Nick Schmaltz’s early-season tear is driving the Utah Mammoth’s hot start, and the numbers are impossible to miss.
The Mammoth center has five goals to open the season, putting him at the top of the NHL scoring chart. He also pushed his goal streak to four straight games Tuesday night in a win over the New Jersey Devils, setting a new standard for the longest run in Mammoth history.
That kind of production is exactly what Utah had in mind when Schmaltz signed an 8-year, $64 million contract extension in March of last season. So far, the deal looks like money well spent.
“He's so smart,” Utah Mammoth head coach Andre Tourigny said. “You know, Schmaltzy is funny.
You ask a question, for example, you show a clip and you ask a question ... Schmaltzy kind of looks around, kind of like everybody should know the answer.
For him, it's obvious.”
Schmaltz said his early success has come from staying active and reading the ice, especially with Utah’s power play clicking early.
“Trying to get lost and finding areas, that if you watch the best players, I try to look at where they hang out and find areas,” he explained. “I got great linemates, so I just kind of try to sneak around and get my stick free and hit the net.”
His teammates see the results, and they’re not surprised by them. They also know the player behind the production.
“Hotter than toast, Nicky Schmaltz,” Utah Mammoth forward Lawson Crouse said with a smile. “(He) doesn't surprise me one bit. You know, he's such a composed player, intelligent hockey player with a lot of hockey IQ and obviously tremendous skill and such a great guy, great teammate.”
Tourigny was just as emphatic about what Schmaltz brings to the lineup.
“He can play with a left-hand stick right now and I will still take him on my team,” Tourigny said. “He's so good everywhere on the ice. What a player.”
The Mammoth continue their road trip Thursday against the Boston Bruins at 5 p.m. The game will air on FOX 13 and The Spot Utah 16, with coverage beginning at 4:30 p.m.
In Other News...
Mikhail Sergachev's Status Suddenly Matters A Lot For Utah's Defense
Utah left New Jersey with a 5-3 win and a useful reminder of how much different the defense looks when Mikhail Sergachev is driving the play. Nick Schmaltz scored his fifth goal of the season, Sergachev picked up three assists and the Mammoth had enough offense to outlast the Devils, a result that should have been more about the standings than the blue line.
Instead, the bigger concern came late in the second period, when Sergachev exited after absorbing a puck and his status was left uncertain. With other injuries already thinning Utahs defense, any absence from one of its most important puck movers would ripple quickly, and it is the kind of situation that naturally leads to questions about whether the team might need outside help if the timeline stretches out. [Read more 🡒]
Utahs Power Play Is Suddenly Making The Central Take Notice
Utah keeps looking like a team the Central Division may have to take seriously, and the latest proof came in a 5-3 win over the Devils that pushed the Mammoth to 3-1. Nick Schmaltz and Clayton Keller drove the offense again, but the more notable development for opponents has been how dangerous Utah has become with the man advantage, converting 8 of 13 power-play chances this season.
The night also brought mixed feelings around Mikhail Sergachev, who picked up a career milestone while the game was unfolding. He was involved in the offense before leaving after an injury, adding a reminder that Utahs early-season surge has come with at least a little concern attached as the club waits to see how its defenseman responds. [Read more 🡒]
Roadrunners Take Early Frustration Into A Defining First Road Test
The Tucson Roadrunners head into their first road games of the season this weekend with a chance to reset the early tone of their schedule, visiting the San Jose Barracuda on Friday and Saturday. After a stretch that has already given the team some early frustration, Tucson has also seen a few encouraging signs from its younger group, with rookies beginning to chip in and some of the familiar contributors from last season again carrying weight in the lineup.
San Jose should provide a stern test after a recent overtime win, especially with the Barracuda in the middle of a six-game homestand and looking to keep momentum at home. For Tucson, the question is less about survival on the road than whether this trip can start to reveal a clearer identity, one shaped by the blend of first-year players trying to find their footing and established pieces expected to set the pace. [Read more 🡒]