Utah plays a solid 60 and takes a critical 2 points to open their road trip

The Utah Mammoth, licking their wounds from one of the most disappointing games in the team’s history. flew out to Washington DC to start a 5 game road trip. Tonight starts on the East Coast, with a follow up game in Philadelphia. Afterwards, Utah inches closer to home as they hit more of the mid-west later in the trip.

But, we can’t look ahead. How would Utah respond after a game we all want to forget?

FIRST PERIOD:
The first 4 minutes of this game was really a feeling-out period, as both teams traded some time and limited chances. Within the first 30 seconds, Martin Fehervary skated in and threw a backhander from a sharp angle on Karel Vejmelka, but it was a low danger chance easily stopped.

Utah had good zone pressure, but didn’t really get much of an actual offensive push. However, compared to Sunday, the zone time, and fact that efforts weren’t one-and-done shot chances was promising.

Just past the 16 minute mark, some deep zone pressure by Utah saw a fortunate bounce almost give them a lead, when Lawson Crouse was able to pick up a forced turnover by Mikhail Sergachev at the half wall. He fed the puck to JJ Peterka, who had darted behind the defenseman covering him. Peterka was in tight, but managed a tough shot off. The stop by Logan Thompson was saved originally, and Peterka was able to follow up with his own rebound, but he was unable to beat Thompson.

The 4th line won the face-off, and harassed Washington for 45 seconds. A blocked shot by Anthony “Anna Kendrick’s boyfriend” Beauvillier hobbled him, and Utah was able to take advantage by teeing up some good chances. The block came out to Sean Durzi, who passed to Kevin Stenlund. Stenlund’s shot was blocked, but the puck came right to Michael Carcone, who missed the net just high. Alexander Kerfoot had a shot, and Sergachev had a shot-pass trying to hit an open back-door tap in, but ultimately Utah’s push failed.

At just past the 12 minute mark, Alexander Ovechkin got a shot off from the deep slot, as the puck squirted to him from behind the net. However, Vejmelka was able to stop the NHL’s most prolific goal scorer, keeping the game scoreless.

Closing in on 9 minutes, Dylan Guenther and Sergachev had a few shots, but Thompson kept Utah at bay. Andre Tourigny kept the line out for the face-off, and that paid dividends for Team Tusk. After thwarting a Capitals rush, thanks to a great backcheck by Clayton Keller, Utah collected themselves in the defensive end and started a rush. Sean Durzi connected with Keller on a cross-ice pass, but Keller got hit trying to skate the puck through the neutral zone. Nick Schmaltz was able to locate the puck that was jarred loose, and fed back to Keller, who shed the block off. As he was hit a second time, Keller slipped the puck past Tom Wilson, right to Guenther. Guenther’s look froze Jakob Chychrun, and a likely Chychrun screen caused Thompson to react just a touch too late, as Guenther’s wrister hit the upper right corner of the net. 1-0 Utah

Utah continued to put up pressure after the goal, and good things happen when you apply pressure. Barrett Hayton drew a hooking penalty with about 7 and a half to go in the period, putting Utah up a man for the first time tonight.

With Ovechkin in the box, the Mammoth PP1 unit had some really solid chances to start. Guenther had a few shots from above the circle, and Sergachev had one at the blue line, but Washington’s penalty killers either blocked the shots, or allowed Thompson enough time to easily track the opportunities for saves. After recovering from an initial clear, Utah regrouped and established themselves in the zone. This is something that has been lacking most of the year – without established zone presence, everything else falls off – but great puck movement had Washington’s penalty killers out of position for a point shot from Sergachev. Hayton had one of the best screens of the year by any Utah Mammoth player, and Thompson had no chance to react to the shot. Two minutes apart, Utah up by two. 2-0 Utah

With 4 minutes to play, Utah had another good look and chance when Keller threw a pass across ice. He missed Schmaltz in the high slot, but Nate Schmidt had a shot from the far wall, which was stopped by Thompson.

