Amid a three-game winning streak at home, the Utah Mammoth have Nick Schmaltz producing far beyond expectations with 7 points in that three-game stretch. Defeating the Calgary Flames, San Jose Sharks, and Boston Bruins at Delta Center has brought Utah into a three-way tie for second place in the Central Division.
The 29-year-old forward has registered 3 goals and 6 assists to lead all Utah players with 9 points. Last year, the Wisconsin native had a career year with 43 assists and 63 points. Starting his eighth season with the Utah/Arizona franchise, Schmaltz has a great chance of playing in his first postseason.
Schmaltz has had four straight 20-goal seasons for the franchise and started this season off slow in the goal department until scoring a hat trick. The helpers have always been consistent this year for Schmaltz but his encore performance against the Bruins produced two assists. He arguable had Logan Cooley's goal as he shot the puck that bounced off Cooley's back and into the goal.
The timing could not be better for Schmaltz as he is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of this season. Schmaltz currently makes $5.85 million and could attract a lot of attention this summer from a team in need of scoring depth. The Mammoth will have their hands full this summer trying to sign restricted free agents, Cooley and Barrett Hayton.
Utah will need Schmaltz to continue scoring at this pace to reach the division leading, Colorado Avalanche. The Avalanche will visit Delta Center this week as Gabriel Landeskog and company will look to take a second game from the Mammoth after defeating Utah in Colorado to open the season.
Right now, no team in the NHL wants to face Schmaltz and the Mammoth, especially in Salt Lake City. Also, the Mammoth have not lost since the introduction to Tusky...just saying.