Latest news with #NickSchmaltz
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fans Have Very Mixed Reaction to Utah Mammoth Announcement
The Utah NHL Franchise has finalized plans for a new mascot and logo. The team will now move forward as the Utah Mammoth. The team also released the jersey idea for the new identity, giving fans a chance to take everything in. This comes after a long process where the team allowed fans to vote on the new mascot. Many wanted the Utah Yeti to come about, but it seems that Mammoth won the day. Advertisement Naturally, many fans took to social media to give their thoughts on this moment. It was a very mixed review for the new franchise, with people having different opinions on it all. Utah Hockey Club center Nick Schmaltz (8) celebrates goal with center Clayton Keller (9) against the Nashville Predators during the second period at Bridgestone Roberts-Imagn Images One fan seemed to love the team's new look, writing, "The Utah Mammoth instantly becomes one of the best looking logos in all of professional sports. Ryan Smith and company listened to fans and absolutely nailed this." Another went in the complete opposite direction, criticizing the jersey look, "It's official the Utah Hockey Club are now the Mammoth as expected for some time now. Why do new logos all look like a default Madden 2004 create-a-team logo? The National Lacrosse League Mammoth have a much better logo." Advertisement Here is another fan who agreed on the vibe of the jersey's look, "I'm not gonna say it's the worst thing I've ever seen but the new Utah Mammoth logo has definite "default logo when playing ESPN Fantasy Hockey" vibe.: Another fan seemed to enjoy most of the jersey reveal, "Utah Mammoth is official, as spoiled by their YouTube channel change last week — I'm glad they're keeping the colors and I appreciate the logo. I think Yetis could have been a little more aggressive but I like the tusks!!" This fan enjoyed the new look, hyping it up, "The scriptwriters are on fire. Utah will be able to draft a franchise changing player who will likely debut the brand new Mammoth jersey." All in all, fans seem torn on the new design, and many wanted them to go with the Yei as the mascot. But Utah now has some direction and can get started on building a brand in Salt Lake City. Related: Calvin Pickard Records Incredible Oilers Feat For First Time in 40 Years
New York Times
15-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Blues can clinch playoff spot in regular-season finale vs. Utah: 6 storylines to know
ST. LOUIS — In one sense, history matters little. Forget the St. Louis Blues' record against the Arizona/Utah franchise, the success of Nick Schmaltz and St. Louisan Clayton Keller against them, Jordan Binnington's resume on the big stage, how they've been playing lately on home ice, or their three-game winless skid. Advertisement With a trip to the NHL playoffs on the line in the Blues' regular-season finale, the reset button will be hit on all that when they host the Utah Hockey Club at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Enterprise Center. If St. Louis (94 points) can win in regulation, it'll clinch a wild-card spot in the Western Conference. If not, the Calgary Flames could catch them. If the Blues lose, the Flames need just 3 points in their last two games to secure the spot. If the Blues win in overtime or a shootout, the Flames could win their last two games in regulation and would have more regulation wins than the Blues (32-31), which is the first tiebreaker. 'I'm really excited,' St. Louis coach Jim Montgomery said Monday. 'The word 'opportunity,' to me, is such a positive word. It's an opportunity to seize the moment and to do something special. That's what's in front of us.' Though it's true in one sense that history will matter little Tuesday, in another sense, it could mean a lot. The Blues don't have a good track record against their opponent and a couple of its players in particular. And though they would like to think a 0-2-1 record after a 12-game winning streak is nothing to worry about, the club has to climb out of it. 'You just embrace it,' Blues center Robert Thomas said. 'The last couple of years, we haven't been in this spot, and it's been frustrating. You wanted to be in this spot, and now that you're in this spot, you've got to enjoy it. 'We had our backs against the wall coming out of the (4 Nations Face-Off) break and went on a nice run there. Now our backs are against the wall where we have a chance to clinch. We're not scared of it.' As St. Louis looks to avoid a three-year playoff drought, which would match its franchise high in 2005-08, here's a six-point primer on what you need to know before Tuesday's game. In the past five seasons, here's where the Arizona/Utah franchise finished in the NHL overall standings: 22nd, 31st, 27th, 27th in Arizona and 19th in its first season in Utah. Yet in those five years, the Blues' combined record against the club is 10-11-1. The breakdown is 3-4-1 (2020-21), 3-1 (2021-22), 1-2 (2022-23), 2-2 (2023-24) and 1-2 (2024-25). Advertisement That said, captain Brayden Schenn doesn't believe the team's lack of success against Utah is a factor. 'It doesn't do you any good to worry about past records — we need one game,' Schenn said. 