The Utah Mammoth saw their home magic fade Sunday afternoon as the Tampa Bay Lightning stormed into Delta Center and handed them a 4–2 defeat, snapping Utah’s seven-game win streak and ending their perfect 4–0 home record.
From Hot Streak to Setback
After dominating much of October, Utah entered Sunday’s game riding one of the NHL’s hottest streaks. But against a battle-tested Tampa Bay team — winners of back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021 — the Mammoth couldn’t sustain their early momentum.
The loss also marked the end of an eight-game point streak for Utah’s top offensive lines. Instead, the team’s goals came from depth players Lawson Crouse and Kailer Yamamoto, both assisted by defenseman Ian Cole.
“We’re professional athletes and we hold ourselves to a standard,” Cole said postgame. “We’ve done that well all year, but today wasn’t up to it.”
Lightning Strike Early and Often
The Lightning’s aggressive forecheck and relentless puck pressure kept Utah’s top scorers quiet. The Mammoth’s first line — Nick Schmaltz, Clayton Keller, and Barrett Hayton — managed only three total shots, all from Keller.
Schmaltz entered the game with an eight-game point streak and ranked fourth in the league in scoring, but Tampa’s defense effectively neutralized him.
“They don’t give you time or space,” said Mammoth head coach Andre Tourigny. “They’re disciplined, they work, and they win puck battles. You have to grind to get anything against a team like that.”
Yamamoto led Utah in shots with four, showing grit and pace on the third line. Tourigny praised the effort from both Crouse’s and Yamamoto’s units for their energy and consistency.
Power Play Struggles
Utah’s usually sharp power play sputtered, going 0-for-3. Tourigny credited Tampa Bay’s discipline and physicality for shutting down the Mammoth’s special teams.
“They win a lot of board battles and make smart clears,” he said. “They compete hard, and that made the difference.”
What’s Next for the Mammoth
Despite the loss, Utah still sits in the top three of the Western Conference’s Central Division with an 8–4 record. The Mammoth’s earlier seven-game win streak remains the second-longest in the NHL this season, behind Tampa’s active five-game run.
Utah now heads east for a tough back-to-back road test against the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday and the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday.
Tourigny emphasized the importance of maintaining composure. “These games test you,” he said. “We’ll learn from this and be ready to respond.”
