“Hotter than toast, Nicky Schmaltz” is how Associate Captain Lawson Crouse described the center’s start to the year. Schmaltz leads the NHL with five goals, three of which have been on the power play. In addition to scoring in each of Utah’s first four games of the year, Schmaltz has seven points through that span (5G, 2A). Against the Devils, Schmaltz had a three point night and his second multi-point performance of the season. Schmaltz’s teammates and coach are happy but not surprised about his start.
“Doesn’t surprise me one bit,” Crouse continued. “He's such a composed player. Intelligent hockey player with a lot of hockey IQ and obviously tremendous skill. Such a great guy, great teammate. Couldn't be (happier) for him."
“He could play with a left-handed stick right now and I will take him on my team,” Tourigny said of Schmaltz. “He’s so good everywhere on the ice. Defensively, on every detail, on the track offensively, as a hunter, as a puck carrier. What a player.”
The center reflected on his start of the season and how his teammates have helped him hit five goals through four games.
“I think just constantly trying to work on things,” Schmaltz said. “Get better. Get better finishing around the net. Continuously trying to do that. And I think obviously when our power play is clicking like it has, I’m getting a ton of looks so credit to the guys. Just trying to find spots and they’re finding me, and they’re going in right now. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t, so I’ll just keep working.”
Utah remains lethal on the man-advantage. After scoring on two of their four opportunities against the Devils, the Mammoth are 8-for-13 on power play (61.5%), which is first in the NHL. In addition to plenty of familiarity between these players on the power play, Utah’s special teams focus during training camp has paid off. The Mammoth are connected and attacking quickly on the man-advantage.
“Because we attack really quickly,” Tourigny said of the power play’s success. “I think we don’t settle for possession. We attack. We have a lot of guys who have a high IQ, can think quickly. So, when we’re on the outside, we give time at our opponent to play at their pace, to sit on our option. When we attack the way that we attack, shot on net right off the faceoff, now we bring the game at a pace where you need to think really quickly. Our guys can do that. It will be a battle for us all year long to keep that mindset. For now, we’ll take it.”
"We're getting pucks back,” Schmaltz said on the power play. “We're kind of hemming teams in. If you get 45, a minute into a penalty kill, I think they get exhausted, and then we start picking them apart. We got a ton of skill, but I think our recoveries are huge. If you can get a shot on net, get the puck back, and just kind of keep wearing them down, eventually something's going to break down for them."
A lot of players have hit milestones this year, and another one was hit last night. Alternate captain Mikhail Sergachev recorded his 300th career NHL assist during a three assist night. The defenseman has six points (1G, 5A) through the first four games of the season and is one of four Utah skaters to have six or more points after Tuesday’s game.
Throughout training camp and the start of the season, Tourigny has said his team is bringing a more mature effort. To close out games like Tuesday’s, maturity is needed.
“A lot of patience,” Crouse said of the team’s performance. “There were stretches of game, not a lot of flow for some guys on our team with the amount of penalties. Credit to the guys for sticking in there. We talked about playing a simple game and embracing the challenge of being up in the third period. They made a push, we made a push, they made a push, we made a push, and ultimately came out on top.”
Additional Notes from Tonight
- Center Vincent Trocheck recorded his first goal as a member of the Mammoth. His tally in the final five minutes of regulation doubled Utah’s lead after the Devils pushed back to make it a one goal game. Trocheck took advantage of his linemate setting him up, and the goal showed the growing chemistry between Trocheck, Schmaltz, and captain Clayton Keller on the top line.
- Trocheck is known for his faceoff skills and that is on display early this season. Currently, Trocheck has the 10th highest faceoff win percentage in the NHL (61.7%).
- Defenseman MacKenzie Weegar scored his first of the season in the win. Weegar blocked six shots and brought plenty of physicality as well.
- Center Jack McBain continues to stand up for his teammates. The center fought in his second-straight game, this time against Devils defenseman Brenden Dillon in the third period.
- Schmaltz and Keller are tied for the team-lead in points (7) and are tied for the fourth-most points in the NHL alongside Carolina’s Sebastian Aho. Keller’s six assists are third in the NHL.
Final Stats
Shots: NJD 33, UTA 31
Power Play: UTA 2/4, NJD 1/5
Hits: UTA 24, NJD 10
Blocked Shots: UTA 21, NJD 14
Face-Off %: UTA 51.4%, NJD 48.6%
The Mammoth have two games left on this five-game trip out east. On Thursday, Utah will face the Boston Bruins, and on Saturday, the Mammoth take on the Buffalo Sabres.
Upcoming Schedule
