‘It’s just a special chemistry’: Keller, Schmaltz combine again as Mammoth beat Bruins

Much of Utah’s population goes to church on Sundays, striving to become better people. The Utah Mammoth also try to become better people on Sundays, but they go about it differently.

Let me explain.

The day after the Mammoth’s 6-3 win over the San Jose Sharks, one high-ranking team employee greeted the beat reporters in a particularly cheerful way.

“I’m always a better human after a win,” this person said.

The Mammoth bagged another win on Sunday, topping the Boston Bruins by a final score of 3-2 and giving them a three-game winning streak. If you see the entire team volunteering at a soup kitchen sometime soon, it’s because winning has transformed them.

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Quick catchup

Utah Mammoth: 3

Boston Bruins: 2

The Mammoth have power play goals in two consecutive games, thanks in large part to Nick Schmaltz and Clayton Keller.

In both games, Keller found Schmaltz in the bumper position, allowing the latter to put a great shot on net. Schmaltz got credit for the goal on Friday, but Sunday’s goal was awarded to Logan Cooley because it bounced off his shoulder and in.

David Pastrňák tied it up before the end of the period with a power play marker of his own. He’d score again in the second to put the Bruins ahead, but Keller answered with a 4-on-4 goal on a beautiful pass from Schmaltz.

The game winner came on Dylan Guenther’s signature one-timer from the left wing, but it wouldn’t have been possible without a great recovery from JJ Peterka.

Throughout his time with the Buffalo Sabres, Peterka was criticized for his defensive play. For obvious reasons, that was the biggest question mark surrounding the player after he was traded to Utah, but he has shown vast improvement.

When he lost the puck in the offensive zone, Peterka didn’t quit. He snuck up on Marat Khusnutdinov, lifted his stick and dished it to Guenther, who knows exactly what to do in that situation.

Takeaways

No more home jitters

Utah spent the first half of last season figuring out how to play at the Delta Center. The fans were so passionate and so loud that some players said they didn’t know how to deal with the pressure. Arizona had its moments, but many of those players had never experienced an environment like that at home.

There seems to be no such learning curve this time around. Through three games on home ice, they have a perfect 3-0-0 record — and all of those wins have come in regulation (which helps them if a tiebreaker becomes necessary at the end of the season).

“I think our team has grown a lot,” Keller said. “We’re a more mature team. We have a lot of confidence, the guys are comfortable with one another, our chemistry seems to be good. We’re still gelling as a team and trying to be connected as much as possible and you just want to keep going forward and learning after every game.”

It has to be especially meaningful for the fans, who stayed faithful despite witnessing some painful losses last season.

Schmaltz, Keller doing big things

In the last two games, Schmaltz and Keller combine for 12 points — six each. It likely won’t quite be enough to land either guy in the NHL’s three stars of the week ranking, but that doesn’t make it any less remarkable.

“Any good player, to find another player who thinks like you, who will know where you are, will know where you will be — it’s not a matter of talent, it’s just a special chemistry," said head coach André Tourigny of the two players’ connection. “It’s just something you build over time.”

Schmaltz and Keller have played together since they were 22 and 20, respectively. They’ve been together through highs and lows, and according to Tourigny, they really like playing together.

“It takes time to really figure each other out. It feels like we always know where one another is at,” Keller said.

He also made sure to mention Barrett Hayton, who’s often the unsung hero of that line.

“He’s such an important piece of our line, and does all the little things right that the average fan would have no idea.”

Another good third period

Ever since the nail-biter of an ending against the Calgary Flames in the home opener, the Mammoth have looked determined to not let their opponents come within striking distance in the final stretch anymore.

That was the case against the Sharks on Friday, they did it again on Sunday. Rather than simply trying to clear the puck out of their zone, they’ve tried to spend as much time as possible in the offensive zone.

Hall of Fame defenseman Paul Coffey said it best: “When we’ve got the puck, they can’t score.”

Tourigny said that was one thing he and his staff set out to change after reviewing the team over the summer.

“Above and beyond the structures, (it’s) the approach of the guys. The calm in that game, leading by one, we had a task in hand. That’s the way it felt behind the bench.”

That tendency caused Utah to lose a lot of winnable games last year. With their current disposition, it has been a legitimate strength.

Goal of the game

Schmaltz to Keller

Are you sick of reading about Schmaltz and Keller yet? Well, too bad. Here’s one more section about the two of them.

Not much needs to be said here. Just watch the pass. Schmaltz is a natural playmaker, and that’s obvious on this play.