Bandits/Mammoth Review

The Bandits/Mammoth game was everything a fan could ask for and more out of a game that had the Bandits squeak by with a 12-11 win. Mike Thompson started in goal after missing a few games due to a concussion. He did not look rusty though. Thompson kept a shutout until the 5:14 mark in the second quarter. He also kept the Mammoth off the board for 14:42 to start the second half as well. In the first and third quarters, Thompson allowed 1 goal on 19 shots. This performance was needed because the offense didn't seem to click for a while, the first goal of the game was not scored until 7 minutes into the game. Both goaltenders played a good game with Thompson just being that much better. Thompson overall faced 56 shots and allowed the 11 goals on there. The Mammoth started Gee Nash who allowed 12 goals on 38 shots.

The special teams were a major factor in this game with Colorado going 5 for 7 on the man advantage scoring twice on a two-man advantage due to the Richie Kilgour 5 minute high sticking major. This allowed the Mammoth to bring the game back from a 4-1 deficit to tie the game at 5. From there, the Bandits held just enough of a lead to be able to keep the Mammoth at bay. The final few minutes saw some crucial saves by Mike Thompson to keep the Bandits from going to overtime.

The leading scorer for the Bandits was Steenhuis with 3 goals and 3 assists while the newly returning Mike Accursi by trade and Kevin Dostie from injury scored one and two goals respectively. For the Mammoth it was Brian Langtry who scored 3 goals and 2 assists while Gavin Prout had 6 assists in the loss. Notoriously absent from the lineup was Brent Bucktooth who with the new additions may just be the odd man out in the lineup, honestly not a bad thing.

The Bandits next face the Knighthawks on the 12th in Rochester while the Mammoth face the Titans in New York also on the 12th.