Grant Eyes NLL Points Record in Regular-Season Finale
With the number-two seed in the West Division and a home playoff game already clinched, the Colorado Mammoth concludes the regular season against the Minnesota Swarm at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. at 5:30pm MT on Saturday. Colorado forward John Grant Jr. sits just six points away from breaking the National Lacrosse League’s most prestigious individual, single-season milestone: 115 points set by Buffalo Bandits forward John Tavares in 2001.
“As far as [John Grant] Jr. goes, he’s an unbelievable, dynamic great for the sport,” said Swarm head coach & associate general manager Joe Sullivan. “It’s great to see him where he is. I want to see him have all the success in the world. To get the six points, great...as long as we win by one. That would be the ideal night for [me].”
Colorado and Minnesota met on Opening Night, and once in mid-February – both Mammoth wins. They square off on Saturday at ‘The Hive’, and again next Saturday in the West Division Semifinal at Pepsi Center. Despite this weekend’s match-up being irrelevant as it relates to playoff positioning, Mammoth head coach Bob Hamley says the players won’t treat it that way.
“I haven’t met a lacrosse player who didn’t want to win lacrosse games and compete. We all know lacrosse players – you put a game together in a parking lot in St. Paul…it doesn’t matter. They’re going to be ready. That’s the way we feel, and I know Joe [Sullivan] and the Swarm feel the same way.”
The preparation hasn’t strayed either.
“The big thing in our league is keeping your routine, especially when you’re going well,” explained Hamley. “We’re going to have the same practice, we’re going to have the same shoot-around, we’re going to have the same film. We’re going to prepare the same way as we will next week when Minnesota’s here in town.”
Tavares’ record is a mark that’s withstood the test of time, and has rarely been threatened. On Saturday, Grant, the NLL’s leading goal-scorer (48) and point-getter (110), has a legitimate chance at rewriting the record books. He’s averaged 8.46 points-per-game this year, and has yet to register less than six in any contest.
“We’re proud of ‘Junior’,” said the Mammoth bench boss. “We’re really glad he’s on our side, and he’s had a great year.”
This weekend, his “great year” could become the best year of all-time.
The game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network.
Tickets to the West Division Semifinal are on sale now at the Pepsi Center box office, all Colorado Dick’s Sporting Goods retail kiosks, online at TicketHorse.com, or by phone at 303.53.HORSE.
