The Washington Stealth’s three-game slump in February seems miniscule in comparison to the problems the Colorado Mammoth have been trying all season to fix.
A perennial playoff team and the league champion in 2006, the Mammoth (2-7) have lost five straight games heading into tonight’s National Lacrosse League contest against the Stealth (7-3).
The two teams play again Saturday night in Everett.
Colorado fired head coach Bob McMahon in January after an 0-2 start. Team president and general manager Steve Govett took the reigns and the team responded with consecutive victories. But a one-goal home loss to the Stealth on Jan. 30 launched Colorado’s current skid.
That led to another coaching change this week. Govett appointed recently hired assistant coach Bob Hamley to the head job, with Govett moving back to his former post.
The latest coaching switch in Denver didn’t do the Stealth any favors, Washington coach Chris Hall said.
“When a team makes a coaching change, usually the team will respond right away and play very well,” Hall said. “I think it’s going to be a very difficult weekend for us.”
The West Division-leading Stealth had a bye last week after snapping their three-game losing streak March 13 with a 12-11 win at Calgary.
“I think it was probably a good time for us in the schedule to get rejuvenated and get ready for the last six-game run and start preparing for the playoffs,” Hall said of the week off. “We’re going to get some players back this weekend that we haven’t had for a little while on defense, which we’re looking forward to and those players are looking forward to as well.”
Defenders Mike Grimes (suspension), Matt Beers (suspension) and Kyle Sorensen (injury) are all expected to return to action tonight for Washington, which can clinch a playoff spot by sweeping the two games with Colorado.
Washington comes into the game ranked second in the NLL in scoring at 12.7 goals per game. Forward Jeff Zywicki ranks fourth in the league in scoring with 59 points (25 goals, 34 assists).
Colorado allows a league-high 13.4 goals per game, and has struggled mightily when trying to kill off penalties, surrendering 22 power-play goals in nine games for a league-low .476 kill percentage.
On offense, the Mammoth’s .283 power-play percentage (13-for-46) also ranks at the bottom of the league.
“It’s very important that we get playing better, especially in front of our home fans (the Mammoth average 14,873 per game),” Hamley said. “The players need to perform, that’s what it boils down to no matter who’s behind the bench.”
Of the Mammoth’s seven losses this season, three have been decided by a single goal.
“They’re not far away from being at the other end of that record,” Hall said. “A bounce here, a bounce there (and they could have a winning record), so we expect a very tough weekend.”
Notes
One stipulation Hamley made when he was appointed head coach was that McMahon, Colorado’s season-opening coach, return as an assistant. “He and I, we think alike, we work very well together,” Hamley said of his colleague, adding that the two are best friends. “I think he is one of the best defensive coaches in the league. We have had some success (in the past) and hopefully we’ll have some more.” McMahon was an assistant to Hamley with the now-defunct Arizona Sting, who twice advanced to the NLL championship game.
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