MORNING SKATE NOTES
- The Mammoth did not hold morning skate with today’s early game, rather the group had a practice on Saturday to prepare
- This is the lone home game between two four-game road trips for Utah, who remains undefeated at home going into today’s contest
Rest and Recovery
Utah started the season with 11 games in 20 days and seven of those contests were on the road. It was a grind throughout that stretch; however, the Mammoth went 8-3-0 in that span. After the team’s most recent road trip, Utah had four days off from game action.
"That was an opportunity for us to rest a little bit but as well to put some gas in the tank because we'll need it,” head coach André Tourigny shared. “We'll have two back-to-backs in the next week or so and then we'll have a really tough stretch ahead. So, it was important to do that and as well addressing a few things where we want to be better. Having that said, it's four days and it will be time to play. It's long."
After Sunday’s game at home against the Lightning, the Mammoth are back on the road with another four-game road trip.
Bouncing Back
After the Mammoth’s seven game win streak was snapped in their last game, the team is focused on controlling their effort and getting back into the win column.
“There’s so many ups and downs throughout the year,” Nick Schmaltz shared. “There’s so many games. You’re going to win, you’re going to lose some, you’re going to go on some win streaks and losing streaks, just the way it is. But if you can try to bring the same effort every night, over time, you’re going to get more wins than losses.”
Facing the Bolts
The Lightning are a tough opponent year after year, and the team enters Sunday’s game on a four-game win streak. The Mammoth are focused on executing their game to the highest ability to be strong defensively and create opportunities offensively.
“We need to make sure we play hard without the puck,” Tourigny explained. “We play good structure defensively, and we play with a lot of energy offensively. A lot of determination, winning our battles, a lot of speed, pace, and use our creativity, our skill, and our hockey sense in the right way.”
Part of getting a win against the Tampa Bay Lightning will be managing the highs and lows throughout the game. Handling momentum swings and fighting through adversity in games is something the Mammoth have done well throughout the first 11 games of the season.
“If we score a goal or they score a goal, the next shift after is big just to get the momentum back,” Schmaltz explained. “Someone goes out and lays a big hit or whatever it may be, just to get some momentum back on our side. There’s so many ups and downs throughout the game, stay even keeled throughout, no matter what happens, you’re ready for your next shift.”
