Utah Mammoth head to Boise for pre-season clash with Los Angeles
Photo Courtesy | Carter Williams (KSL)
Boise, Idaho is more commonly know in the hockey world for being home to the Idaho Steelheads - a longtime rival of the soon-to-not-be Utah Grizzlies. On Tuesday night, however, the capital city of the gem state will host a pre-season clash between the Los Angeles Kings and Utah Mammoth.
Thus far, Utah has left a lot to be desired. Failure to close out games when in position to do so has cost them at critical times throughout the games we’ve seen so far and they cannot afford to let those bad habits plague them into October.
Coming off of a disappointing ending in Las Vegas against the Golden Knights, the Utah Mammoth remain hopeful to get at least one pre-season win. After leading 2-0 late into the third period, Utah gave up two goals and a game-winning assist to Jack Eichel.
Los Angeles comes into the game preparing for the final regular season of franchise centerpiece Anze Kopitar, who has played with the Kings since being drafted by them in 2005 as the first Slovenian national to play in the NHL.
Following a neutral site loss in 5-3 fashion to the Anaheim Ducks in Bakersfield, the Kings will look to get ahead early and hold on to their lead.
Utah’s off-season moves look to put them in playoff contention amidst expected Stanley Cup contenders like the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche. Newcomer via trade JJ Peterka will have plenty of eyes on him throughout the season as he looks to be a difference maker on the offensive front.
Alongside Peterka, there are high exceptions for both Clayton Keller and Logan Cooley now that they’ve had a season to get their feet under them after being part of the relocation of the team from Arizona.
Net-minding remains a strength for the Mammoth as the emergence of Karel Vejmelka kept the team in the playoff hunt a year ago.
Conor Ingram was recently waived the Mammoth and will look to report to the AHL if he does not find a new NHL home. Ingram took time away from the team to deal with personal issues off the ice and in that time is when Karel Vejmelka stepped up and made his impression for the starting slot.
Puck drop is slated for 7:00pm MST in Boise on Tuesday night.
