Utah Hockey Club head coach André Tourigny reacts during a game against the Chicago Blackhawks held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. | Isaac HaleBrogan HoustonTue, December 2, 2025 at 6:34 AM UTC·5 min readThe Utah Mammoth experienced — or should we say suffered — déjà vu in their visit to San Jose on Monday.
On their California trip two weeks ago, the Mammoth gave up two goals in the first six minutes against the Sharks. This time around, it was two goals in the first eight minutes.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIt didn’t really get better for the Mammoth from there on Monday. They did trade goals with the Sharks a couple times in the latter half of the first period, but they never managed to even tie the score.
The second period was a similar result to many they’ve had this season: a major deficit. They allowed three goals in the middle frame alone, while scoring none of their own.
Lawson Crouse scored short-handed goal in the third, but it was far too little and much too late.
This one ended with a score of 6-3, putting the Mammoth on a four-game losing streak.
A cultural connection
Before getting into the gloom of another Mammoth loss, take a moment to appreciate a cool moment from this game.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementEdmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl, the consensus greatest German hockey player of all time, is known for scoring from impossible angles.
Fellow German JJ Peterka must have been watching Draisaitl recently, because he scored the exact same goal against the Sharks.
Frustration boiling over
Now for the gloom.
Despite having his first two-goal game since Jan. 2, associate captain Lawson Crouse voiced his frustration in his postgame interview, using a total of 30 words.
“Everyone needs to be better,” he said when asked for his thoughts on the game. “Top-down.”
He brushed off his pair of goals as though they didn’t even happen.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“Doesn’t matter. Need to be better. Everyone.”
“It comes down to winning battles. I think that’s what we need to get it to.”
That was the entire interview.
It’s clear that this is more than just a loss. Something is wrong, and if that wasn’t obvious before, it should be now.
Sean Durzi showed his frustration during the game, breaking his stick across the post after one of the goals.
How much of this is due to the schedule?
The Mammoth haven’t had two consecutive days off since Nov. 15-16. They’ve played nine games in the last 15 days, including five on the road.
That’s not easy, but it’s also not unique.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementTake the Sharks as an example. In that same span, they’ve played eight games, and while only two of them were on the road, they’ve had their fair share of away games.
Utah’s last opponent, the St. Louis Blues, have played eight games in that span, including five on the road.
The schedule is condensed because of the three-week Olympic break that will be in February. Each team still had 82 games to play between October and April, but they have three fewer weeks at their disposal.
Every team is playing tired, every team is dealing with injuries and every team has ups and downs.
Is this good for player development? The answer is probably a bit yes and a bit no.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementGoing through the metaphorical trenches builds character. It can galvanize a group. It gives perspective that things can always be worse.
On the other hand, you never want your stars — especially at such young ages — to feel helpless. There’s a minimum level of acceptability for their confidence, and when it gets too low, it can be difficult to get it back.
Is a coaching change coming?
A loud portion of the Mammoth fan base has been calling for André Tourigny’s job, but is that the right move?
The general rule of thumb is that you don’t fire the coach until the players give up on him.
It has nothing to do with the goaltending. It doesn’t matter whether the bounces are going your way. When the players stop back checking, blocking shots and playing hard in the corners, that’s when you switch out the coach.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementYou be the judge: Have the guys given up?
If Utah management thinks the answer is yes, it’s more likely than not that it happens once this road trip wraps up. Of the league’s 32 current coaches, the only one who was hired during a road trip is Jim Montgomery of the St. Louis Blues.
If that’s the direction management is leaning, the three remaining games of this road trip could be a last chance to turn things around.
Tourigny’s postgame comments were brutal but honest, with a sullen undertone.
“Really disappointed about our effort. Our execution right now as a team is not really good.”
But he didn’t put all the blame on his players.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“It’s on (me) as a coach to make sure the team is ready to work first. That’s the No. 1 thing, and I failed on that today.”
When asked how accountability factors into what happens next, his answer had an ominous tone.
“You will see.”
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