SMJHL Post Game Show - Game 107

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Synopsis

The Colorado Mammoths made a rare trip into the win column as they defeated the Halifax Raiders in come-from-behind fashion with two third period goals to earn themselves a 3-2 victory. The Mammoths received goals from Serj Kovalchuk and Frontdoor McGraw in the final stanza to overturn a 2-1 scoreline into the one-goal victory. McGraw's goal provided some late-game heroics, coming with just 21 seconds to play in regulation. Jacob Andrews, the veteran Colorado netminder, was terrific in the victory as he turned aside 32 of 34 shots to earn his sixth victory of the season. In defeat, Felix Herzog collected two points for the Raiders, a goal and an assist, while Carter Fleury took the loss in net with three goals allowed from 19 shots against.

Highlights (Piece 1)

1. Dover Opens The Scoring



Ben Dover took a feed from Maverick O'Dooley in the wheelhouse and fired home to open the scoring early in the second period of play. The tally for Dover was just his third of the season for a Mammoths team that struggles to put the puck in the net. Dover's goal shows off his monstrous shot from the blueline, especially in one-time form, displaying some of the potential that the young defenseman shows to SHL teams.

2. Andrews Robs Porter



With the score knotted at two and less than four minutes to play in the third period, Halifax got a terrific chance as Montel Vontavious Porter came in on a breakaway. The Raider went forehand to backhand but was unable to slide his shot past the outstretched left pad of Andrews, who kept his team in the game with a timely, late stop.

3. McGraw Wins It Late



With time ticking down, the Mammoths controlled the puck deep in the Halifax zone. What started as a broken play for Colorado turned into the game winner as the puck bounced into the slow where forward Frontdoor McGraw swatted it past Fleury for his sixth goal of the season and the game winning tally for Colorado.

Key Stat Breakdown (Piece 2)

The key stat in tonight's game proved not to be shots on goal, faceoffs won or penalty minutes, as you might normally expect, but rather time on ice. Colorado saw eight of its players skate 20 or more minutes, while Halifax had just a single skater over the 20 minute markHerzog, . The emphasis on getting their top two lines on the ice as frequently as possible was evident for Colorado, a young team that lacks depth, with McGraw and fellow forward Steven Stamkos Jr. leading the way with nearly 24 minutes apiece. On the blueline, O'Dooley and Dover were attached at the hip for most of the night, with the two defensemen finishing within a second of each other in total time on ice. Halifax spread their ice time out much more evenly in this matchup but the top loaded approach from Colorado ultimately won out, with the Mammoths coming out on top.

Unsung Hero (Piece 3)

The unsung hero tonight was defenseman Maverick O'Dooley, who led his team with two assists, including an assist on Kovalchuk's game-tying goal. O'Dooley, despite not finding his name onto the Three Stars rankings, put in one of his better efforts of the season with the two points, plus 22:35 of ice-time against the opposing team's top line, which include center Leif De Bruin. O'Dooley opened his scoring with the lone assist on Dover's goal, where he put his pass right in his defensive partner's wheelhouse for the one-timer. The defenseman later proved his worth on the power play, as he set up Kovalchuk all alone at the back post with a pinpoint pass for the game tying goal. For his two assists, Maverick O'Dooley is tonight's Unsung Hero of the Game.