'We have one game against them, and we need to go out there, execute and win. They're a good hockey team, lots of skill. At the same time, we're confident in our group where we can go out there, play hard for one another in front of our fans and go out and get 2 points.' If you've watched the Blues play Utah/Arizona in recent years, you know Keller and Schmaltz have owned them. In 31 career games versus the Blues, Keller has 12 goals and 22 assists (34 points), including four game-winning goals and a 17.9 percent shooting percentage. In 36 games, Schmaltz has 14 goals and 22 assists (36 points), with two game-winning goals and a 23 percent shooting percentage. 'We're aware,' Schenn said. 'Keller and Schmaltz have been good against us. We don't worry about, kind of, what they've done in the past; it's the next game. There's no sense of looking back and wondering what past stats are against a team. We just have to go out there, have a game plan and execute.' 'Yeah, they've got a ton of skill,' Thomas said. 'Keller is from St. Louis, he loves playing in St. Louis, so it's going to be a tough challenge. I think, for us, if we commit to defense and don't get into a run-and-gun game with them, we're going to find a lot of success through that.' No one needs to be reminded of Jordan Binnington's performance in Game 7 against the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Final. Or the 4 Nations Face-Off with Team Canada. 'He's a gamer, for sure,' Schenn said. 'We've all seen that multiple times and in big games. He's confident in himself and that gives the team confidence.' Advertisement The hockey world witnessed Binnington's heroics six years ago, and they were reminded a couple of months ago. 'We've all known in these big moments how much he's stepped up for us, and now everyone knows it,' Thomas said. Binnington may be a mediocre 27-22-5 this season with a 2.72 goal-against average and a .900 save percentage, but even he admits something is different in these types of atmospheres and he's typically at his best. 'I don't know, maybe it's just something takes over,' Binnington said. 'I prepare the same way, (but) some moments are bigger than others.' Playing Tuesday's game at Enterprise Center may not guarantee anything, but it should be an advantage to the Blues after the good run they've had on home ice. At one point this season, the Blues' record on home ice was 13-14-3 (.483 points-percentage), and they were outscored 88-78 in those games. But since Feb. 23, they are 11-0 (1o of the 11 were won in regulation and one in OT), and they have outscored their opponents 51-21. 'The way we've been able to play at home, the way our fans have been engaged, they bring us a ton of energy even when we're down,' Thomas said. 'To have this one in front of our fans, it's going to be a fun night.' The Blues have had seven consecutive sellouts of 18,096 at Enterprise Center and little drop-off this season in general, according to research by The Athletic's James Mirtle. 'The fans deserve this moment,' Binnington said. 'They've been great for us down the stretch, and it's definitely exciting to have it on home ice.' Riding a franchise-high 12-game winning streak, the Blues looked like they might cruise into the playoffs. Then came a three-game road trip against the Winnipeg Jets, Edmonton Oilers and Seattle Kraken in which the Blues went 0-2-1. What does the team need to do in order to get back to its winning ways? Advertisement 'Our puck pressure needs to be better than it's been,' Montgomery said. 'We've been playing safe. The last couple of wins we had, we could see it. So it's the puck pressure and being more relentless. 'It's hard to be close to perfect, it just is, and the league humbles you when you're not close to perfect. You're not going to be able to play great when you're playing 18 games in the month of March. I mean, it's just not happening.' But Montgomery realizes it's more than just the schedule. The Blues have to get back to their good habits. 'Forecheck hard, take care of the middle of the ice, win more net-fronts,' Luke Schenn said. 'It's the simple things we've got to execute a little bit better, and play a little bit more aggressive throughout the game that let us have the puck more. It's not from a lack of trying. I just think we have to do a better job of it.' Everybody's concern is Blues forward Dylan Holloway, and that's understandable. He's been out since April 3 with a lower-body injury, and the Blues are 1-2-1 since he left. 'He's a driver, he's a guy that creates a lot of offense for us, and he's big and powerful,' Schenn said. 'We'd obviously love to have him, but we've got to go out there and get the job done without him.' Montgomery repeated Monday that Holloway is listed as week-to-week. 'He was on the ice before we went on the (road) trip. He was doing some stick-handling,' Montgomery said. 'But it hasn't been anything rigorous, like even close to being ready to get back on the ice with us.' So without Holloway, the Blues rolled out some familiar lines in Monday's practice, with Mathieu Joseph in and Dalibor Dvorsky out. 'The success that we've had, it's pretty obvious since Thomas and (Pavel) Buchnevich's game has gone skyward, our success has gone skyward,' Montgomery said. 'But for me, for (Tuesday), everybody relishing their role is important.' #stlblues practice lineup: Neighbours-Thomas-BuchnevichSnuggerud-Schenn-KyrouJoseph-Sundqvist-BolducToropchenko-Faksa-WalkerExtras: Dvorsky, Texier Fowler-ParaykoBroberg-FaulkSuter-LeddyExtras: Tucker, Kessel BinningtonHofer — Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) April 14, 2025 Defensively, Colton Parayko is feeling well after his first game back since early March, so he'll remain in the lineup, and Philip Broberg will play after missing one game for a personal matter. That created a decision — who to sit on the blueline? — and Montgomery said it will be Tyler Tucker. 