DENVER – In a tight game between two Central Division teams, the Utah Mammoth fell 2-1 to the Colorado Avalanche. Forward Dylan Guenther’s power play goal in the second period was the Mammoth’s only …
Simashev played 14:25, had two shots, one block, and one hit in his debut. After the game, he reflected on the experience.
“I was nervous, but (not as much as) I expected,” Simashev reflected. “It’s one shift (in) and you just start to play your game. After the first period, (your) thoughts and your brain (are) just only about the game. It’s unbelievable. I’ll remember this (game) all my life. This was my first game and it’s unbelievable.”
Simashev and veteran defenseman Ian Cole were paired together throughout the game and Cole was a valuable resource for the rookie.
“It’s amazing, he’s a good guy,” Simashev said on Cole. “After every shift he just (talked to) me. I like conversation on the bench and he (spoke) with me after shifts, after the period. It’s amazing. He has good experience in this league. He’s 17, maybe 18, years in the NHL but he has experience.”
Tourigny was happy with the rookie’s performance in his first NHL game and expects him to continue growing with each day.
“I think he progressed during the game,” Tourigny explained on Simashev’s game. “I’m happy about his game. I think it’s good he has that (experience for) himself and he will get more (comfortable) every day.”
Colorado may have scored 11 minutes into the game on a tic-tac-toe play to take a 1-0 lead; however, Utah’s defensive effort slowed the Avalanche down in the second period.
Not only did the Mammoth kill off both of their penalties in the middle frame, they kept the Avalanche from recording a single shot on the power play in the second period. Utah outshot Colorado 11-4 in the second, and the Avalanche’s first shot on goal was in the final six minutes of the period.
“That was our pace,” Tourigny said on limiting Colorado in the second. “We attacked them with a lot of speed, but we were above them, we had a lot of pace, and we were good on both sides of the puck, offensively and defensively. I think it’s a hell of a team on the other side and I like the way we reacted.”
Special teams were a significant part of this game and both teams capitalized on the power play. Utah’s lone goal was on the man-advantage and if you blinked, you missed it.
Three seconds into the Mammoth’s second power play of the game, Dylan Guenther’s one-timer beat Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood. The keys to this goal? Winning the faceoff and quick execution. The immediate pass from Clayton Keller to Guenther allowed the winger fire off a shot before Wedgewood could adjust.
For the home team, Nathan MacKinnon’s power play goal in the opening three minutes of the third period gave the Avalanche a 2-1 lead. Despite recording 33 total shots on goal, including 11 in the third period, the Mammoth couldn’t find the equalizer and fell 2-1.
Utah’s season opening road trip continues on as the Mammoth will face the Nashville Predators Saturday night.
Source: Utah News