\u2014 KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 18, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n That is the kind of result that Utah has been expecting on the power play.<\/p>\n Obviously, things hadn\u2019t quite gone their way through the first few games as they struggled to get the puck across the line despite dangerous chances consistently being generated.<\/p>\n Rather than panic, they believed that pucks would eventually go in, and like Head coach Andre Tourigny noted during his morning skate press conference, they didn\u2019t need to make any changes.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s [the power play] pretty good. Like I said after the game, I think the power play was really good. We had a lot of clean looks, we had a lot of chances,\u201d Tourigny explained.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not planning [to make any change] because the last game was really good.\u201d<\/p>\n The key moving forward however will be consistency.<\/p>\n Not that 1\/4 on the power play is bad by any means, and it\u2019s certainly a step in the right direction, but they need to keep scoring and not just in 5-on-3 situations.<\/p>\n With the second most power play opportunities in the league (20), Utah needs to continue capitalizing on their chances in order to balance things out and at least inch back into the low 20\u2019s in terms of their season average.<\/p>\n Then we can officially say that the power play is back.<\/p>\n \u201cI still think we have room to improve,\u201d Nick Schmaltz said post-game. \u201cTonight, we had a five on three, obviously that was a big goal, but I still think we have room to grow.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve been a successful unit in the past and once we start clicking, once we see a few more go in, I think our percentage will skyrocket for us.\u201d<\/p>\n Liam O\u2019Brien scored a pivotal spicy goal to retake the lead for Utah<\/p>\n Returning to the lineup and making his season debut, Liam O\u2019Brien captured his first goal in a Utah sweater on Friday night that could not have come at a better time.<\/p>\n Following a bit of a collapse by Utah in the second period with two unanswered from the Sharks to tie the game, O\u2019Brien dug in and regained the lead for his team with a pivotal goal.<\/p>\n Relentless and unwavering effort.<\/p>\n The kind of goal you\u2019d expect from No. 38.<\/p>\n Keep that puck Spicy! https:\/\/t.co\/dXZlE6ZNy8<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 18, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n In true Spicy Tuna fashion, No. 38 burst into the offensive zone on the forecheck with unwavering energy and bested Yaroslav Askarov who was attempting to play the puck.<\/p>\n After generating the turnover, O\u2019Brien then remained strong and backhanded the puck into the open net to regain the lead.<\/p>\n According to him, his excitement was at a 10 once that puck crossed the line for his first Utah goal.<\/p>\n \u201cTen. It was a ten. All the way a ten. It was a great feeling & let\u2019s score some more this year,\u201d O\u2019Brien said with a grin on his face.<\/p>\n Liam O\u2019Brien ranked his excitement at a 10 when the puck crossed the line for his first goal:<\/p>\n \u201cTen. It was a ten. All the way a ten. It was a great feeling & let\u2019s score some more this year.\u201d pic.twitter.com\/iKQahXRu7v<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 18, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n That kind of effort cannot be overlooked or undervalued.<\/p>\n O\u2019Brien knows his role and fully understands that he\u2019s not going to light up the scoresheet.<\/p>\n But he battles and offers an undeniable energy that becomes infectious.<\/p>\n \u201cIt [his infectious energy] is for everybody. For the crowd, for the players, for everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe has that drive. He had no training camp, barely practiced with the team, and like I often say, he\u2019s really focused, on detail, & played a really good game.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s where he provides value and he\u2019s more than happy to fulfill that role for Utah.<\/p>\n Nick Schmaltz captured the first hat-trick in Delta Center history as Utah erupted offensively<\/p>\n Scoring six goals on the night with the first-ever hat-trick on Delta Center ice from Nick Schmaltz, Friday\u2019s win was a statement performance offensively for the Utah Mammoth.<\/p>\n In addition to recovering from a poor stretch in the second that allowed San Jose back into the contest, Utah put their foot back on the gas and refused to let the Sharks up for air as they put the game away with three goals in the third period.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve been checking well, playing good away from the puck but ultimately, you\u2019ve got to score goals to win games,\u201d Schmaltz explained.<\/p>\n \u201cWe did a better job of that tonight & hopefully it\u2019s a sign of good things to come.\u201d<\/p>\n Nick Schmaltz says that tonight was a statement performance offensively:<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve been checking well, playing good away from the puck but ultimately, you\u2019ve got to score goals to win games.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe did a better job of that tonight & hopefully it\u2019s a sign of good things to come.\u201d pic.twitter.com\/kECtoFVYnQ<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 18, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n A quick word on Schmaltz, that was likely his best performance in a Utah sweater.<\/p>\n Registering the second hat-trick of his career (with his grandfather in attendance) Schmaltz was on a mission from puck drop as he hounded the crease, battled for loose pucks and put himself in dangerous positions to score goals.<\/p>\n Most importantly, he buried his chances.<\/p>\n A well oiled machine on the power play, Utah worked the zone and remained patient until the right opportunity surfaced.<\/p>\n Gorgeous finish from Schmaltz.<\/p>\n 1-0 Utahpic.twitter.com\/NcnSjiEEaQ<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 18, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Hatty watch for Schmaltz \ud83c\udfa9\ud83c\udfa9\ud83d\udc40 https:\/\/t.co\/HboniqZABi<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 18, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n At this point do we make Schmaltzy our profile picture?!??! pic.twitter.com\/iFnIgPTRsM<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) October 18, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n But it wasn\u2019t just Schmaltz that lit up the scoresheet, Clayton Keller posted four points (1G, 3A), O\u2019Brien scored his first and Michael Carcone even joined in on the fun with a goal of his own.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udea8 MICHAEL CARCONE GETS IN ON THE FUN!<\/p>\n 5-2, Utah. pic.twitter.com\/HFd5kQ1XJJ<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) October 18, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Kells notches his first of the season \ud83d\udcaa pic.twitter.com\/hbovmP1TCV<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) October 18, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Utah desperately needed that result.<\/p>\n They needed to score on the power play, see a bunch of production from the top line and absolutely bury a team.<\/p>\n Now that the pressure is off a little bit and they can relax, consistency will be key.<\/p>\n Finish the home stand with at least one more win and do whatever it takes to keep lighting the lamp.<\/p>\n This team is very talented offensively.<\/p>\n Just took them a few games to remember.<\/p>\n What\u2019s next for the Utah Mammoth?<\/p>\n The Utah Mammoth will continue their home stand against the Boston Bruins on Sunday at 5 p.m. MT.<\/p>\n The game will be available on NHL Network and Mammoth+.<\/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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