Photo Credit: Kyle Hess
(Duluth, GA) – The Georgia Swarm (4-0) moves one time zone closer to home as they visit the Colorado Mammoth (2-3) at Pepsi Center this Saturday, Feb. 4. Faceoff is set for 9:00 p.m. ET.
Off to its hottest start since 2008, a dominant Georgia played its most challenging game of the season against a strong-scoring Vancouver Stealth (2-4). After falling into a 5-1 hole in the first quarter, the Swarm would work their way back up to a lead in the second quarter before trading goals for the rest of the game.
As well as Vancouver played, Georgia remained calm and came back in the fourth quarter to put away the Stealth on their home turf.
Georgia now turns to Denver to take on another team trying to prevent their recent back-to-back losses from turning into a bad skid. Colorado has had a rough two weeks, losing to West Division rival Calgary Roughnecks at home and away.
In 2016, the Mammoth and Swarm clashed twice and split the series, both winning at home.
This past Saturday, Colorado played without two-time MVP winner John Grant, Jr. for the third straight game, defenseman Ilija Gajic for the second, and forward Jeremy Noble – brother of Georgia’s Jason Noble – who missed a game after a nasty hit found to be boarding from Calgary’s Greg Harnett two weeks ago.
“We’re preparing for the Mammoth as a whole,” head coach Ed Comeau said. “We know that some of those guys may or may not be activated before the weekend, but we think we can develop a good plan. Certainly, if those guys are in, we’ll view those particular players, but we’re trying to put together a good game plan to beat a tough team.”
Together or fractured, Colorado has a challenge coming to visit either way as it now inherits the task of trying to hand Georgia its first loss in 2017. Georgia will bring the best offense in the NLL and its unselfish brand to the Pepsi Center in the team’s quest to go 5-0.
Leading the way will be Lyle Thompson (10G, 15A), Jordan Hall (5G, 20A), Shayne Jackson (11G, 7A), and the 2016 NLL ROY Randy Staats (10G, 12A). Staats recently tore up Vancouver Saturday with nine points (3G, 6A).
Defending the net will be Mike Poulin, who is the only 4-0 goaltender in the NLL. Poulin allowed only two goals on 27 shots in the second and fourth quarters against Vancouver, a .926 SV%. He will be accompanied by John Ranagan, Alex Crepinsek, Noble, and 2016 All-Rookie Team member Chad Tutton. Crepinsek collected five loose balls in addition to scoring the final goal of the game last week, and Tutton collected four loose balls and caused four turnovers.
Plenty can attest to how difficult it is in the talent-laden NLL to go 5-0 and while the Georgia Swarm are ready to defy the odds, the team is still taking everything one game at a time.
“Right now we’re worried about our next game,” Comeau said. “As the saying goes, ‘your most important game is your next game.’”
Broadcast Info: Fans can catch the game LIVE via NLLTV.com. Subscriptions can be purchased at tv.nlltv.com.
Georgia returns home to Harrah’s Cherokee Field at Infinite Energy Arena on Saturday, Feb. 11 for a rematch against the New England Black Wolves at 7:05 p.m. ET. For only $27, fans can purchase a lower level ticket and Swarm scarf package for Friday’s game. Call 844-4-GASWARM or visit GeorgiaSwarm.com/Scarf for tickets.
