Bottom six delivers when stars go silent in mammoth 4-2 loss to lightning takeaways

The silver lining in an otherwise disappointing afternoon came from Utah’s depth forwards, who provided the only goals and sustained pressure throughout the contest. Lawson Crouse opened the scoring just six minutes into the first period, capitalizing on an excellent outlet pass from Ian Cole. The veteran defenseman showcased his hockey IQ by stopping a clearance attempt and immediately finding Crouse streaking up ice for a breakaway opportunity.

Crouse made no mistake on the chance, firing a quick shot into the top corner for his second goal of the season. The goal exemplified exactly what head coach André Tourigny wants from his third line: hard work, smart positioning, and timely execution. Cole’s two-assist performance against his former team was particularly noteworthy, marking his second multi-point game with the Mammoth.

The fourth line featuring Kevin Stenlund, Kailer Yamamoto, and Brandon Tanev also delivered an inspired performance. Yamamoto, who has been rotating in and out of the lineup with Liam O’Brien, broke through for his first goal of the season early in the third period. After Cole stopped another clearance attempt, he delivered a backhanded pass to Yamamoto, who patiently positioned himself before unleashing a wrist shot that found the top corner.

“I thought we played good,” Yamamoto said after the game. “I thought we started the game a little slow, but I feel like as the game went on, we found everything.” His line played with the physicality and tenacity that Utah needed against Tampa Bay’s experienced roster, winning puck battles and creating sustained offensive zone time.

Tourigny praised the effort from his depth players, noting their willingness to embrace the gritty style required against a team like Tampa Bay. “I’m really happy about the way Crouser’s line played. Really happy about the way Stenny’s line played. I think Yammy played a hell of a game. They showed up in that kind of a game, and that’s what you want,” the coach explained. The bottom six’s performance in the Tampa Bay Lightning extend five-game winning streak with 4-2 win over Utah Mammoth provided a blueprint for how Utah needs to play when facing championship-caliber opponents.