{"id":443168,"date":"2026-02-03T11:44:33","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T11:44:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/443168\/"},"modified":"2026-02-03T11:44:33","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T11:44:33","slug":"schmaltzs-hat-trick-helps-utah-mammoth-top-vancouver-canucks-3-2-deseret-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/443168\/","title":{"rendered":"Schmaltz’s hat trick helps Utah Mammoth top Vancouver Canucks 3-2 \u2013 Deseret News"},"content":{"rendered":"

The groundhog may have seen its shadow on Monday, but the Utah Mammoth don\u2019t anticipate six more weeks of metaphorical winter.<\/p>\n

After following up a franchise-best home stand<\/a> with a few tough losses, the Mammoth needed a big win. They got it Monday in the form of a 6-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the story.<\/p>\n

\"\"Utah Mammoth right wing Clayton Keller (9) moves the puck against Vancouver Canucks left wing Jake DeBrusk (74) during the first period of an NHL game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Utah Mammoth center Nick Schmaltz (8) celebrates with defenseman Sean Durzi (50) after scoring his second goal of the first period of an NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Utah Mammoth center Nick Schmaltz (8) celebrates with defenseman John Marino (6) and center Barrett Hayton (27) after scoring during the first period of an NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Vancouver Canucks left wing Liam \u00d6hgren (92) celebrates with right wing Conor Garland (8) and center Teddy Blueger (53) after scoring as Utah Mammoth defenseman Nick DeSimone (57) skates past during the first period of an NHL game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Utah Mammoth right wing Dylan Guenther (11) attempts to control the puck head of Vancouver Canucks right wing Conor Garland (8) during the first period of an NHL game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Utah Mammoth center Nick Schmaltz (8) has his shot blocked by Vancouver Canucks defenseman Filip Hronek (17) during the first period of an NHL game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Utah Mammoth defenseman Mikhail Sergachev (98) celebrates after scoring during the second period of an NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Vancouver Canucks center Linus Karlsson (94) attempts to catch a flying puck during the second period of an NHL game against the Utah Mammoth at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Utah Mammoth fans pound the glass after a goal during the second period of an NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Utah Mammoth defenseman Mikhail Sergachev (98) waves as he celebrates after scoring against the Vancouver Canucks during the second period of an NHL game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Utah Mammoth right wing JJ Peterka (77) celebrates with right wing Kailer Yamamoto (56) during the second period of an NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Utah Mammoth center Liam O’Brien (38) shoves Vancouver Canucks defenseman Filip Hronek (17) during the second period of an NHL game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Utah Mammoth right wing JJ Peterka (77) smiles after scoring during the second period of an NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Vancouver Canucks center Teddy Blueger (53) celebrates with defenseman Marcus Pettersson (29) and right wing Conor Garland (8) after scoring during the second period of an NHL game against the Utah Mammoth at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Fans react to a puck flying into the crowd during the first period of an NHL game between the Utah Mammoth and the Vancouver Canucks at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Vancouver Canucks defenseman Elias Pettersson (25) and Utah Mammoth right wing Kailer Yamamoto (56) race for a loose puck during the second period of an NHL game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Utah Mammoth center Liam O’Brien (38) chirps Vancouver Canucks left wing Evander Kane (91) during a break in play during the third period of an NHL game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Utah Mammoth center Liam O’Brien (38) and Vancouver Canucks left wing Evander Kane (91) fight during the third period of an NHL game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Hats fly onto the ice as Utah Mammoth center Nick Schmaltz (8) celebrates scoring his third goal of the game with left wing Lawson Crouse (67) and right wing Clayton Keller (9) during the third period of an NHL game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Utah Mammoth center Nick Schmaltz (8) handles the puck ahead of Vancouver Canucks center Linus Karlsson (94) during the third period of an NHL game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Hats fly as Utah Mammoth center Nick Schmaltz (8) celebrates his hat trick during the third period of an NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"The shadow of Utah Mammoth center Nick Schmaltz (8) falls on the ice as he is introduced as the first star of the game after an NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Vancouver Canucks center Filip Chytil (72) and Utah Mammoth right wing Kailer Yamamoto (56) battle for the puck during the first period of an NHL game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Utah Mammoth center Nick Schmaltz (8) and right wing Clayton Keller (9) skate through a sea of hats that were been thrown onto ice after Schmaltz scored his third goal of the game during the third period of an NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Utah Mammoth players line up to congratulate Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) after defeating the Vancouver Canucks 6-2 in an NHL game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Hats fly as Utah Mammoth center Nick Schmaltz (8) celebrates his hat trick during the third period of an NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News \"\"Hats fly as Utah Mammoth center Nick Schmaltz (8) celebrates his hat trick during the third period of an NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News Quick catchupUtah Mammoth: 6Vancouver Canucks: 2<\/p>\n

When Nick Schmaltz scored a hat trick<\/a> against the San Jose Sharks earlier this season, he\u2019d accomplished the first two goals in the first 13:31 of the game. <\/p>\n

