^{Happy “First Ever Playoff Game In Utah” Day!}

The Utah Mammoth are writing history this year; their first playoff clinch, their first playoff game, their first playoff win, and tonight, their first playoff game in front of home fans.

Before the team was purchased, the Arizona Coyotes made the COVID bubble – technically the playoffs, but without any of the atmosphere. Most of the Mammoth players got their first taste of playoff hockey in mostly hostile territory. However, a huge contingent of Mammoth fans (in game 1 at least) were constantly chanting and trying to spur on the team. While they fell short, and jitters and confusion was pretty apparent, the Mammoth regrouped and dictated their game in game 2.

With a 1-1 split in Vegas, this series has moved to a best of 5, with Utah having home-ice advantage.

Tonight, the Mammoth will find themselves in the friendliest of territories; far from a 4000 seat arena and from the closed arena in Edmonton, the Utah faithful will pack the Tundra of the Delta Center with an energy that hasn’t been present in that building in many years.

Ryan Smith placed a lot of money, time, and resources to bring a team to Utah. Utah placed their trust, hopes, and dreams in a team that was a laughing stock under a terrible owner.

Supported by the crowd behind them, an owner that cares and isn’t afraid to invest, and a building momentum in the series, the Mammoth have a single task. Win at home. Win in front of the Utah faithful. Win in front of the city that embraced, supported, and unconditionally loved a them.

Key points to secure a victory today:
Energy Drinks
On Sunday, at least in person, the team seemed nervous. However, there was also a large, vocal, Utah contingent that tried to give the team support. It may have helped, the team performed well through 2 periods, but a combination of a strong Golden Knights forecheck and offensive zone pressure, as well as nerves and unfamiliarity helped doom them late in the third.

Tonight, that energy won’t be on the ice, but off it. The nervousness, the anxiety, and the butterflies will lie in more than 12,000 seats. The experience will be the third playoff game for the team, but the first for Utah. There will be no end of excitement, yelling, cheering, and outpourings of love and support.

The team needs to be able to focus on their game, but taking some of that energy from the crowd, using the noise to bump their play to a slightly higher level – that’ll be a massive boost in a game where the teams play tough, and are fairly even otherwise.

Bearly Calling
The Utah Mammoth, in Las Vegas, were at the mercy of the second line change. This means that Andre Tourigny played reactively instead of proactively. With Utah having home ice tonight, Tourigny has the last say in line matchups – outside of icings, Utah should be able to set the lineup matches they feel are the strongest.

The Mammoth also have had a few days to look at their special teams. The PP units have fared poorly in the past two games – with just 5 power play opportunities, Utah and Vegas are tied for dead last in the playoff brackets in time with the extra man. To compare, the Dallas Stars in 3.6 games worth of time have drawn 17 power plays. Utah hasn’t lit the lamp a single time with the man advantage.

While the Mammoth are just one of 5 teams without a power play goal (including, shockingly, the Edmonton Oilers), Utah also gave up 2 goals in 5 attempts against. This is third worst PK in the playoffs so far, and will become an issue as calls start to loosen up both ways.

In order to give themselves the best chance to win, Andre Tourigny needs to show the best coaching he’s ever shown in the league. Fixing special teams, and taking advantage of the last-change matchups will go a long way to helping give Utah the advantage they need to stomp the Knights.

Child’s Play
The biggest name on the team, captain and Olympian Clayton Keller, has been far from the best player on the ice through 120 minutes of playoff hockey. Instead, the story is about the blossoming of young talent. Dylan Guenther and Logan Cooley have been on fire, with the second line of Cooley, Guenther, and Kailer Yamamoto combining for 3 goals, 3 assists (6 points) and a +6 rating.

Cooley’s speed is giving the Knights fits, and they have been struggling to keep up with his drive. Guenther’s shot is deadly, and his ability to keep the power play honest with an accurate one-timer, is devastating the Vegas defense. Coupled with Yamamoto’s speed and tenacity, the line has been the driving force through 2 games.

Meanwhile, veterans like Ian Cole, Nick Schmaltz, and Keller, have been struggling. Part of the struggles of the Keller, Schmaltz, and Lawson Crouse line are the game planning against them by the Knights. However, unforced errors – errant passes, bad decisions, incorrect placement, costly penalties – are keeping Vegas in the series.

The moral of this story – the kids are alright. Without experience, they’re playing their game, and playing it well. The Mammoth’s lives in the playoffs may hinge solely on the performance of their young stars; and the way they’re playing, those lives may be a lot longer than some expected.

Projected Lineups:
No updates, but it’s 4AM. Probably similar lines, but we’ll see!



Game time 7:30 PM local. If you’re in Utah, the Delta Center plaza opens at 3 PM for a pre-game party. Game available on Utah 16 and SEG+, as well as TBS and HBO Max.

TUSKS UP!