Utah Mammoth Extend Point Streak Despite Overtime Loss to Blackhawks
The Utah Mammoth continued their impressive point streak, stretching it to four games, despite a tough overtime loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. Forwards Barrett Hayton and Dylan Guenther found the back of the net, while goalie Vítek Vaněček stood tall, stopping 23 of the 26 shots he faced.
With one game left on their five-game road trip, the Mammoth have secured seven out of a possible eight points. Every point matters as they push towards the playoffs, and the solo point from this game could prove crucial.
Head coach André Tourigny emphasized the importance of resilience, saying, “We didn’t play our A-game, but we found a way to get a point on the road. Now, we have a big game tomorrow, and we need to get more points. The guys dug deep to close the game and get that big point.”
The Mammoth showed flashes of brilliance, especially in the last five minutes of the third period, but struggled to maintain that intensity throughout the game. Both Guenther and Tourigny acknowledged the need for improvement to elevate their team play.
Tourigny reflected, “We started well but couldn’t sustain the pressure. We complicated things offensively, allowing them to counterattack.
We needed simplicity, which got us our first goal, but we didn’t keep it up. We finished strong, and that’s how we should have played for 60 minutes.”
Guenther added, “Not our best game. We played into their hands.
They’re great in transition, and we were a bit stubborn. Not enough shots, but getting a point is still important.
It puts us in a good spot for the last game of the road trip.”
A highlight from the night was Guenther reaching the 30-goal mark for the first time in his career. He’s one of 21 players in the NHL to hit this milestone this season and is riding a four-game point streak (3G, 3A) on the road trip.
Guenther recounted his first-period goal, “A great backcheck from Schmaltz set up a 2-on-1 with Keller. I felt the goalie was there, so I slid it through, and it went in. Nice play by those guys.”
With five goals since the Olympic break, Guenther’s confidence is evident. “Scoring got me into the league, and I’ve become a more complete player. Contributing this way is nice, and there are still a lot of games left.”
Tourigny praised Guenther’s versatility, saying, “He has more ways to score now. It’s not just his shot. He’s been playing well since the start of the trip.”
The Mammoth face a quick turnaround as they head to Minnesota to play the Wild. They’ve won the first two games in their season series with the Wild and expect a strong effort from their opponents.
Guenther noted, “We’ve played them well, but they haven’t shown their best against us. They’ll come out strong. We’re on a back-to-back, so being smart in the first five, 10 minutes will be key.”
Defensemen Nick DeSimone and Ian Cole each contributed assists on Hayton’s goal, continuing their two-game assist streaks. Meanwhile, Keller extended his point streak to four games, amassing 14 points in nine contests since February.
As the Mammoth prepare for their clash with the Wild, they aim to build on their recent performances and keep the momentum rolling.