The Utah Mammoth get right back to work tonight after a frustrating 3-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday, and the response opportunity comes against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Utah and Pittsburgh meet in Game 14 for the Mammoth, with puck drop set for Oct. 29 at 5:00 p.m. MT. The game will be available on ESPN+, Hulu, and Disney+.
Utah enters at 8-5-0, while the Penguins are 5-6-1. And for the Mammoth, the formula is pretty clear: clean up the mess from Tuesday and play a much sharper game.
Against Minnesota, Utah put itself in trouble with seven penalties and gave up two power play goals. That kind of night is hard to survive, especially with a penalty kill that has not been especially strong. Asking that group to keep bailing the team out again would be a dangerous way to live.
The other side of the puck needs work, too. Utah did not create enough offensively against the Wild, and that has to change if they want to control this one. Pittsburgh has had its own issues on defense at times this season, so this is a chance for the Mammoth to push the pace and generate more chances.
The expectation here is that Utah responds. The Mammoth have not dropped back-to-back games this season, and that streak is expected to hold tonight. Even if Pittsburgh can make things uncomfortable, Utah is projected to shake off the poor showing against Minnesota and come out with a better all-around performance.
The pick is a 4-2 Mammoth win, with the offense looking sharper and the defense steadier. For Utah, the task is simple enough: keep bouncing back the way it has all season.
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For a club sitting third in the Pacific Division, production from a first-round pick is the sort of development that matters beyond one box score. Iginlas breakthrough adds another encouraging note to a Roadrunners group that keeps finding contributions from up and down the lineup, and it gives the organization a little more reason to pay attention every time Tucson hits the ice. [Read more 🡒]