Saskatchewan Rush fall to 3-2 after loss to Colorado in NLL action

Eli McLaughlin of the Colorado Mammoth proved to be too much for the Saskatchewan Rush as the two teams clashed in Thursday night NLL action out of Denver. 

McLaughlin scored two goals and set up another to lead the Mammoth to a 9-7 victory over the Rush.

Ilija Gajic also scored twice, Callum Crawford had a goal and four assists, and John Grant had a goal and two helpers for Colorado (5-2). Josh Sullivan, Chris Wardle, and Joey Cupido rounded out the offence while Dillon Ward stopped 47 shots

For the Rush, Jarrett Davis had two goals, and Robert Church chipped in with a goal and four assists. Mark Matthews had a three-point outing with a goal and two helpers, and Curtis Knight, Zack Greer and Ben McIntosh had the other goals.

Goalie Aaron Bold made 25 saves in defeat.

After half time and towards the end of the third quarter, the Rush dug themselves into a hole, falling to a 8-4 score, until forward Ben McIntosh scored at 3:50 to make the score 8-5.

Robert Church opened the fourth quarter with a power play goal, his fifth point of the night, to make the score 8-6.

Jarret Davis then made the score 8-7 at 12:50 with a shot from up top and outside.

But that'd be as close as the team came to a come-from-behind win: McLaughlin scored his second goal of the night at the 8:48 mark of the fourth quarter, putting the Mammoth back up two goals with a score of 9-7 and effectively solidifying their win.

The Rush now fall to second place in the NLL west division, with a 3-2 record. Colorado now sits in first with a 5-2 record.

The team's next game is at home on Feb. 19 against Rochester.