^{How can you win in overtime if you never even touch the puck?}

Let’s address the elephant – mammoth? – in the room. Yesterday’s game was terrible for me personally. I needed a day to recover from that. I also recognize I have bias for one team outside of the Mammoth, so I’m going to do my best to be honest overall.

What in the hell is Utah doing? The Islanders are overachieving this year, and I still think they’re ending up outside the bubble. Yesterday’s game made me wonder if maybe Utah is too.

Utah’s only beaten one team in November, and it took them overtime to do it. We’ve gotten 2 out of 12 points. We beat Buffalo twice. Congratulations, you pushed a 5 year old to the ground.

Since the calendar turned, Utah has given up 22 goals in 6 games. They’ve scored more than 3 goals once – a 5-2 game against Buffalo – and have given up 4+ on four different occasions. The only game remotely close was Ottawa, and that was wiped away by an atrocious call. The losses haven’t been close.

So, enter the Islanders. They played on Thursday night, against the Las Vegas Golden Knights. They went to overtime. They traveled backwards an hour, and got in late. They’re playing at 4000 feet higher than they’re used to. Their starter, Ilya Sorokin, played the previous night and the backup was in. Pretty much odds stacked in favor of the Mammoth, so let’s see how they were going to get this inevitable win.

FIRST PERIOD:
The Islanders show they’re tired, and Utah gets an immediate turnover in the New York zone. Guenther hits the pipe, 15 seconds in, in what would have been the fastest goal in Utah history. Islander backup David Rittich was under siege early. Utah battered the Islanders, with three official shots against in the first minute. Official shots don’t include the pipe that Guenther hit, making that number somehow not even as impressive as it was live.

Utah’s speed was overwhelming the Islanders for the first 5 minutes. The forecheck kept pucks in the Islanders zone. Players crashing the net made shots from the point more difficult to stop for Rittich. Board battles were won, and chances piled up for the Mammoth. Passes were crisp, Peterka, Guenther, Cooley, Keller – all were making plays and did everything but score.

All the pressure, all the forechecking, all the opportunities led to Utah drawing the first penalty of the game. Adam Boqvist grabbed Jack McBain behind the net, stopping the center from a scoring chance, but giving the Mammoth a man advantage.

The power play would last just 20 seconds, though, as Cooley immediately drew a hooking penalty in the offensive zone. The teams would skate 4 on 4 for just over a minute and a half. By the 7th minute mark, Utah had outshot the Islanders 9 – 3. That doesn’t include 5 blocked shots by the Islanders, and 3 misses by Utah, including the post. The only point Utah had been poor at to this point was shooting percentage.

The Islanders, however, showed that shooting percentage is really all that matters. After winning an offensive zone face-off, the Islanders defenseman Tony DeAngelo – threw the puck towards the net. Barrett Hayton, coming to cover him, deflected the puck to the slot. Emil Heineman, traded to the Islanders hours before the 2025 draft that also got them Matthew Schaefer, performed a spinning golf shot on the puck. Karel Vejmelka, starting again for Utah, was completely surprised and fooled by the puck. Heineman’s desperation shot beat Veggie near side, and despite controlling more than 75% of play and an even bigger percentage of chances, the Mammoth suddenly found themselves trailing by one. 1-0 Islanders

Utah had a truncated penalty kill, the 20 seconds of Cooley’s hook, which didn’t see any activity from the Islanders side. At full strength, the Mammoth third line held a little bit of zone time, but JJ Peterka wasn’t able to get his shot off.

Utah struck back quickly it seemed. The top unit had a great chance, when Cooley almost tipped the puck in front. The puck rebounded out to Nick Schmaltz, who had David Rittich on his butt in the crease. He roofed it for the goal…..

…except, the tiniest deflection from Rittich’s glove meant the puck hit the crossbar. After what seemed like forever, the referees signaled that the equalizer was just a massive letdown for the crowd at the Delta Center.

It didn’t matter though, because Utah was simply unstoppable. After the no-goal call by the official, the ice barely touched the Utah side of the red line. The Mammoth pressured in the Islanders half of the ice for the next two minutes, culminating in a east-west passing play between Marino, Crouse, and Peterka. After receiving Marino’s pass from the far side, Crouse made a move towards the net, which drew the defense just enough to allow for a lane to pass to Peterka. JJ, behind both the defense and the Islander goaltender, redirected the puck for Utah’s first goal of the game. 1-1 Tied

Utah continued their pressure, keeping the Islanders on their heels, until too-many-men caused Utah to their second actual penalty kill. The Islanders Kyle Palmieri had an early opportunity on Vejmelka, and a weak shot from the point was all the Islanders could muster as the Utah penalty kill succeeded again.

