Colorado Mammoths 1 (0-0-0) vs Vancouver Whalers 2 (0-0-0)

Game Link

Starting Line-ups

Colorado

Center - Left wing - Right Wing

Martin Svensson || Taro Eichelele || Frontdoor McGraw

Defense

Matthew Leetch || Maverick O'Dooley

Goalie

Ekaterina Rudnikova

Vancouver

Center - Left wing - Right Wing

Jon Ross || Steven Stamkos Jr. || Corey Bearss

Defense

Adam Kaiser || Victor Lidstrom

Goalie

Maxillian Wehner

HERE. WE. GO

The first game of the season for both teams on a brand new season. Colorado and Vancouver after early exits in last years playoffs are looking hungry this year hoping to improve upon last years results and prove they deserve to the be in the talks for top tier teams this year.

Period 1

The first period featured a lot of action in the Colorado end as the Whaler came out of the gate ready to play. Having out shot the Mammoths and if not for some timely misses the result could have been even more lopsided for the period.
The 1st wasn't an overly physical period with the teams trading hits, but Ross was on the receiving end twice in quick succession from the Mammoths. It seemed the target for the Mammoths had become clear early in the game.

Vancouver Whalers , Adam Kaiser 1 (Jon Ross, Conklin Owen) at 3:18 (PP)

The first goal of the season is from the Whalers D corps on the powerplay. Kaiser after missing the net on his first chance is quickly given the puck again from Ross and makes no mistake with his second shot from the point cleanly beating Rudnikova and sending the Whalers to an early lead.




Colorado Mammoths , Martin Svensson 1 (Matthew Leetch, Maverick O'Dooley) at 19:54

Even after a face off win the Whalers zone by Ross, the Mammoths were able to apply the pressure to the Whalers immediately and hem them into their own zone. The Whalers found themselves quickly play D again and Svensson when given the puck made no mistake beating Wehner on a screened shot glove side.



The hit parade
- Victims of the Mammoths in the first: Jon Ross x 2 | Bearss | Kubrak
-Victims of the Whalers in the first: Svensson | Brooks | Lake | Hagan

Shots - VAN: 9 || COL: 4

Period 2

Having scored a late goal to end the first we entered the 2nd period all tied up. The 2nd period did not produce any immediate offensive for either team and the shot totals were in Colorado's favour this time. The one glaring outcome from this period was both teams turned on the physical sides of their games seemingly hitting almost anything that moves. The Whalers found themselves particularly under siege with Tsujimoto, Bearss and Ross taking the majority of the hits from the Mammoths. Both Goalies refused to budge in their respective creases so we left the period battered and bruised and still waiting for a goal.

The hit parade
- Victims of the Mammoths in the first: Tusk | Latta | Owen | Taro Tsujimoto x2 | Bearss x 2 | Ross x3
-Victims of the Whalers in the first: Goddard | Hagan | Yvel x2 | Garland | Krysak | O'Dooley

Shots - VAN: 7 || COL: 9

Period 3

A very even period for both shots and hits but much like the first period the Whalers found themselves back in the lead early into the period as the Japanese sensation T.Tsujimoto put them ahead once again. Ross although only having to deal with one hit this period had his total brought to 5 for the game. The Mammoths clearly had a target they had in mind heading into this game and executed it. Unfortunaely for Colorado they ended up a bit short this game and dispite a great performance of Rudnikova found themselves going home empty handed.

Vancouver Whalers , Taro Tsujimoto 1 (Frankie Latta) at 0:38)

A face off win in the whalers zone found the puck heading up the ice quikcly from Latta to Tsujimoto as he found himself with some space and made no mistake on the Mammoths goalie putting the Whalers into an early lead here in the 3rd.



The hit parade
- Victims of the Mammoths in the first: Humphreys | Owen | Ross
-Victims of the Whalers in the first: O'Dooley | Leetch

Shots - VAN: 9 || COL: 8


3 Stars ***

1 - Maximilian Wehner (VAN)
Stopping 20 of 21 shots posting a SV% of 0.952 earns Wehner the top star for this game being good when called upon and keeping a close game on lock for his team as they squeeked out the win.

2 - Adam Kaiser (VAN)
G:1 || A:0 || PTS: 1 || MP: 21:47
Scoring the 1st goal of the game for his team on the Powerplay Kaiser set the tone early into the game which allowed Vancouver to lock down defensively early and hold the fort against the large amount of PP given to the Mammoths.

3 - Martin Svensson (COL)
G: 1 || A:0 || PTS: 1 || MP: 20:28
The number 1 center for the Mammoths ate up the minutes for them at center and put in the tying goal for the Mammoths late in the 1st to tie the game and keep it close.

Game Summary

Team stats
Colorado Mammoths - Hits : 21 - Faceoff Wins : 35 - Blocked Shots : 2 - Penalty Minutes : 6
Vancouver Whalers - Hits : 14 - Faceoff Wins : 46 - Blocked Shots : 9 - Penalty Minutes : 12

Power Play
Colorado Mammoths - 0 on 6 Attempt(s) - 0.00%
Vancouver Whalers - 1 on 3 Attempt(s) - 33.33%

Penalty Kill
Colorado Mammoths - 2 on 3 Attempt(s) - 66.67%
Vancouver Whalers - 6 on 6 Attempt(s) - 100.00%