Mammoth Face Avalanche in Homestand Finale
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Mammoth host the Colorado Avalanche tonight, concluding a two-game homestand, with puck drop scheduled for[Time-[Time-[Time-[Time-not provided in source]. This marks the second and final regular season meeting between the two teams, following a narrow 2-1 loss for Utah earlier this season.
Head coach André Tourigny confirmed the mammoth will deploy the same forward lines as their previous game – details of which can be found here: [https://x.com/utahmammoth/status/1980038685644279888/photo/1]. The only change to the lineup sees Karel Vejmelka taking the net over Vítek Vaněček,who started the last contest. All expected players participated in a full morning skate.
The Avalanche boast a potent offensive attack, led by Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas, both with 10 points through their first six games. Utah defenseman John Marino emphasized the need for puck protection against Colorado’s aggressive style. “They have a lot of risky players out there that we have to be aware of on the ice,” Marino said. “They like to play that possession style game. They’re fast and good in transitions. Obviously, limiting our turnovers and being mindful of that is key.”
Tourigny echoed that sentiment, highlighting the importance of disrupting colorado’s offensive flow. “I feel like we played really well in the first game against Colorado. I think it was a good game. I think we forced them to some turnovers. I know that they will be prepared for that.It’s a team who has a really good pace. They have a lot of speed and they like possession. But we have to do what we have to do which is putting a lot of pressure, winning our battles, protecting the inside.”
A key to Utah’s success will be containing MacKinnon and Necas. Tourigny explained, “It’s all about time and space and speed. Get in their eyes early. Make sure we have a lot of structure.They feed off transition a lot. When they can get going and gather their speed, they’re tough to slow down. So, it’s about managing the puck, getting above them, being physical with them, cutting their time and space and playing with the puck as much as possible.”
The Mammoth’s top line of Clayton Keller, Barrett Hayton, and Nick Schmaltz has been a driving force offensively, combining for 13 points in the last two games (Schmaltz: 3 goals, 3 assists; Keller: 2 goals, 4 assists; Hayton: 1 assist). Tourigny believes Hayton is a perfect fit at center for the unit. “I think he’s exactly what the doctor prescribed for that line. He drives the net really hard. He has a net presence. He’s really good on the forecheck, really good on the draws, really good on the d-zone situations. He has a great awareness and his reload was great. He’s a good all-around player so I think he’s exactly the kind of mix you want to have on the line. I think he’s what completes the line really well. If you look at individually those three guys, they have quality that mix really well together.”
