The Links: Connor Robinson comes up clutch as Colorado takes low-scoring Game 1 of West Finals
Connor Robinson, Colorado Mammoth (Photo: Isaiah J. Downing)
We spent Friday morning collecting all the media mentions from last night’s opening game of the National Lacrosse League West Conference Finals between the Colorado Mammoth & Calgary Roughnecks, Game 1 going to the defending champs (8-7) in a gruelling goaltending battle between two of today’s best backstops.
Click here for The Lax Mag’s NLL Playoffs schedule, scores and more updates, plus keep reading for last night’s links from Denver’s Ball Arena.
Christian Del Bianco, Calgary Roughnecks (Photo: Isaiah J. Downing)
With nearly 100 shots (on goal) taken between the two teams, goaltenders Christian Del Bianco (Calgary) and Dillon Ward (36) were spectacular while keeping the opposition under double digits. In fact, it’s one of the lowest combined scores we’ve ever seen during the playoffs. Only five games since the league’s founding season in 1987 have had fewer than the 15 that were finished last night.
2009: Buffalo 3 at New York 9 (12)
2019: Colorado 4 at Calgary 8 (12)
2012: Buffalo 6 at Toronto 7 (13)
1992: Philadelphia 8 at New York 6 (14)
2003: Toronto 8 at Rochester 6 (14)
1999: Philadelphia 2 at Toronto 13 (15)
2011: Washington 7 at Toronto 8 (15)
2012: Edmonton 6 at Rochester 9 (15)
2022: Albany 5 at Buffalo 10 (15)
2023: Calgary 7 at Colorado 8 (15)
In six of the above ten all-time lowest scoring postseason games, either one or both of this year’s final four starting goalies played in those matches: Ward, Del Bianco, Matt Vinc (Buffalo) and Nick Rose (Toronto).
During professional hockey & box lacrosse playoffs, you’ll often see officials give their whistles a rest in an attempt to allow both teams to battle at full (and fair) strength to determine the rightful winner. So far this postseason, that has not really been the case, especially for the Roughnecks last night, who were dinged for seven minors resulting in 14 PIMs. Half of the Mammoth’s eight goals in their Game 1 win came on the power play, including the game winner. Below are the total minutes in penalties for all of this year’s playoff games so far:
Quarterfinals: Halifax 21 at Toronto 17 (38)
Quarterfinals: Panther City 12 at Calgary 10 (22)
Quarterfinals: Rochester 10 at Buffalo 10 (20)
West Finals: Calgary 14 at Colorado 4 (18)
Quarterfinals: Colorado 8 at San Diego 2 (10)
Calgary Head Coach Curt Malawsky was confused by how penalties were dished out last night in Denver…
“That was a hard-fought battle,” Roughnecks GM Mike Board told the Calgary Sun after last night’s Game 1 loss. “Obviously, special teams played a big role. They had seven power plays — we had two. Hard to win on those odds.”
We checked the Denver Post for some post-game press. Couldn’t find any, but Major League Soccer’s Colorado Rapids have an entire section dedicated to them. The soccer team is 2-3-6 (yep, six surely exciting ties) and are owned by the same group that owns the Mammoth, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment.
Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado (Photo: Isaiah J. Downing)
While the NLL is typically not a mid-week box office draw, the Mammoth did have a decent and extremely loud 8,183 in the building on Thursday night.
Connor Robinson scoring last night’s late fourth quarter winner was almost expected if you’ve been following The Lax Mag’s Clutch Kings series the past two years. Robinson, who we crowed the most consistently clutch goal scorer during the 2023 regular season, had a hat-trick last night. Two of those goals were scored in the final frame, one a game trying goal to make it 7-7, while his next was the game winner. Those were the only two goals scored by either team during the fourth quarter.
As expected, Tyler Pace was not in Calgary’s lineup due to recently revealed issues crossing the border. Pace’s play in the team’s quarterfinal win last week was clearly critical. “Tyler is an important piece of our team, no doubt,” Board told the Calgary Sun prior to the start of last night’s series opener. “It’s next man up. Depth on a roster is important in the playoffs. We believe we have players who can step up and battle. And they will be ready.”
Last night, Calgary forwards Jesse King, Haiden Dickson, Josh Currier, Kyle Waters and Zach Herreweyers combined for zero goals on 26 SOG. Tanner Cook & Dan Taylor led the team with two goals apiece. Pace is expected to be available for Games 2 & 3 back home in Calgary.
Game 2 of the West Conference Finals goes down this Saturday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome (9:30pm ET). The game will be available on television in Canada, plus will stream on TSN.ca and ESPN+. The East Conference Finals get going tonight between the Toronto Rock & Buffalo Bandits at the KeyBank Center (7:30pm ET). The Rock host Game 2 this Saturday at the FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton (7pm ET). The East games will aslo be available on TV through TSN in Canada, and streaming live in those same previously mentioned spots.