MORNING SKATE NOTES
- Utah held a full morning skate on Monday
- The Mammoth are looking to control their emotions through the momentum waves
Facing the Penguins
Utah will face a Pittsburgh team that has plenty of threats, especially with their defensemen. Currently, the Penguins have the most assists and points by defensemen in the NHL. It’s important for the Mammoth to be mindful of this threat.
“They’re really good off the rush and in zone,” center Nick Schmaltz shared. “I think they do a good job of finding sticks. (Erik) Karlsson been doing it for a long time, (Kris) Letang. Those guys, they’re very intelligent, high skilled players. So we just have to do our best to take their time and space away, and not let them get set up in our zone.”
“Pittsburgh is a really high offensive team,” head coach André Tourigny said. “They generate a lot off the rush, in their o-zone, even off their forecheck. So, pretty much every situation, they create a lot. Super active (defensemen). Their (defensemen) are generating a lot of offense for them. They’re top of the league in slot shots from their (defensemen), entries from their (defensemen). Same thing in the o-zone. They’re super active. So, we’ll need to be aware of that.”
Although Utah needs to be aware of Pittsburgh’s threats, the Mammoth also need to play to their identity.
“It doesn’t change what we have to do,” Tourigny explained. “Our physicality, and our structure, and our pace we will have on those guys. I think we have four lines who can contribute offensively and defensively. Same thing throughout our lineup. Our d-core is pretty deep, so we want to get back to our A-game.”
Sticking With It
There’s plenty of momentum waves throughout games. To find success the Mammoth need to channel their energy the right way and not force plays.
“Their work ethic is never a doubt, it’s well documented,” Tourigny said. “Our level of emotion and engagement in the game sometimes can play against us, and when things are not starting the way we want, we get emotional, we get frustrated. We need to be a little bit more in control in those situations … It’s how you will manage that and how you will bring that energy in the right spot, the right level, who will help you moving forward.”
“I think for the most part this year we’ve done a pretty good job of coming out with a fast start,” Schmaltz shared. “Obviously a couple games that we get behind with it, we start chasing a little bit, and trying to get away and trying to do too much. I think no matter what happens, just staying with it and not trying to do too much when we get down because that’s going to happen. I think that’s our mindset going into tonight.”
