The Vancouver Stealth’s post-season came to an abrupt end Saturday, in a 13-12 game against the Colorado Mammoth.
The one-game series didn’t play to the strengths of the Stealth, who have generally been stronger than the Mammoth. The Stealth won three of their four regular season matchups since January.
In Saturday’s game, the Stealth started down and struggled to catch up.
They were behind 3-1 after 15 minutes, then battled back, led by Logan Schuss and Corey Small. By the end of the second period, The Stealth were behind by one, at 7-6.
The Mammoth again outscored the Stealth in the third, leaving the home team down 10-8 as they entered the final period.
The back and forth battle saw Colorado up 13-9, while Small tried to drag his team to victory, scoring his sixth of the game and bringing them within one of a tie.
With 17 seconds remaining in the game, the team came close, but the Mammoth wisely kept Small away from the net.
“In my mind I was thinking, anything you can do to get that ball in the net,” said Corey Small. “They were smart, they shut some guys off. But with 20 seconds left, just crash the net and just get the ball in. I know we just ended but I am just so eager to get out there and get another shot at it.”
Schuss also had a strong game, with a hat trick in the second quarter and nine points over the course of the evening.
“I am proud of the boys for getting us here, this season was a success in my opinion,” said Stealth owner Denise Watkins. “I think we put a better product on the floor for the fans and making the playoffs and to host them was a big achievement.”
