\u2014 KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 24, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n For the most part, Utah\u2019s first period woes against Philadelphia and Nashville were nearly identical.<\/p>\n After a sluggish start from puck drop, Utah failed to assert themselves on the forecheck which limited dangerous chances and allowed the opposition to dictate the pace.<\/p>\n However, as previously mentioned, Utah won both of those games as they pushed back and found ways to swing the momentum in their favor through the second and third periods.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we\u2019ve done a good job at sticking with it,\u201d Barrett Hayton said. \u201cThat\u2019s something we talked about a little bit ago is staying with it for sixty minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat being said, I don\u2019t think we want to have those starts. There\u2019s been a couple in a row like that we\u2019ve got to clean up.\u201d<\/p>\n Like Hayton pointed out, slow starts are still never ideal, especially against the likes of Tampa Bay, Florida and Carolina who will not be as forgiving as the previous two opponents.<\/p>\n An explosive second period fueled the Utah Mammoth to victory<\/p>\n If you start slow in the National Hockey League, you have no choice but to respond in the second period which is exactly what the Mammoth did in Nashville.<\/p>\n Following their sluggish start through the first frame as they lacked aggression and were unable to generate any dangerous scoring chances, Utah adjusted their approach and lit Nashville\u2019s net on fire.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we had a little bit of a slow start,\u201d Head Coach Andre Tourigny explained. \u201cWe came up stronger in the second and third.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe were getting better and better every shift in the second period.\u201d<\/p>\n What was the biggest difference?<\/p>\n Just as Nashville attacked them in the first, Utah went right at the crease as they put pucks towards the net and crashed with a purpose.<\/p>\n The result?<\/p>\n Three goals in five minutes that stunned the Predators and essentially put the game out of reach as Utah captured all momentum.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s (in front of the net) where a lot of goals are scored,\u201d Hayton said. \u201cYou saw that tonight. Even if it\u2019s not a direct play, some of those point shots in traffic and even just getting those recoveries off that and being able to attack is huge.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think that has been an area of emphasis and it\u2019s been paying off.\u201d<\/p>\n WHAT A GOAL BY CLAYTON KELLER \ud83e\udd29 pic.twitter.com\/sxzXVSEQSK<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 NHL (@NHL) January 24, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Carcone in on his own! \ud83e\udd2f<\/p>\n 2-1, Utah. pic.twitter.com\/gN4XxwE1Gu<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) January 24, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Yams deflected out front!<\/p>\n \ud83d\udea8 3-1, Utah. pic.twitter.com\/ybd1Lj2a2E<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) January 24, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n While hockey is obviously a very complex sport, it\u2019s also very simple.<\/p>\n Generally, the team that imposes their will towards the front of the net wins the hockey game.<\/p>\n When Utah shies away from that and exclusively attacks from the perimeter, they often lose.<\/p>\n But when they\u2019re able to get to the inside, generate traffic and pounce on loose pucks, they consistently win games.<\/p>\n Like General Manager Bill Armstrong has said before on his radio appearances with the KSL Sports Zone, \u201cYou want bread? You go the bakery. You want money? You go the bank. You want goals? You go to the front of the net.\u201d<\/p>\n As long as Utah plays with that mindset, they\u2019ll continue to produce positive results.<\/p>\n The Utah Mammoth are hitting their stride as a team<\/p>\n The Utah Mammoth are on fire.<\/p>\n After beating Nashville 5-2 on Saturday afternoon, Utah has amassed a Western Conference best 9-1-1 record in January with 58 total points in the top Wild Card spot.<\/p>\n How\u2019ve they accomplished it?<\/p>\n In addition to collective consistency and confidence, Utah\u2019s hot streak has been a group effort as players up and down the roster have continuously stepped up.<\/p>\n Of the 44 goals (fifth most in the NHL) Utah has scored in January, 15 of Utah\u2019s 23-man roster (65 percent) have found the back of the net.<\/p>\n Additionally, Utah has also received elite consistency from their top players as Clayton Keller (3G, 13A), Nick Schmaltz (6G, 7A), Dylan Guenther (6G, 5A), Lawson Crouse (4G, 6A), and Karel Vejmelka (.915 SV%) have all taken their games to a different level.<\/p>\n Assuming that a playoff berth will yet again require approximately 95 points, Utah has put themselves in a really good spot to begin 2026.<\/p>\n With 31 games left on their schedule (17 at home), realistically, Utah needs to win roughly 18 (58 percent) of those to basically guarantee themselves a playoff spot.<\/p>\n Doable?<\/p>\n Absolutely.<\/p>\n The way this team has been playing is very promising and their roster will only improve as Logan Cooley returns within the next month.<\/p>\n However, nothing is ever guaranteed, and Utah needs to continue to play with a consistent approach as they enter a difficult stretch against top-tier opponents.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to be ready,\u201d Tourigny said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re in a stretch where we know what we have to do. We try not to complicate things. We try to simplify, simplify, and simplify. We need to keep going that way.\u201d<\/p>\n What\u2019s next for the Utah Mammoth?<\/p>\n The Utah Mammoth will continue their four-game road trip against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday night at 5 p.m. MT.<\/p>\n The game will be available on Mammoth+.<\/p>\n All Mammoth games will also be broadcast live on the KSL Sports Zone (97.5 FM\/1280 AM).<\/p>\n Cole Bagley is the Utah Mammoth insider for KSL Sports.\u00a0Keep up with him on X here<\/a>.\u00a0You can hear Cole break down the team on KSL Sports Zone and KSL 5 TV.
\nTake us with you, wherever you go.<\/p>\n
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