SANDY, Utah — Late Wednesday night, after the Utah Mammoth’s 5-4 loss in double overtime of Game 5, Clayton Keller stood before reporters in the visitors’ dressing room in Vegas and spoke not of heartbreak, nor of defeat, but of confidence.
“We’re a confident group. We believe in one another and in our team, and I think these are the most fun games to be a part of,” Keller told reporters. After logging just shy of 30 minutes against a Golden Knights club designed to wear down opponents, the captain was already looking ahead to Friday and locking in.
“Down 3-2, we get to go home and play in front of our fans,” he said. “If you’re not fired up for that, then you got something wrong with you.”
Thirty-six hours later, fresh off Friday’s morning skate ahead of a do-or-die Game 6 at home (Sportsnet, Sportsnet+, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT), the message is the same.
“It’s a huge opportunity, it’ll be a lot of fun,” Keller said Friday. “Super confident in our group. We all want to play in these types of games.”
It’s the type of game this franchise has yet to experience as a collective — a win-or-stay home situation for the Mammoth, who enter Friday’s matchup at Delta Center down a game in the series and ready to lay it all on the line to push for Game 7.
Despite suffering back-to-back overtime losses, and despite the stakes ahead, you won’t find a hint of panic here, the club’s confidence as unshakable as the mountains framing the city; the goal as clear as the blue-sky backdrop.
“We’re confident. We believe,” said Mammoth forward Lawson Crouse, echoing his captain and linemate. “We have a lot of belief in this group. We’re here for a reason.”
Every game of this series has told its own story: lessons learned in Game 1 and applied in Game 2; first goals and first wins and almost too many lead changes to count; and the intensity of overtime in Game 4 that doubled in Game 5, albeit with the same result both times for the Mammoth.
And woven throughout these last five games against a Vegas team loaded with experience has been the tale of the stellar play of Utah’s youngest stars, Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther. Experience counts for a lot in the post-season — the Golden Knights’ string of comebacks to take the series lead is plenty proof of that. But the Mammoth have proven themselves to be quick learners, and they’re counting on that Friday night.
Cooley and Guenther are among the Mammoth players who are new to post-season hockey, but you wouldn’t know it based on how they’ve played through five games so far. At 21 and 23 years old, respectively, the linemates add a jolt of speed and energy every time they hit the ice, their games dripping with confidence that ripples through the lineup.
“They’re gamers,” Crouse said of the duo, whose chemistry with Kailer Yamamoto has seen the second line play like a first all year. “They show up in big moments. They’re a lot of fun to watch. They’re an elite line, an elite combo, and obviously with Yamo on that line, they play so well off each other. Just a lot of heart and soul.”
Cooley set the tone for the Mammoth in this series — his first-period marker in Game 1 was the franchise’s first-ever playoff goal, while his third-period goal in Game 2 secured the squad its first post-season victory. He’s set the tone emotionally, too, earning the ire of Golden Knights up and down the lineup, chirps and chippiness — and, on Wednesday night, a tough hit into the boards that shook him up but didn’t take him out — often thrown his way.
Guenther’s first playoff points came in Game 2 when he ripped home his signature slapshot in the second period, then launched the play that led to Cooley’s game-winner in the third. He’s written his name onto the scoresheet each game since. His one-timer was once again on full display last Friday with a power-play goal to help Utah to a 4-2 victory to take the upper-hand in the series. He registered an assist in Game 4 and tied things up in the third period Wednesday night.
Together, they have the opportunity to truly put their stamp on this series in Game 6.
Asked about the young guys’ performances, teammates are quick to heap praise. They’re thrilled to see them shine on the big stage.
“Two unbelievable guys. Great players. Two gamers,” said Keller. “They want the puck on their stick. Great guys in the locker room, off the ice — you want to see guys like that succeed, and they just keep getting better every single night. They’re a huge part of our team and they bring lots of energy and fight.”
Guenther leads the team in shots through five games, with 26 — and leads the team in wow-factor, too, when it comes to just how elite a shot his is.
“I don’t think I can describe it,” Crouse said with a laugh. “I think goalies are still trying to figure that one out. It’s just, he’s got such a good release — one of the better ones I’ve seen in the NHL over my years. Having the ability to get it off is another thing, and just finding that quiet ice. It’s incredible to watch his shot, and his release, and just his ability to beat goalies clean.”
It’s a shot that can change a game, a series. The Mammoth are counting on it — particularly when it comes to the club’s power play, which has lost some of its swagger in this series. Guenther and Cooley both suit up on the club’s top unit, and will be leaned upon heavily to make some noise with the man advantage. Utah has been held scoreless on 12 of 13 opportunities, and allowed a short-handed goal in each of the last two games — including the double-overtime winner on Wednesday in Vegas.
“Vegas is doing a great job on the PK, but it’s our job to figure out how to pick them apart,” said Crouse. “Obviously, a lot of video that comes along with that. Constant communication, obviously, and we’re gonna have to throw a couple different things at them, but I think ultimately, you’ve got to end up getting pucks to the net, bodies to the net.”
Keller highlighted the importance of second efforts and being around the net.
“Their D are really good, they have good sticks, long sticks, they make it tough around the net — and getting those second cracks are usually how you score power-play goals, other than maybe one-timers or one-shots, tips, rebounds, things like that,” he said.
Asked about his message to the home fans, Keller doubled down on Wednesday’s words.
“We’re gonna fight ‘til the end, no matter what. We’re super confident,” Keller said. “It’s gonna be fun, great atmosphere. Looking forward to it.”
After Friday’s morning skate, Mammoth head coach André Tourigny said forward Barrett Hayton, who made his series debut Wednesday, will be a game-time decision Friday.
Jack McBain, who left Game 1 with injury, was given the same designation. Defencemen Mikhail Sergachev and Sean Durzi were not on the ice Friday morning, but were not included in Tourigny’s injury update.
Vegas, meanwhile, appears to be rolling out the same lines as Game 5. William Karlsson was present at morning skate, but does not appear to be part of Friday’s lineup.