Nick Schmaltz Shines in Mammoth Victory
In a commanding performance, Nick Schmaltz showcased his remarkable skills with a second hat trick this season, contributing five points in the Utah Mammoth’s impressive 6-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks late Monday night in Salt Lake City. This marks Schmaltz’s third career hat trick in the NHL, bringing his season goal tally to 22, just one shy of the personal best he achieved while with Arizona in the 2021-2022 season.
Team Contributions
The Mammoth also saw notable contributions from JJ Peterka, who netted his 20th goal of the season, and John Marino, who recorded a goal along with two assists. Mikhail Sergachev added to the scoreboard, helping the Mammoth snap a two-game losing streak. Goaltender Karel Vejmelka stood strong, making 21 saves throughout the match.
Game Highlights
The scoring began with Schmaltz making a mark by netting two goals in the opening period, enabling Utah to secure a 2-1 advantage. The ensuing second period featured a power play goal from Sergachev, followed by contributions from Marino and Peterka, stretching the lead to 5-1. Schmaltz finished strong, completing his hat trick with a goal at 7:38 in the third period after receiving an assist from Clayton Keller during a breakaway.
Canucks’ Struggles
For the Canucks, Liam Ohgren and Teddy Blueger each found the net, but struggled to overcome a challenging match. Goaltender Kevin Lankinen managed to keep the scoreline from worsening by making 14 saves. Vancouver’s struggles continue as the team has now won only twice in the past 18 games, with both of those victories coming during an eight-game homestand that concluded Saturday with a close 3-2 shootout loss to Toronto.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, the Canucks will travel to Las Vegas for a matchup on Wednesday, marking their last game before the Olympic break, while the Mammoth will host the Detroit team on the same evening before pausing for the festivities.
