First-place Colorado hosts second-place San Jose on Saturday

The San Jose Stealth and Colorado Mammoth will faceoff at Pepsi Center on Saturday for the second of three meetings this season.
With both teams heading in opposite directions the last two games, the San Jose Stealth (4-3) travel to Denver to meet the Colorado Mammoth (5-2) in a 9:00 PM EST battle between the top two teams in the West Division. The game will air on tape delay on Altitude (644 DIRECTV 644/Dish Network 410) and CSN West (DIRECTV 656/Dish 409) at Midnight ET.

After losing to Colorado, 11-6, on Jan. 26, San Jose has won three of its last four games, including two straight victories over Chicago, 17-11, and Edmonton, 11-8. The lack of offensive in their last match up against Colorado is something that Stealth Head Coach Walt Christianson is keeping in mind for Saturday’s game.

“We’re going to come out a little bit different,” said Christianson. “We’re going to try some different things to get to the net.”

Unlike their West Division foe, Colorado has lost two straight games to Philadelphia, 15-13, and Calgary, 12-9, after starting the season a perfect 5-0. Colorado currently sits one game ahead of San Jose for first place in the West Division.

“We’re on a two game losing streak and we want to stop that,” said Mammoth Head Coach Bob McMahon. “(This) is a game for first place.”

Despite Colorado’s recent struggles, Christianson isn’t overlooking the great defense and goaltending that Colorado brings to the table.

“It’s obviously going to be a tough match up for us,” said Christianson. “Colorado has a very good team.”

San Jose must also prepare to face forward Dan Carey, who leads the Mammoth with 17 goals in seven games.

“I always realized he was a good player,” said McMahon. “I just didn’t realize how good he was.”