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Nash's strong game helps Colorado gain playoff berth

By Paul Willis, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published April 3, 2008 at 7 p.m.

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With the Mammoth sliding in the wrong direction, Gee Nash restored some order Thursday night at the Pepsi Center.

The goaltender was brilliant, stopping 44 shots while adding two assists in Colorado's 11-8 victory against the Rochester Knighthawks. The win allowed the Mammoth to become the first National Lacrosse League team to clinch a playoff berth this season.

The solid all-around performance was a perfect antidote for the Mammoth (7-4), which entered entrenched in a 1-4 funk after beginning the season with five consecutive wins.

Nash, who said it was "a full 60-minute game from our whole team" made several point-blank saves against the defending champion Knighthawks, who fell to 5-7.

"We needed it," Nash said. "We needed it from myself to the 'D' guys to the transition guys - we had a great transition game - and our offense put the ball in the net when they were supposed to."

While there were no eye-popping offensive performances, Gavin Prout, Brian Langtry, Jamie Shewchuk and Jason Wulder each had two goals and two assists. Nenad Gajic added a goal and three assists, and newly reacquired forward Chris Gill, playing his first game with the Mammoth since the 2006 Champion's Cup, scored a breakaway goal.