Dobbie scores three goals as Roughnecks win 10-6 over Mammoth in semifinal

<p>CALGARY – Dane Dobbie was the same emotional sparkplug he’s been all season Saturday night, helping the Calgary Roughnecks advance to the National Lacrosse League West final.</p> <p>Dobbie scored three goals and added an assist as the Roughnecks, the league’s top ranked team, won 10-6 over the fourth seeded Colorado Mammoth in a West semifinal.</p> <p>Ironically, it was a disallowed goal in the second quarter goal by Dobbie that ended up sparking the home side.</p> <p>Tied 3-3, Dobbie appeared to give Calgary the lead at 7:47 when, after reeling in a long pass from deep in the Calgary end, his shot went off the goal post, hit the leg of goalie Chris Levis, then trickled over the goal line.</p> <p>However, after a lengthy video review the goal was waved off by referee Matt Robinson, citing that Dobbie – temporarily shook up on the play after being bowled over from behind – was lying partially in the crease when the ball crossed the line.</p> <p>The announcement of no goal was booed by the home crowd of 10,092 and incensed Roughneck players as well as a visibly-upset Calgary head coach Dave Pym, who had a heated discussion with Robinson at the Calgary bench.</p> <p>”It’s about re-focusing,” said Calgary captain Andrew McBride. “We thought that was a goal, I still think it was a goal. It’s about coming back on the bench and saying here we go, what are we going to do next, let’s let that play go.”</p> <p>Calgary did just that, continuing to pour on the pressure eventually getting the go-ahead goal from Jeff Shattler at on a power play at 9:34.</p> <p>”It’s a game based on emotions, there are ups and down, some stuff goes your way, some stuff doesn’t go your way, you have to battle through everything,” said Dobbie, who helped set up the go-ahead goal.</p> <p>Three minutes later, the Roughnecks went ahead 5-3 on the first of two goals for rookie Curtis Dickson. Seven seconds later, the Calgary bench and the entire building erupted when Dobbie made it 6-3. The Roughnecks lead was never less than two goals the rest of the game.</p> <p>”Emotion is never a problem. You want to be passionate, you want to be excited, I wouldn’t care if 20 guys are yelling and jumping on the bench,” said McBride. “I love our passion, that’s why we’ve been a successful team all year and we’re going to continue to bring that passion and excitement.”</p> <p>They’ll be bringing it next week in the West final against the defending NLL champion Washington Stealth, the No. 3 seed in the West, who upset No. 2 Minnesota 14-8 in the other semifinal.</p> <p>Scott Ranger also scored three goals for Calgary. Jeff Shattler and McBride had the others.</p> <p>John Grant scored three times to lead the way for Colorado. Nick Carlson and brothers Alex and Ilija Gajic each scored once.</p> <p>”The last month and a half we’ve been able to answer and we didn’t get that answer tonight,” said Mammoth coach Bob Hamley. “I’m proud of our guys, they battled hard. Calgary is a very good team and they’ll be tough to beat.”</p> <p>Co-starring in the victory for regular season champion Roughnecks was goaltender Mike Poulin, who had a superb night for his first playoff win.</p> <p>Colorado goaltender Chris Levis had a 9.99 goals-against average in the regular season, which was best in the West. But it was Poulin that had the better night making 45 stops compared to 32 for Levis.</p> <p>”We knew it was going to be on us to really shut the door and what can you say about Mike Poulin. You’re seeing a real young guy grow up in front of our eyes and it’s really exciting to see a guy step up like that and be the man,” said McBride, one of the anchors of the Roughnecks defence.</p> <p>After Colorado took a 3-2 lead at 13:08 of the first quarter, Poulin strung together a shutout stretch of 28:45 that enabled Calgary to turn that one-goal deficit into a three-goal lead.</p> <p>With Calgary clinging to an 8-6 lead late in the fourth quarter, Poulin turned in his most spectacular stop stretching across the net to deny a shot from Colorado’s Dan Carey. The Roughnecks put the game away after that with two empty netters.</p> <p>”Poulin played well but I take a lot of responsibility, I had too many shots and didn’t pass the ball. I let our team down and don’t think I gave us much chance to win,” said Grant, whose three goals gives him 50 for his career.</p> <p>Colorado (5-11) had the worst regular season record of the eight playoff teams but held the distinction of being the only team to beat the league-leading Roughnecks twice, winning two of its three meetings with Calgary (11-5).</p> <p>Notes: It was the fifth playoff meeting between the two teams. Calgary owns a 4-1 edge. … Calgary’s last loss at home was Jan. 22. … The Roughnecks have made the playoffs in nine of their 10 seasons in the NLL. Colorado has qualified for the post-season in eight of its nine seasons… Hamley loses to Calgary for the first time in the playoffs after beating them twice (2005, 2007) while head coach of Arizona.</p>