Rock’s offence goes missing in loss to Mammoth

Article content

Not only is this narrative getting old, it’s getting worse.

On at least four occasions the past two months, the Toronto Rock’s defence and transition, along with goaltender Nick Rose, has produced an effort good enough to get a victory. But the team’s offence, seen as a strength at the start of the season, was unable to produce enough to win.

On Friday, the forwards hit bottom, completely shut out in a 11-7 loss to the Colorado Mammoth at the Air Canada Centre. A lot of credit goes to Colorado’s defence, who gave Toronto’s front line absolutely no room to work and when shots were managed, veteran Dillon Ward was there shut the door. But Toronto was outshot 51-42 and there were very few second-chance opportunities.

“I don’t remember being part of a game where we were so dry offensively,” Rock head coach Matt Sawyer said. “Credit to our defence who kept us in the game.”

“We need to count on everybody and there were too many guys who didn’t step up offensively.”

The Mammoth took a 3-0 lead after one quarter. Ryan Benesch beat Rose short-side in the first minute. Eli McLaughlin and Zack Greer built the lead.

Fortunately for Toronto, it has a good transition game. On the ensuing faceoff after Jeremy Noble increased the Colorado lead, Latrell Harris grabbed the loose ball and beat Ward to give the 10,288 in the crowd something to get excited about. Just a minute later, Billy Hostrawser started the rush and decided to go to the net himself for a rare score.

Later, Brad Kri scored with Mammoth defender Josh Sullivan hounding him every step. The run ended when Stephen Keogh found an opening in front of the Rock net and beat Rose to send his team to the break ahead 5-3.

Harris kept the transition rolling with a steal and a goal to open the third but Benesch answered that with his second. Later, Challen Rogers became the fourth defender to score for the Rock and soon after, stuck around for the offensive set and scored to tie the game, giving Kieran McArdle and Reid Reinholdt assists, the only forwards with points in the game. Toronto’s defence ended the quarter denying the Mammoth despite Colorado getting six consecutive offensive rebounds.

Colorado took the lead for good on goals by Keogh and McLaughlin. Brodie Merrill decided to join his defensive mates and score on transition but Chris Wardle replied soon after for the Mammoth (10-4). Jacob Ruest scored the final two goals, one on a desperation behind-the-back shot and the other into an empty net.

The Rock (7-7) travel to Georgia next Sunday to face the Swarm.