The Mammoth completed their third road preseason game in two nights with tonight's game against the Ducks
In Utah’s third preseason game in two nights, the Mammoth fell 6-1 to the Anaheim Ducks. Dylan Guenther had Utah’s lone goal while Matthew Phillips (2), Beckett Sennecke, Ryan Strome, and Ross Johnston scored for Anaheim.
“I think on (structure) we started really strong, we had a good moment in the o-zone, there’s a few things we did right,” Utah head coach André Tourigny explained post game. “But it’s tough to really accomplish what we want to accomplish in our structure if you’re not more energetic in your battles. The back-to-back probably hurt us a little bit.”
Head coach André Tourigny following a preseason game against the Anaheim Ducks
Anaheim struck first when Drew Helleson scored with 2:55 left in the first period. Troy Terry and Frank Vatrano picked up assists on the tally. Utah had chances in the first period, and outshot their opponent 7-5 through 20 minutes, but the visitors were unable to find the back of the net in the first.
The Mammoth started the second period on the man advantage; however, with 14 seconds left on the power play, a penalty led to a short period of 4-on-4 hockey. Utah’s penalty kill went to work 16 seconds later and kept Anaheim from scoring on the man-advantage.
Anaheim’s offense took control early in the second period as the Ducks scored two goals in 68 seconds to take a 3-0 lead. 4:10 into the second period, Matthew Phillips tipped in Helleson’s shot on the doorstep. Jackson LaCombe also assisted on the tally.
A minute later, Beckett Sennecke’s goal increased the home team’s lead. Tyson Hinds and Leo Carlsson picked up helpers. Following Anaheim’s third goal, Curtis Douglas and Noah Warren dropped the gloves for the game’s second fight.
In the final six minutes of the middle frame, Dylan Guenther’s goal got Utah on the board. The forward drove to the net and beat Anaheim’s netminder Petr Mrázek. Nick Schmaltz and Mikhail Sergachev had assists on the goal.
Gunner gets Utah on the board! pic.twitter.com/sDSnophq4e
With a minute and a half left in the second period, while shorthanded, Guenther was inches away from scoring his second of the game. The forward showed his strong skating and skill; however, Mrázek made the save.
To start the third period, Jaxson Stauber replaced Karel Vejmelka in net, something that is common in preseason games. Vejmelka finished his night with 14 saves on 17 shots through 40 minutes.
The Mammoth were back on the power play to start the third period and had 56 seconds left from a late second period penalty; however, the team was unable to convert. Five and a half minutes into the final frame, the Ducks increased their lead once again. Ryan Strome’s goal made it 4-1 with Terry and LaCombe each picking up their second assists of the game.
With traffic in front of Stauber, Ross Johnston redirected Jan Mysak’s shot and scored. Johnston’s goal increased the Ducks lead to 5-1 halfway through the third period. With five and a half minutes left in regulation, Phillip’s second goal of the night made it 6-1 for the home team. Mikael Granlund and Helleson had assists on the final goal of the night. Stauber finished the night with seven saves on 10 shots through 20 minutes.
When it comes to what the coaching staff takes away and evaluates from preseason games, Tourigny gave some insight post game.
“First, evaluation,” Tourigny said. “Second, you want culture, you want the effort to be there … The third part is the progression, the structure, and what we’re teaching.”
Utah’s bench boss also shared what he wants his players to take away from this first stretch of preseason contests.
“You want from your veterans to get the rhythm and just crank it up a little bit more every day, and to arrive at the right speed when the season starts,” Tourigny explained. “For the young guys, they need to show us they want a job, they want to steal the job (from) someone, and we’re there, we’re looking, and it’s up to them to do that.”
After finishing a busy stretch of three games in two nights, the Mammoth will have Tuesday off before returning to practice on Wednesday. Utah’s next preseason game is on Thursday, Sept. 25 when the Mammoth travel to Las Vegas to face the Golden Knights. Game time is 8 p.m. MT.
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