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<\/p>\nThe Utah Mammoth are closing in on a playoff spot, and Saturday night\u2019s 6\u20132 win over the Los Angeles Kings felt like more than just two points for a young team trying to secure its place in the Western Conference race.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re right behind us,\u201d defenseman Mikhail Sergachev said. \u201cIt was kind of a four-point game for us. It\u2019s huge.\u201d<\/p>\n
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With the victory, Utah strengthened its position in the crowded wild card picture, holding a five-point cushion as of Monday.<\/p>\n
Western Conference wild card standings show the Mammoth in control of their fate, though the race remains tight behind them, with Utah holding 82 points in 74 games, followed by the Nashville Predators at 77 points in 74 games, the Los Angeles Kings at 76 points in 73 games, the Seattle Kraken at 75 points in 72 games, and the Winnipeg Jets at 74 points in 73 games.<\/p>\n
According to MoneyPuck.com, Utah now sits with a 94% probability of reaching the postseason for the first time since relocating to the state, a milestone that reflects both consistency and timely production as the schedule winds down.<\/p>\n
Forward Alexander Kerfoot, who delivered a two-goal effort against Los Angeles, emphasized the mindset inside the locker room as the stakes continue to rise.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe\u2019ve almost got a youthful excitement to our team, where we haven\u2019t had any scars for the most part, and we\u2019re not scared of much,\u201d Kerfoot said via The Salt Lake Tribune. \u201cWe\u2019ve just got to enjoy the moment, enjoy this stretch. Realize these are hard games to win and the job\u2019s far from done, but we\u2019re in a good spot.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kerfoot, who has battled injuries that limited him to fewer than half the season\u2019s games, appears to be rounding into form at a crucial time. Through his return, he has produced five goals and five assists, with eight regular season games remaining to further impact Utah\u2019s push.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is what I want to play for. I want to play in these important games down the stretch and be in the playoffs,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s tough coming back into it. I think I can still get better. I\u2019ve still got more to give \u2026 and it\u2019s just about going out there and doing it. This is the time everyone wants to be playing. No better time than now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Head coach Andr\u00e9 Tourigny praised Kerfoot\u2019s versatility and recent uptick in play, pointing to both his offensive instincts and defensive reliability.<\/p>\n
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\u201cIn the last week, he\u2019s really improved,\u201d Tourigny said. \u201cHis drive to the net, he has better net presence, he wins big face-offs for us.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a little bit of a Swiss Army knife. He can do everything. He\u2019s a good offensive player, where he has poise with the puck and creates possession. But, as well, he\u2019s super reliable defensively. \u2026 We\u2019re fortunate to have him and that kind of depth.\u201d<\/p>\n
Utah will have a brief pause before returning to action Thursday night, a four-day break Tourigny views as an important opportunity to reset physically and mentally.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s important at this time of the year,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s a different break than others in the sense that we need to take it really seriously and manage it right.\u201d<\/p>\n
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When play resumes, the Mammoth will host the Seattle Kraken in another matchup with direct playoff implications, a game that could further shape the wild card race.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a really important game coming back,\u201d Tourigny said. \u201cThat\u2019s a team that\u2019s chasing us.\u201d<\/p>\n
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