Edmonton (5-10) is fitting. Entering the season, the Mammoth was 7-0 all-time against the Rush. Colorado had a 102-56 aggregate goals lead in those games, and Edmonton had only once played within three points.
But the Rush turned things around. It is 2-0 against Colorado this season, with an 11-9 win in January and a 10-9 win in February.
If the Mammoth is to avoid a season sweep against the Rush and qualify for the playoffs, it will need to right the ship quickly. Colorado carries a four-game losing skid, with two consecutive OT losses.
“Once it gets into overtime, I don’t know if it is panic or if we’re just trying so hard and it goes to the character thing,” Mammoth coach Bob McMahon told reporter Theresa Smith of The Denver Post last week.
“They don’t want to lose and they’re almost trying to take it upon themselves to win it for us.”
They do like to make things interesting.
Brian Langtry, the NLL’s 10th-leading scorer, leads the Mammoth this season with 76 points (37 goals, 39 assists).
Dan Teat paces Edmonton with 64 points (28, 36).
Colorado vs. Edmonton
NLL regular-season finale
Tonight, 7 p.m., Pepsi Center
WEST PLAYOFF SCENARIOS
Calgary: Clinched the West Division regular-season title and the top overall seed in the playoffs.
Portland: Clinched No. 2 seed. Hosts San Jose in the first round.
San Jose: Clinched No. 3 seed.
Colorado: Will clinch a playoff berth with a win over Edmonton.
Minnesota: Needs a win over New York and a Colorado loss.
Edmonton: Needs a win over Colorado and a Minnesota loss to New York.
AROUND TOWN
Next challenge: Eliminate the champs.
The Colorado 14ers are the top seed in the NBA D-League playoffs after cruising through a first-round victory over the Erie BayHawks on Tuesday. But if the 14ers are to make it to the league title game, they’ll need to first get through the defending champion.
The 14ers on Saturday host last season’s title-winner, the Austin Toros, at the Broomfield Event Center. The game tips off at 7 p.m.
Austin, the Spurs’ D-League affiliate, is led by Marcus Williams (23.0 points) and Malik Hairston (22.9). The Toros hold a 4-3 advantage in the season series. But Colorado — led by Sonny Weems (20.5 points) and Josh Davis (18.8) — has won both games against Austin in Broomfield.
STAY ON THE COUCH
Late night antics.
Maybe somebody at Nuggets headquarters forgot to pay David Stern a “collection fee.” Or maybe they just got on the NBA commish’s bad side. How else to explain the fan-unfriendly playoff schedule handed Denver in its first-round series with the New Orleans Hornets?
The Nugs open in Denver on Sunday with an 8:30 p.m. tipoff. But that game, airing locally on Altitude and nationally on TNT, will likely start nearer 9 p.m. (TNT games are notorious for starting late). The same start times and TV listings go for Game 2 on Wednesday. Denver fans will be lucky if the games end before midnight.
Then, the Nuggets travel to Louisiana for Game 3 next Saturday — at 11 a.m. (ESPN and ALT).
After the first two games, the third will be like a hangover brunch.
GET OFF THE COUCH
Party like it’s 1976.
Skiing fans still reeling from Denver’s snubbing of the 1976 Winter Olympics will have their day this weekend at Copper Mountain. More than 30 years ago, Denver was set to host the ’76 Games, but a late push by some in town 86ed those plans and sent the Olympics to Austria.
But the Red Bull 1976 Games, starting tonight and running through Saturday at Copper, will bring back the spirit of that bygone time.
Skiers dressed in one-piece snow gear and leisure suits will compete in snowbladecross and old-school air events, with prizes going to those who capture performance, creativity and style.
See
WHAT WE’D LIKE TO SEE
Getting Ram-tough again.
Colorado State fans will get an early look at next season’s Rams this weekend when the team plays its annual spring game.
Festivities start at 9:30 a.m. at Hughes Stadium in Fort Collins with a pancake breakfast, then go through the spring game, which starts at 11:30 a.m. and will be lorded over by second-year coach Steve Fairchild. Denver-area fans who can’t make the trip can listen on KLZ 560-AM.
Wyoming, too, will play its third spring game Saturday in Laramie. New coach Dave Christensen will ramp up the stakes this time, finally allowing the Cowboys’ defense to blitz.