Washington was held to just three shots about the 4 minute mark, though a few chances missed the net. Shot attempts, though, were clearly in Utah’s favor, with next to no quality chances to speak of for Washington. At the 3 minute mark, Sergachev broke up the Capitals best chance, as he smothered Justin Sourdif after a Cooley turnover, preventing a shot. However, this would change when Alexander Kerfoot was whistled for holding the stick, though it kind of looked like it was more a stick being stuck where a stick shouldn’t stick.

Washington’s power play went to work and they quickly doubled their shots for the period. Dylan Strome forced a good save from Vejmelka, and Utah got the initial clear. On the following rush, Schmaltz nearly got the puck out of the zone, but Ovechkin ended up with the puck at the blue line. He threw a knuckleball of a shot in on Vejmelka, but was tipped on the way in. Somehow still tracking the puck after the change of directions, the big Czech netminder forced the puck out of harms way. The Mammoth prevented the next couple of rush chances, but just as the penalty – and period – were winding down, the Capitals broke through. Pierre-Luc Dubois received a puck at center ice, skated into the Mammoth zone, and skated from the near boards across the slot, to the far-side face-off circle. His quick shot may have been deflected in front, but the Capitals were able to cut the lead in half, with 30 seconds to play. 2-1 Utah

30 seconds passed, horn sounded, and it was time for potty breaks.

Utah outshot Washington 9 – 6 in the first 20 minutes, dominating play for all but the last two minutes.

SECOND PERIOD:
The second period began like the first, with the teams probing the offensive zone, but little actual offense. Peterka got a shot off in the first minute for Utah, but the chance was stopped by Thompson. Nic Dowd hit the post on the counter-attack, but the score remained unchanged.

Defensively, both teams blocked shots – somethin Washington did a ton of in the first period, by the way – and for a few minutes, nothing got through anywhere. Rasmus Sandin got a shot on Vejmelka just after the 17 minute mark passed, and the save led to a counter-attack that nearly saw another Utah goal. Clayton Keller threw a back-door pass to a streaking Durzi, but Tom Wilson got in the way – but by doing so almost got an own-goal in on Thompson.

Karel Vejmelka made a fantastic stop on Hendrix Lapierre at the 14 minute mark. Wilson took the puck from behind the Utah net, looked to make a push for a wraparound attempt, but then fed the youngster high in the slot for the chance. John Marino walked in from the blue line for a chance on the ensuing Utah rush, but the puck was blocked in front.

Sourdif pushed in from the half wall past the Mammoth defense for a chance against Vejmelka, which was denied, and Carcone got what appeared to be a 1 on 1 rush, but ended up getting swarmed by Washington’s defense before getting a shot away.

Good puck movement by Washington led to a blast from the blue line by Chychrun, but Vejmelka gobbled it up for a stoppage.

At the 11 minute mark, with Thompson out of position, Jack McBain ripped a shot that clanged off the right goalpost and flew out harmlessly.

After a few minutes of light action, Chychrun got a golden chance in the slot off a feed from Dubois at the wall, but Vejmelka made a big save to preserve the lead. On the next Capitals rush, Chychrun again got the puck, high in the slot and all alone, but ripped a shot high and away from danger.

Closing in on 5 minutes to go, Utah had a few long-range, but not very dangerous chances that were turned aside.

With just over 3 minutes left to play, Chychrun’s stick caught Keller in the skates. The gold medal Olympian went to the ice, Chychrun went to the box, and the suddenly resurgent Utah Mammoth power play would get back to work.

The PP1 unit had some good pressure after recovering from a face-off loss, though nothing came of their decent pressure. The second unit came on the ice, and nearly gave up a short-handed breakaway, but Beauvillier could not collect the high flip pass sent his way.

After resetting and entering the zone, Cooley took a pass from Durzi at the blue line. Cooley skated in, drawing a defender away from the diamond position Washington uses on their power play. That opened up a lane for Peterka, who snuck into the middle of the diamond. The feed was perfect, and Peterka ripped a shot off the post. The puck came back out, hitting Thompson in the back. In his attempt to keep the puck out, Thompson reached behind him with his glove hand, but he knocked the puck backwards, and right on the inside of the far post to light the lamp for Utah. 3-1 Utah

Just like the first period for Washington, a late goal for Utah changed the tide of the game. Washington had the lion’s share of the pressure and opportunities until late, but the power play goal restored the two goal lead, as the teams prepared to head to the tunnel.