'It's really difficult because Tucks has played great for us,' Montgomery said. 'He's a big part of our identity with the physicality and the 'in-y0ur-face' hockey that he plays. But you know, we're going with experience.' Here's how many games they've each played in the regular season and playoffs: The Blues have won some important games this season, enough to put them in Tuesday's dramatic finale, and they're expecting the same type of performance. 'We've got five Stanley Cup winners that wore the Blue Note that are still playing for us,' Montgomery said. 'There's a lot of experience in winning throughout our lineup, and I expect those guys to lead us.' (Top photo of Robert Thomas and teammates: Dilip Vishwanat / Getty Images)
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lightning visit the Utah Hockey Club on 3-game win streak
Tampa Bay Lightning (40-23-5, in the Atlantic Division) vs. Utah Hockey Club (31-27-11, in the Central Division) Salt Lake City; Saturday, 5 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: The Tampa Bay Lightning aim to keep their three-game win streak going when they visit the Utah Hockey Club. Utah is 14-13-7 at home and 31-27-11 overall. The Utah Hockey Club rank 10th in league play with 261 total penalties (averaging 3.8 per game). Tampa Bay has gone 16-15-3 in road games and 40-23-5 overall. The Lightning have gone 18-6-1 in games they convert at least one power play. The matchup Saturday is the first meeting of the season between the two teams. TOP PERFORMERS: Logan Cooley has 19 goals and 32 assists for the Utah Hockey Club. Nick Schmaltz has five goals and five assists over the last 10 games. Jake Guentzel has 33 goals and 31 assists for the Lightning. Gage Goncalves has three goals and one assist over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Utah Hockey Club: 5-3-2, averaging 3.1 goals, 5.4 assists, 3.9 penalties and 9.8 penalty minutes while giving up 2.8 goals per game. Lightning: 6-3-1, averaging three goals, five assists, 3.5 penalties and 7.5 penalty minutes while giving up 2.4 goals per game. INJURIES: Utah Hockey Club: None listed. Lightning: None listed. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Associated Press
21-03-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Lightning visit the Utah Hockey Club on 3-game win streak
Tampa Bay Lightning (40-23-5, in the Atlantic Division) vs. Utah Hockey Club (31-27-11, in the Central Division) Salt Lake City; Saturday, 5 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: The Tampa Bay Lightning aim to keep their three-game win streak going when they visit the Utah Hockey Club. Utah is 14-13-7 at home and 31-27-11 overall. The Utah Hockey Club rank 10th in league play with 261 total penalties (averaging 3.8 per game). Tampa Bay has gone 16-15-3 in road games and 40-23-5 overall. The Lightning have gone 18-6-1 in games they convert at least one power play. The matchup Saturday is the first meeting of the season between the two teams. TOP PERFORMERS: Logan Cooley has 19 goals and 32 assists for the Utah Hockey Club. Nick Schmaltz has five goals and five assists over the last 10 games. Jake Guentzel has 33 goals and 31 assists for the Lightning. Gage Goncalves has three goals and one assist over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Utah Hockey Club: 5-3-2, averaging 3.1 goals, 5.4 assists, 3.9 penalties and 9.8 penalty minutes while giving up 2.8 goals per game. Lightning: 6-3-1, averaging three goals, five assists, 3.5 penalties and 7.5 penalty minutes while giving up 2.4 goals per game. Lightning: None listed. ___
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nick Schmaltz scores the shootout winner to send Utah to a 5-4 victory over the Capitals
WASHINGTON (AP) — Nick Schmaltz scored the shootout winner, leading the Utah Hockey Club to a 5-4 win over the Washington Capitals on Sunday. Josh Doan and Dylan Guenther each had a goal and an assist, and Michael Carcone and Jack McBain also scored for Utah, which has won three of its last four games. Utah jumped out to an early lead when Doan scored just over a minute into the game and Carcone scored 32 seconds later. Connor Ingram had nine saves on 11 shots before leaving the game due to an upper-body injury. Karel Vejmelka stopped 30 of 32 shots in relief and all three shootout attempts for Utah. Tom Wilson scored twice, Alex Ovechkin had three assists and Dylan Strome and Pierre-Luc Dubois added goals for Washington, which has lost three of its last five games. Logan Thompson, who entered the game ranked second in the NHL in save percentage, made 24 saves. Takeaways Utah: Dylan Guenther continues to be a force on offense, extending his point streak to four games. He has seven points in that span and reached the 20-goal mark for the first time in his career. Capitals: After going three straight games without a power-play goal, Washington went 2 for 2 with a man advantage. Key moment After a late rally by Washington forced overtime and an eventual shootout, Nick Schmaltz deked Thompson and beat him high on the stick side. Key stat Alex Ovechkin didn't inch closer to Wayne Gretzky's scoring record, but his three assists extended his point streak to five games and moved him past Phil Esposito for 11th place on the NHL's all-time point list. Up next After a break for the 4 Nations Face-Off, the Capitals are at Pittsburgh on Feb. 22. Utah is at Los Angeles, also on Feb. 22. ___ AP NHL:
