NEWARK, N.J. – After losing a close game at Madisan Square Garden 48 hours ago, the Utah Mammoth bounced back just across the river as they secured their first ever victory over the New Jersey Devils.

Led by Nick Schmaltz and a scorching power play, Utah outlasted the Devils to secure two big points and improve to 3-1 on the year.

Utah’s power play is reaching outrageous levels of success

Over the past week, I’ve found myself asking the same question.

When will Utah’s power play come back down to planet earth?

Yet again, I’m without an answer as the Mammoth continued to convert at absurd levels against the Devils totaling a league-best eight goals on 13 chances (61.5 percent).

Notably, that production proved to be critical on Tuesday night as two of their five goals came on the man advantage amidst a highly competitive game in New Jersey.

So, what’s the secret to their continued success?

Setting up quickly, retrieving and reloading pucks, connecting on passes, and putting a plethora of shots on net.

“We’re getting pucks back,” Nick Schmaltz said. “We’re kind of hemming teams in. You get 45 [seconds], a minute into a penalty kill, they get exhausted and then we start ripping them apart.”

“We’ve got a ton of skill but I think our recoveries are huge. You can make a shot on net, get the puck back, kind of keep wearing them down; eventually something is going to break down for them.”

Dangerous from all angles! 🤯

Kells makes it 1-0, Utah. https://t.co/WHfcHejIhU

— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) October 6, 2026

Schmaltzy stays red hot‼️🔥

League leading 5th goal of the season for Nick Schmaltz. https://t.co/6Qfg4n3b7U

— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) October 7, 2026

As Schmaltz noted, Utah’s ability to generate extended O-zone possessions on the power play by properly reloading has been critical to their success through the first four games.

But taking it a step further, it’s been the Mammoth’s wizard passes and collective movement as a unit that’s generated all the dangerous scoring opportunities.

“It seems like whoever has the puck is a threat,” Lawson Crouse said. “As a penalty killer, you have to respect everyone, but you can’t cover everyone.”

“They’re doing an incredible job of not only making sure that they’re threats whenever they have the puck but sustained. Winning battles, getting pucks back. They were out there for a minute and a half on every power play…it’s fun to watch. There’s a lot of skill on that. When you’re sitting on the bench, you’re in wow.”

So, while Utah’s power play will eventually slow down at some point, they very well could remain one of the most dangerous units in the league this season as nobody has been able to stop them.

Nick Schmaltz is playing possessed hockey as he leads the NHL in goals

There’s no downplaying the way No. 8 is playing hockey these days.

Despite already proving himself during a contract year last season and securing a bag over the summer, Schmaltz is just as hungry as before as he’s played possessed hockey through the first four games.

“He could play with a left-handed stick right now and I would take him,” head coach Andre Tourigny said. “He’s so good everywhere on the ice.”

Similar to how he began the 2025-26 campaign, Schmaltz yet again leads the NHL with five goals.

How does he do it?

By making elite decisions without the puck that open up space and allow him to get lost in the defense.

“It’s everything,” Schmaltz said in regard to how his movement off the puck has led to his success. “Just trying to get lost & finding the areas that, if you watch the best players, I try to look at where they hang out and find areas. I’ve got great linemates, so I just try to sneak around, get my stick free, and hit the net.”

Even when he’s not scoring, Schmaltz is making things happen by cutting off passes, jumping into the rush, and finding Vincent Trocheck for his first as a Mammoth with a perfectly placed pass.

Schmaltz tees it up for Troch! ⛳️

5-3, Utah. https://t.co/ceQ3MQLq8Z

— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) October 7, 2026

Improving to 3-1, The Mammoth are playing outstanding hockey right now and a lot of it has to do with how Schmaltz is leading the way.

What’s next for the Utah Mammoth?

The Utah Mammoth will continue their five-game road trip against the Boston Bruins at 5 p.m. MDT.

The game will be available on SEG+.

All Mammoth games will also be broadcast live on the KSL Sports Zone (97.5 FM/1280 AM).

Cole Bagley is the Utah Mammoth insider for KSL Sports. Follow him on X. You can hear Cole break down the team on KSL Sports Zone and KSL 5 TV.

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