Utah somehow led the shot clock 8 – 7, leading 17 – 13 after the first 40 minutes.

THIRD PERIOD:
The third period took a few minutes to get going, but things got very interesting about 5 minutes into the period. Kerfoot almost made up for his penalty earlier in the game with a tip, but it went just about an inch and a half wide. Then, Ian Cole nearly scored as he drove to the net, taking a pass from Logan Cooley backhand, upstairs on Thompson, but missing high.

Vejmelka was able to pounce on a loose puck at the 14 minute mark, after heavy Washington pressure, giving Utah a much needed stoppage. Shortly after, McBain went to the box for hooking Tom Wilson, who was driving the net up the middle. Utah would go on their second penalty kill of the night.

Unlike the first time, it didn’t take nearly the whole power play for Washington to convert. Just 30 seconds in, Ryan Leonard took a feed from Dylan Strome and ripped a lazer of a shot from the far-side dot. Beating Vejmelka over his shoulder, the Mammoth lead again shrunk to just one. 3-2 Utah

Washington immediately pressured Utah after the goal, with a big save by Vejmelka against Beauvillier. The loose puck bounced off Dubois in front, was whacked at again, and finally covered by the Wasatch Wall.

Peterka took a knuckleballer of a shot from the blue line that completely fooled Thompson, but the erratic nature of the shot also fooled Marino, who tipped the puck wide.

Vejmelka played a puck behind the net, but got caught out of position as Washington’s forecheck caught up to him and forced the puck out front. Brandon Duhaime had a wide open net in front of him, but Hayton, on one knee, sacrificed his stick to block the shot and send it wide. Play was open without a whistle for several minutes before Vejmelka stopped play following a great stop on a Matt Roy shot from the point and a sharp angle shot by Connor McMichael in close to the crease.

Utah shut the door pretty hard after that attempt, as the Mammoth slowed down play for several minutes. Controlling the puck deliberately, Utah chewed up precious minutes that the Capitals desperately needed. When Washington had chances, the Mammoth bodies got in the way, blocking shots and keeping chances to the outside.

With 3 minutes left, a great save by Vejmelka saw the puck bounce in front. However, Sergachev was on the ice, and slid the puck back to Vejmelka for the cover, ending the strong Washington push and giving the Mammoth a breather.

Washington pulled Thompson with a little over 2 minutes to go, and the game got spicy for a minute. Schmidt picked off the puck at center ice, and sailed a shot just a tad bit wide of the open goal. With 90 seconds to go, Vejmelka stopped a one-timer by Ovechkin from the famed “Ovechkin office” spot, and while diving to cover the puck, Washington was able to chip it out. The puck ended up on Dubois’ stick at the far dot, and with what would have certainly been an empty net and game tying goal, a Herculean effort by Vejmelka saved the game for Utah. Somehow, Vejmelka got up from his stomach and propelled himself over to the post, to seal the net off from the Dubois shot.

Utah would block several shots in the final minute, with a few icings sprinkled in. The clock wound down as Utah cleared their zone for the last time, securing a critically important 2 points in their Wild Card race.

Washington outshot the Mammoth 12-6 in the final period, taking the shot totals 25-23 for the game.

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3 GOALS (THE GOOD):

A Bald Eagle I often take shots at the coaching staff, and I feel deservedly so. Coaching is responsible for special teams, line changes, and generally team demeanor. The last game was terrible, and I called Andre Tourigny and company out.

Tonight, he made line changes – some of which I’ve suggested and some of which I was skeptical about. Crouse on a line with Peterka? Well, those lines did well, and the pressure was there all night.

Utah came out of the game with fire, hunger, and shook off everything negative that plagued them on Sunday. And, the power play unit had some great results – something we’re not used to seeing, but a very, very welcome sight!

So, here’s a reprieve for a game for the coaching staff – mostly – and an extra kudos to the training staff, who keep the boys healthy and going.

