Despite having a chance at the Western Division lead, the Colorado Mammoth were held to their lowest goal total of the season, losing to the Saskatchewan Rush 13-10.

The Mammoth entered their first and only home game of February looking to get revenge for a lopsided home loss earlier in the season. The Rush were also on the first night of a back-to-back set, giving the Mammoth the advantage of going against a team that might be conserving energy.

But, despite getting hat tricks from both Ryan Benesch and Stephen Keogh, Mammoth goaltender Dillon Ward was befuddled by the offensive play of the Rush all night, giving up 13 goals on 45 shots, including five goals in the 2nd period.

The Mammoth started off strong, holding the Rush to just eight shots and no goals in the first period while Keogh put away his first of the night, but that changed when the Rush scored their first goal in the first minute of the second period and followed up with their second just 1:30 later. Benesch interrupted the streak with his first, but the Rush put three more away on easy, unscreened shots while Ward stumbled and held bad angles.

Benesch scored two more, completing his hat trick on the night and bringing the Mammoth to within one at the end of the half.

The Mammoth came out hot in the third period, going on a 4-1 scoring run with two goals from Keogh and a goal each by Eli McLaughlin and Jacob Ruest. Colorado entered the fourth period with a 8-7 lead. But, Saskatchewan would get the next three, regaining a two-goal lead with just under seven minutes remaining. Zack Greer would catch a lucky bounce, pulling the Mammoth within one before Joey Cupido tied it up on a breakaway, putting Pepsi Center into a frenzy.

But, it would all fall apart just 10 seconds later, as the Rush’s Matt Hossack put the game-winner away between Ward’s legs as he fell backwards. The Rush added two more goals, putting the game away and handing the Mammoth their second home loss of the season.

The Mammoth go on a long road trip, playing their next three games away. They have a chance to regain some momentum against the Calgary Roughnecks in their next game on Feb. 10. The Roughnecks only have one win so far, this season, but that victory came against the Rush.

The next time the Mammoth are home will be March 3 against the Buffalo Bandits. The team will be celebrating “Colorado Pride Night,” and will wear special Colorado-themed jerseys.

Game Notes

  • Jeremy Noble added five assists, taking the team lead in the stat
  • Jacob Ruest had a goal and four assists, putting him seven points away from tying his career high in points
  • Benesch is now seven assists away from reaching 500 career assists
  • The Mammoth were held to their season low in goals, but also held the Rush to their season low

Featured Image Credit: Colorado Mammoth, Twitter