Utah then would get a break of their own. An interference penalty on Matthew Schaefer (with an additional 30 seconds of a delayed penalty), and a panic puck-over-the-glass by Simon Holmstrom gave Utah nearly a full 2 minute 5 on 3 opportunity. The Mammoth power play, which has been a level below atrocious, had a golden opportunity for their first goal in the past 16 chances.

The Islanders got an early clear by JG Pageau, their offensive threat on the PK, but Utah was able to recover and reset. Dylan Guenther at the blue line left the puck for Mikhail Sergachev, who fed it back once Guenther was in a one-timer position top of the circle. His rip blew by Rittich’s glove, and just like that, Utah had the lead, and still had over a minute of power play time left. 2-1 Utah

Power play and period expired the way that the period started – with the Islanders under bombardment – with the horn saving them from further damage.

Utah outshot New York 13 – 6, which seemed to be more like 130 – 6.

SECOND PERIOD:
The dreaded second period could potentially be a good one for Utah, considering the fact the Islanders were tired and just got deflated after a 2 man advantage converted against them. Instead, the first few minutes of the period would have you believe that the Mammoth slept on a plane last night instead.

The Islanders put pressure in the Mammoth zone for a few minutes to start the period. Mat Barzal on the Islanders tested Veggie with a potential wrap-around. While Barzal ended up hitting the side of the net, nullifying any chances, take notes because this play would come up a few more times. A 3 on 1 from the Islanders saw Barzal shoot over the net to kill any chances for the Islanders to tie.

The Mammoth had an opportunity with a rare Peterka and Cooley sighting, as Peterka hit Cooley coming off the bench in the slot, but his shot was knocked away by Rittich. The Islanders, on a counter attack, saw two shots go high – including one by Casey Cizikas, who was on one knee in front of Veggie without a Mammoth in sight.

Utah’s 4th line had a shift with a ton of offensive zone pressure, but Islanders sticks kept Utah from generating shots or any scoring opportunities. The best chance came when Cooley, Keller, Schmaltz and Cole rushed 4 on 2, but a cross-ice pass to Schmaltz ended up hitting Rittich in the chest, and the Mammoth were unable to extend the lead.

Alex Romanov took a big blast from the point about the 10 minute mark, but that stoppage also signaled a power play for the Islanders. Logan Cooley again got a hooking call, and the Islanders pressured the Mammoth PK for 4 shots, but Veggie kept them from tying up the game until Cooley rejoined play. The Islanders kept momentum from the PP, though, forcing Utah to ice it and try and regroup.

After about 2 minutes of continuous pressure against them, the Mammoth were able to get the puck out of the zone and, luckily, were able to keep the Islanders onslaught at bay.

Despite being completely outplayed for the majority of the 2nd period, the Mammoth were able to get another man advantage late in the period. Logan Cooley had a chance close in on Rittich, but was clipped in the face by a high stick. This prevented him from a clean shot, but the Mammoth had a chance to extend the lead.

Utah’s power play started energized, after their successful play earlier, and two early shots in tight were stopped by the Islanders. Bo Horvat, one of the highest percentage shooters in the league this year, skated down the wing for a shorthanded chance, but that was denied by Vejmelka. The Mammoth were able to regain the zone, and Guenther, Cooley, and Keller all had great shots and great attempts, but not able to get the puck to go.

The period ended, uneventfully. Despite being caved in multiple times, the Utah Mammoth’s defense and goaltending did not break. They didn’t win the period, but they did not lose it – somehow- either.

THIRD PERIOD:
The Islanders are the best comeback team in the league, but they also have played an overtime game less than 24 hours ago. They should be gassed, so Utah’s top shot-blocking unit in the league should definitely have an advantage.

Play was split the first 3 minutes, but Kailer Yamamoto’s speed caused a trip by Calum Richie. The best chance of the power play, however, came from the Islanders PK unit. Simon Holmstrom got a shot off on a counter attack – had he waited a second to find the trailing Bo Horvat, they would have had an empty net. However, Utah got lucky and the score remained steady as the penalty expired.

The Islanders found some mixed luck over the next minute, as a tipped puck hit the crossbar, but Tony DeAngelo ended up taking another penalty. Utah would go on their 6th extra man drill for the game, in an ideal situation – up by 1 with 14 minutes to play.