Dynomite! JJ Peterka had a game. Just like I wrote about earlier today, he needed to start stepping up and getting his game together. Tonight was certainly a showcase of that.

From early on – his in-tight shots against Thompson just a few minutes into the game – to his game winning power play goal. Peterka had a fantastic night.

With Logan Cooley on his center, Peterka has a speedy playmaking center that complements his game perfectly. Speed, creativity, and an accurate shot – Peterka unleashed will be a sight to behold. Prepare for a lot more assists for Cooley this year, especially as Peterka keeps heating up.

Department of Defense The Mammoth did a great job all game of shutting down a strong, well-balanced Washington team. They held Washington to low-value shots for much of the game. Late, Utah bent but did not break, as they defended Washington’s 6 on 5 onslaught well.

Washington gets about 30 shots a game, so 25 shots isn’t that far off their norm – except they were forced to push hard late in the game. That always inflates shot totals, but overall play was solid.

Nate Schmidt and John Marino took season high ice-time tonight, with major assignments sent their way all night. Offensively, they’re not the most dynamic, but they stopped a Washington team with nearly 200 goals this year down to only 2.

The penalty kill made life difficult for the Mammoth, but that’s a story for below.

Karel Vejmelka, the last line of defense, made a stellar save right at the end of the game to preserve the victory for the Mammoth.

Kudos to the defense. Great job all around.

3 CHIRPS (THE BAD):

You’re Killing Me Smalls The Utah Mammoth penalty kill in November was the best in the league. Through January, Utah had one of the best penalty kills out there. However, recently, the power play and penalty kill have flipped, and the PK has been awful. In 11 power plays against them since the Olympic break ended, Utah has given up 5 goals. That’s a PK rate of just 54.5%, and it goes without saying, that’s bad.

The only team giving up as many goals shorthanded? Colorado. The Avalanche have played one more game than Utah, and have had 20 penalty kills – a 75% kill rate.

Utah’s penalty kill has turned from a great strength to a terrible weakness, just in time to counter the fact the Mammoth power play is 5th best in the league over that time, and tied for 3rd in goals scored. Only Edmonton and Minnesota have more goals over this span.

Why can’t the special teams sync up positively for a change?

Department of Transportation If you’ve ever worked with the DOT, you know that the acronym is a nightmare to deal with. Tonight, the dot was a problems for Utah, but not the red-tape kind.

Utah’s top face-off guys struggled mightily in this game. In a game where he did so much right, Barrett Hayton was abysmal at the dot. Going just 2 for 10, Hayton lost several late game face-offs when facing a 6 on 5. These are almost as dangerous to lose as penalty kill face-offs, though Washington couldn’t capitalize (no pun intended).

After a great game, I’m not picking on Hayton this time. I think this was the one weakness of his game, despite a really good game otherwise.

Schmaltz was a bit better, but not by much. Between the two, they took 25 face-offs, and won just 7.

Stenlund and Cooley fared far better – an amazing look for Cooley, I’ll remind you – and Utah overall only lost the face-off battle 26-22, but those lost face-offs were rough.

DC Traffic The Mammoth had a ton of shot attempts tonight, but only 23 hit the net. This is because Washington ended up blocking 36 total shots at the end of the game. I’m relying on NHL’s app to tell me that because I lost count early in the first period.

Blocked shots are great from a defensive point of view, but a nightmare for an offense. Utah had a hard time finding open lanes to get clean shots off.

The Mammoth have often passed up a clean shot for a pass, but tonight they found a Washington team that overcommitted to the block. Taking a half-second to force a player down or out of position could have opened up different lanes and shot looks, but the Mammoth seemed unable to pull that off.

At the end of the day, a win is a win. However, it’s hard to win when you’re missing the net, or seeing shots blocked left and right. Tonight could have just been a bad day – or an amazing day for the Capitals – but the Capitals will certainly feel those bruises tomorrow. Hopefully, Utah can adapt better when they face a team with as much clogging of lanes as they saw with Washington today.

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Next up:

Game two away from home in the City of Brotherly Love. The Mammoth take on the Flyers in Philadelphia on Thursday night. 5PM local start, game on SEG+ and Utah 16.

Tusks Up!