The game started with a lot of expectations and a lot of questions... it ended with a lot more of both.
Mammoth goalie Andrew Leyshon did not start at Washington, but was forced into action after an injury to Curtis Palidwor
It was expected that Andrew Leyshon would be starting in goal, however, for reasons unknown, Curtis Palidwor was in net. Jeff Zywicki scored the Stealth’s first goal of many, but Palidwor and the Mammoth defense were able to keep the Stealth to three goals in the first quarter. Zywicki’s second goal stirred some controversy as it appeared the shot clock sounded before he scored, but the ref called it good and Colorado Coach Bob McMahon chose not to challenge.
Unfortunately, the Mammoth’s offense was unable to produce and the first quarter ended Stealth 3, Mammoth 0.
By the end of the second quarter, with the help of two goals by Jamie Shewchuk (one of them on a power play) and one by Ilija Gajic, it appeared the Mammoth might be finding their stride and were going to make it a game. Yet the Stealth were able to match every Mammoth goal.  Zywicki scored two more goals and Tom Johnson netted one, ending the half at Stealth 6, Mammoth 3.
Adding to the frustration going into halftime, Palidwor took a shot that got through his face mask and was taken to a local hospital. While nothing has been made official, rumor is that after having surgery he will be out for at least six weeks.
The Stealth really opened it up in the 3rd quarter with six goals scored by six different players. The Mammoth got two goals from Ilija Gajic and Jamie Shewchuck. The 4th quarter was much of the same with five more Stealth players notching goals while the Mammoth were only able to notch three. The Mammoth defense seemed to have a hard time stopping the Stealth, but Leyshon also seemed to be off his game. Although there has been no official word, many fans are speculating he was under the weather, which would explain Palidwor getting the start.
When these two teams play, it’s not uncommon to have a chippy game. For whatever reason, the refs seemed to have their own excessive agenda for dealing with the issue. Mammoth player Brad Richardson and Stealth player Eric Martin had a skirmish in the 2nd quarter that resulted in matching 5 minute penalties. It certainly didn’t help the Mammoth that by the end of the 2nd half they had lost Alex and Ilija Gajic, Cory Conway, and David Morgan to game misconducts resulting in ejection from the contest, while the Stealth only lost Travis Gillespie and Matt Beers.
With a final score of Stealth 17, Mammoth 8, Colorado has a lot of things to examine before their home-opener Saturday, January 16 against the Edmonton Rush. This game may prove to simply be a bump in the road to the championship, or it may be a reflection of a team overhauled in the off season. Regardless, with 15 more games left in the season, it’s entirely too soon to tell.
Around the League:
Philadelphia Wings – 8, Orlando Titans – 13
Buffalo Bandits – 5, Rochester Knighthawks – 10
Toronto Rock – 17, Boston Blazers – 7
Minnesota Swarm – 7, Calgary Roughnecks – 12
