Everybody may be wondering when Utah’s offense will start to blossom — and rightfully so. After all, the biggest move the Mammoth made this season was acquiring JJ Peterka to help boost their offensive production. But when Utah has the defensive performance it just did in its 3-1 win over the Calgary Flames in its home opener, it won’t matter if the offense needs some time to warm up. Allowing only one goal on a Calgary power play and just eight Calgary shots on net through the first two periods, the Mammoth defense hardly let Calgary come close to the net. However, it was Utah’s defensive performance in the third that really made the difference, standing strong against a late push from the Flames that featured 12 shots on goal and extended time in Utah’s defensive zone. Introducing Utah Mammoths' New Mascot: Tusky, the Blue-Mohawked Mammoth [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/c3fa849c-f154-4498-9bac-d8f3a1eed181.jpeg] Introducing Utah Mammoths' New Mascot: Tusky, the Blue-Mohawked Mammoth Tusky introduced himself for the first time with a surprise appearance prior to Utah's Mammoths puck drop against the Calgary Flames. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/utah/latest-news/introducing-tusky-the-utah-mammoth-s-new-blue-mohawked-mascot-1] “In the third, I think [Calgary] had a really good push,” said André Tourigny. “I like the way we managed it defensively... but we turned the puck over a little bit too much.” Thanks to Karel Vejmelka, any turnovers Utah made didn’t result in goals due to his active goaltending. “You know, it’s all about staying sharp and mentally focused,” said Vejmelka. “It wasn’t easy for us in the first period, but I expected the pressure in the third, and we did a really good job defensively. I just needed to make a couple of good saves. It’s a big team win.” But it wasn’t just Vejmelka who showed up, it was a true defensive effort that won Utah this game. SECOND PERIOD SHOWS OFFENSIVE FLASHES Though it was the Mammoth offense that ultimately won the home opener, a flashy and energy-filled second period showed signs of what could come for Utah’s attack. Down 1-0 after a penalty-filled first period, Utah came out cool and collected as the puck dropped in the second. The passing was crisp, the movement was good, and Barrett Hayton made Utah’s first goal look effortless. It may have not been the greasy goal Utah has been looking to get, but Hayton's close net front goal is exactly what Utah's offense has needed more of. Soon after Hayton's goal, Peterka would add a goal of his own — his first at the Delta Center and second on the season— after a perfectly timed pass interception sent him racing in for the score. Utah's offense truly ignited in the second, adding on 18 shots on goal-- with Calgary only managing to get three-- and having four power play opportunities to go along with the two goals Though it wouldn't manage to score on any of its power plays, the amount of time Utah possessed the puck and stay out of its defensive zone allowed the team to have its most dominant period of the season The Flames had no chance to respond back even if they wanted to. Utah's offense will still need to figure out how it can consistently play as high flying and fast as it did in the second period, but it was a very encouraging sign. POWER PLAY STRUGGLES CONTINUES What’s not an encouraging sign is the fact that Utah not only went an abysmal 0-for-6 on tonight’s power play, but that it has gone 1-for-16 on the whole season. “We need to put it in. How many chances did we have, 6 million?” said Tourigny. “We have 2-on-0, we have breakaways, we have one-timer from the slot. We’ll take that every night, and if we keep doing the same thing that we did tonight for the remaining 78 games, I’m not worried about our power play one bit.” Utah still benefited from its power play in tonight’s game against Calgary, but it needs more production out of it — desperately. After all, power plays defined Utah’s 3-1 loss against the Chicago Blackhawks. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/utah/latest-news/jj-peterka-gets-first-mammoth-goal-utah-loses-3-1-to-blackhawks] At least in tonight’s game, Utah’s power play offered lots of creative looks, as Tourigny mentioned, instead of relying on Schmaltz in the middle every time. But the team could still use some diversity, namely, some Mikhail Sergachev long shots. But if Tourigny’s not worried, then the Mammoth should get its power play right. At least it can’t get much worse than it’s been. TUSKY THE GOOD LUCK CHARM Tusky, the new Utah Mammoth mascot is introduced to the fans before the game against the Calgary Flames at Delta Center. (Rob Gray-Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/e21ff45d-1ae8-450e-b4b9-0ffd552a5351.jpeg] Tusky, the new Utah Mammoth mascot is introduced to the fans before the game against the Calgary Flames at Delta Center. (Rob Gray-Imagn Images) Is Tusky, Utah Mammoth's new mascot [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/utah/latest-news/introducing-tusky-the-utah-mammoth-s-new-blue-mohawked-mascot-1], officially a good luck charm? Maybe it's a bit early to say that. Still, it's undeniable that Utah is undefeated when Tusky is in the stands blowing fire extinguishers at Flames' fans, playing air guitar and watching Utah Mammoth goals with Ryan Smith. But with Utah in the midst of a four-game homestand, Tusky is sure to show even more personality than he did emerging from cryosleep during pregame warmups. The antics he may bring are unpredictable, but it’ll surely be exciting to see what he brings for Utah’s nationally televised game against the San Jose Sharks on Friday, Oct. 16.