On Monday, he bested that by more than six minutes.<\/p>\n

He completed the hat trick in the third period both games. It\u2019s one of the only situations in hockey when fans are permitted to throw things on the ice, and they did not disappoint.<\/p>\n

In addition to Schmaltz\u2019s four points (he had an assist, too), John Marino had a big game. For the second time this season, he finished with three points \u2014 and this time, he set a new career high in that category.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s very calm under pressure on the breakouts,\u201d said fellow defenseman Mikhail Sergachev of Marino. \u201cI think that\u2019s what makes him one of the greats back there. <\/p>\n

\u201cI like his game a lot. Defensively, too, he\u2019s very smart. Knows his position well. He\u2019s very good.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Canucks fired back with a pair of goals over the course of the game, but it ended the same way two thirds of their game have this season \u2014 with another tally in the \u201cL\u201d column. <\/p>\n

Their management recently used the \u201crebuild\u201d word for the first time in many years, so in an odd way, the game worked out for both teams: Utah moves back into a playoff spot and Vancouver gets one step closer to a lottery pick.<\/p>\n

Tidbits and takeawaysSpecial teams pull through<\/p>\n

The fault for all of the Mammoth\u2019s recent losses has been hung on the special teams.<\/p>\n

Going into this game, their power play was on track to be in the 11th percentile all-time (since they started tracking power play data in 1977-78). Needless to say they needed a win.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s just a start, but they went 1 for 2 with the man-advantage on Monday \u2014 Sergachev scored on a drive from the point. <\/p>\n

The talk around the locker room the last few days had emphasized simplification. The Mammoth weren\u2019t getting enough shots on net, which creates fewer rebounds, deflection opportunities and straight-on goals like Sergachev\u2019s.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just took a shot,\u201d Sergachev said. \u201c… It went in. It was kind of lucky, but it\u2019s a big goal for our power play and kind of gives us confidence that we can shoot and go get rebounds and score goals.\u201d<\/p>\n

They were better on the other side of the puck, too. The goal is always to stay out of the box as much as possible, but they managed to kill off all four of their minor penalties.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think, PK, we did a good job pressuring,\u201d said Schmaltz, who plays on Utah\u2019s second penalty-killing unit. \u201cWe talked about that going into the game. We wanted to make them execute plays and be all over them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI liked our special teams,\u201d Mammoth head coach Andre Tourigny said. \u201cWe were really opportunistic.\u201d<\/p>\n

Add him to the list<\/p>\n

In the 33 days since the calendar flipped to 2026, the NHL has seen 32 hat tricks.<\/p>\n

Schmaltz is the second Mammoth player on the list \u2014 remember, Dylan Guenther scored one<\/a> on New Year\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n

As mentioned, it was Schmaltz\u2019s second three-goal game of the year, meaning the Mammoth join the Chicago Blackhawks as the only teams in the league who have multiple players with multiple hat tricks this season (Logan Cooley has two as well). That stat comes courtesy of the NHL PR department<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been a career year for Schmaltz. He\u2019s on pace for 32 goals and 74 points, and it couldn\u2019t come at a better time: He\u2019s due for a new contract this summer, and he\u2019ll get paid accordingly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel confident, especially playing center,\u201d he said. \u201cI feel like I can use my speed a lot and facilitate and make plays through the middle of the ice. (I\u2019m) playing with some great line mates, so it\u2019s been a lot of fun and hopefully we can keep it going.\u201d<\/p>\n

Schmaltz has won the hearts of a fan base that wasn\u2019t quite sure about him last year. Remember, it took him 23 games to score his first goal with the franchise \u2014 and with his quiet demeanor, many interpreted it as apathy.<\/p>\n

But make no mistake: Nick Schmaltz is a phenomenal hockey player and he cares as much as anyone.<\/p>\n

\u201cI often say if you want to know what\u2019s going on on our team, talk to Schmaltzy. He knows,\u201d Tourigny said. \u201cHe knows who\u2019s in, who\u2019s out; who\u2019s doing what he has to do, who\u2019s not; who\u2019s happy, who\u2019s not; whose wife is not happy, whose wife is happy. … I don\u2019t think you will find any player, not just this year \u2014 ever \u2014 who will say a bad thing about Nick Schmaltz.”<\/p>\n

Goal of the gameMarino \u2014> Schmaltz \u2014> Goal<\/p>\n

Some goals are just not fair for opposing goalies. This was one of those goals. What a pass from John Marino.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The groundhog may have seen its shadow on Monday, but the Utah Mammoth don\u2019t anticipate six more weeks…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":443169,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[5128],"tags":[894,5,3157,4,893,27,5313],"class_list":{"0":"post-443168","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-vancouver-canucks","8":"tag-canucks","9":"tag-hockey","10":"tag-news-feed-local","11":"tag-nhl","12":"tag-vancouver","13":"tag-vancouver-canucks","14":"tag-vancouvercanucks"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nhl\/116006530660551437","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/443168","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=443168"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/443168\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/443169"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=443168"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=443168"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=443168"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}