The Mammoth ended up with several good looks, as Cooley crashed the net but lost the puck, Keller had a one timer from the dot that was stopped, and Nate Schmidt was stopped point blank by Rittich. The Islander once again killed off another Mammoth power play.

Pressure flip-flopped a bit the next few minutes. Tony DeAngelo tried a wrap-around but interference in front of the net put Utah back on the penalty kill.

The Islanders had one rush chance, as Holmstrom received a pass in stride, full steam at Vejmelka, but the his move to the far side was matched by Veggie and his pad stopped the try. Utah killed all the rest of the penalty off, making them 100% for the game (and for the year to date).

Not much back and forth until some massive controversy.

Jonathan Drouin kicked a deflection into the Mammoth net. No goal. Except, Drouin didn’t kick the puck into the net. Goal. Wait what?

So, the NHL rulebook is as clear as mud for this rule, unless you read really deep. You can kick a puck, headbutt a puck, play it with your friend’s butt if you like. However, you can’t kick the puck into the net. It’s illegal and no goal. If you kick a puck, and it deflects off a goaltender into the net? No goal. If you kick a puck and it deflects off 20 people into the net? No goal.

The crux of the problem here, though, is that there was nothing ruled as a deflection. The puck, on its way to the net, and before it was touched by Drouin, was touched by Nate Schmidt. They ruled that Nate Schmidt’s attempt to clear the puck was a redirection into the net. Despite the fact the puck was going in regardless, the puck hitting the stick was ruled as “playing the puck”, and that made it a goal.

Legally? Correct. Morally? Nope. Legal overrules, though. 2-2 Tied

I don’t know if that goal caused Utah to go into hibernation, but they did next to nothing the rest of the game. Between both teams, there were 3 total shots in the last 8 minutes of the game. Both teams were content playing for a point, despite the fact that Utah had 2 days rest, and a third period, at elevation, favored the Mammoth.

Whatever or whoever decided to handshake on the freebie point, both teams decided to go to bonus hockey

OVERTIME:
The last post I wrote all about Schaefer. I have a Schaefer jersey – the first one in Utah. I got to fist bump the kid pre-game. I sat in the stands happy for both teams when things went right for them, and in overtime I was happy because both teams got a point.

I did not expect to see history on the ice tonight, let alone history for a franchise like the Islanders, with the first player I’ve gone full in on since watching Eberle enter the league for Edmonton (yuck).

The Islanders, as I mentioned in my previous write up have great puck possession. Between face off wins from Horvat or Pageau, if Barzal has the puck, he’s keeping it. Well, what happened in overtime was exactly that.

Horvat won the first faceoff, Islanders controlled until Vejmelka made a save on Barzal. Pageau won the second face off, Islanders controlled until Schaefer beat Veggie to make history as the youngest player to ever get an OT GWG, beating out Sidney Crosby for that record. Incidentally, this is the second scoring record that Schaefer’s beaten Crosby out of… and Schaefer isn’t a forward.

Utah had 0:00 of puck possession in OT. 3-2 Islanders

Comments:
I was absolutely gutted this game for a few reasons. But, ultimately, I felt like Utah could and should have won this game in the first. They very well could have.

Going up 2-1 against a tired team that’s one of the best comeback teams out there this year (which shocked me as an Islanders fan expecting them to be really bad this year) should have been automatic. The second periods that we’ve been so bad on? They didn’t allow a goal. They played bad, but didn’t break.

That third was theirs. They had the energy – theoretically – and they have superior goal scoring outside of Horvat. They have superior shot suppression. Know what though? None of that matters. Utah was playing to protect a lead the second it hit 2-1. They played 40 minutes trying to defend that lead at all costs. They played like they were defending a lead when they tied. You can’t win like that.

I’m beyond happy to see Schaefer in person. I’m blessed and humbled to see him break the record. I know in my heart he’s going to be one of the 3 best Islanders to ever wear the uniform. I just wish I got to see that against another team.

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3 GOALS (THE GOOD):

The Third Line is the only line that is showing up for games. JJ Peterka is a massive difference maker on that line. What was an energy, grinding line before him has become an energy, scoring, grinding line. It’s a combination of Peterka and Crouse not being afraid to go to the net. McBain, for his lack of point production, is forechecking and winning dirty battles to let the other two shine.

Peterka is getting paid WAY too much to be a third line winger, yet somehow here we are. Our best scoring threat is a third line winger who doesn’t even see main power play time, and yet somehow is the most dangerous person on the ice by a longshot – and has been for more than half the season now.

The Penalty Kill is outstanding. They’ve killed every penalty this month. That’s impressive, damn impressive, for any team. Granted, you faced Buffalo twice, but you also faced Toronto and Montreal.

The PK unit is keeping the team in games. Period. They’re not scoring short handed goals like the Islanders do, but they’re doing their jobs efficiently, and giving Utah every chance to succeed. If only they had that on the other side of the coin…

Utah Shot Suppression is amazing. They held the Islanders to 3 shots for the first 15:00 of the game. They held the Islanders to 5 shots in the entire third period. In total, they gave up 18 shots in regulation. That’s absolutely bonkers. You can’t say enough about this – keeping as few chances against you as possible is the second most important aspect of the defensive game. The first? Keeping as few goals against as possible… which is not where the good portion of this is.

3 CHIRPS (THE BAD):

Andre Tourigny may be aiming for a change in scenery the way he’s been coaching lately. With a power play that’s one of the worst power plays I’ve seen in a professional league, he’s decided to adjust the chemistry of the team by destroying two lines to make a third better.

Let’s face it, the JJ Peterka line with McBain and Crouse is dynamic, and fun, and most of all, it’s producing. But you know what’s not dynamic, fun, or producing? The top 2 lines now.

After a blistering start with Cooley, Schmaltz, and Gunner lighting it up at will, you’ve got the lines split up and overall the plays seem fractured. Cooley with Keller and Schmaltz doesn’t seem as comfortable as Hatyon was. Cooley is inarguably better than Hayton in every way except one – he can’t get on the same page as #8 and #9. Meanwhile, Hayton and Guenther seemingly can’t get on the same page, and Michael Carcone doesn’t have a place on that line with the level of play they provide.

You broke up a kid line that was fast and dynamic, you broke up a top line that was able to get one member to overperform, and you broke up a physical third line to get yourself one scoring third line and 2 lines that are just sort of existing but not even having defined roles right now.

The Power Play can’t get worse. Yes, they scored a goal. Fantastic! All it took was a 5 on 3 against a tired Islanders team playing a back-to-back with a backup goalie. And then they didn’t do anything else.

I don’t work for the team. If I did, I’d have a bunch of pink slips for anyone with the term “power play specialist” in the organization, because the only thing that’s got power for that unit is the power of wasting 2 minutes of everyone’s time.

Tourigny had no problem destroying three lines to make one work. He does, however, have problems destroying a power play that has been so pathetically bad, it’s comical. John Madden, Blaine Forsythe, and Mario Duhamel are the assistant coaches, and none of them are specifically a “power play” coach. Maybe it’s time to find one, or find a head coach that can.

Utah Goals Against are just unacceptable. I don’t want to hear about bad luck anymore. Utah gives up the fewest shots in he league. Utah goalies also have almost the worst save percentage in the league.

Is Veggie like Stuart Skinner? Is he incapable this year of stopping any pucks at all? No, that’s not it. However, Veggie is making big saves at important times, but he hasn’t stolen a game for Utah yet this year. At this time last year, he’d done so several times.

So, what’s the deal? If it’s not all on goaltending, is it number of shots? No, because total goals against has been (until most recently) really low and about 2GAA a game for a while. Is it shot volumes? No, because volumes don’t really affect percentages. When you consider shot suppression numbers, it’s not about being worn out from high shot volume against us either. None of these factors make sense, because the biggest problem may actually be a consequence of all the shot suppression.

Utah collapses on the puck very well, and Utah gets sticks in lanes and clogs up the neutral zone to force teams to not really get set up for their plays. All well and good, except sometimes those blocked shots or passes end up in a really bad area for the goalies to recover to. When a goalie expects a puck to go right, and then suddenly that entire trajectory changes, it’s extremely difficult to recover. It’s why tips on shots are so good – you change the trajectory too fast for a goalie to compensate. This is the same concept, but instead of a quick shot in, you have a player picking a spot to shoot at instead.

The other consequence here is that the suppression means collapsing in on the players, which led to things like the Cizikas chance against today. All alone, right in front of Veggie, with no defense in the frame. The saving grace for Utah? Shot went wide. The bad thing for Veggie? Shot went wide so it doesn’t count as a save for his percentage.

Utah’s giving up quality chances in close to dangerous players. Shot suppression is really important, but shot quality is moreso. Right now, Utah’s getting really hosed on shots against, and it may be worth looking into less collapsing (and giving up more low quality shots) and covering in tight for the high quality ones.

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Next up:

We’re going to Disneyland! No, not to celebrate. Utah vs. Ducks in Anaheim on Monday at 8PM local.