After back-to-back 5-4 overtime defeats, including a double-overtime loss on Wednesday, the Utah Mammoth could have been excused for feeling deflated heading into Game 6 of their Western Conference first-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Instead, the mood inside the Utah locker room remained upbeat as the team returned home for a must-win game in Salt Lake City against the Pacific Division champions.

“We’re a confident group,” Utah captain Clayton Keller said. “We believe in one another and in our team, and these are the most fun games to be a part of. Down 3-2, we get to go home and play in front of our fans. If you’re not fired up for that, then you’ve got something wrong with you.”

The Mammoth were left frustrated after allowing a third-period lead to slip away in a 5-4 overtime loss on Monday at home, when Vegas’ Shea Theodore scored the winner. The pain was compounded on Wednesday, when the Golden Knights rallied again, tying the game late on a 6-on-5 goal from Pavel Dorofeyev with 52.7 seconds remaining before Brett Howden sealed the win 5:28 into double overtime with a short-handed goal.

“We’re right there,” Utah coach André Tourigny said. “We knew it would be a fight. It is what it is. We want to go back to Salt Lake for Game 6 in front of our fans, and we’ll give it everything we have. I think we’re really confident in what we can achieve.”

Tourigny added: “I like the fight in our guys. I like our execution. Now it comes down to one game.”

Forward Lawson Crouse echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the importance of responding at home.

“Go win one at home,” Crouse said. “That’s our focus. We have to step up on our home ice. We’ve got incredible fans back home, and we’re excited to get going again.”

The challenge remains steep. Vegas, which won the 2023 Stanley Cup, has built a reputation for late-game resilience throughout the series and the season. The Golden Knights led the NHL with 108 third-period goals during the regular season and have now come from behind in the third period in each of their three wins in the series.

“It’s something we’ve prided ourselves on all season,” center Jack Eichel said. “There’s a calmness and confidence within our group.”

According to Opta, the Golden Knights are the first team in NHL history to trail in the third period in each of the first five games of a playoff series and still lead the series after five games.

“You need that belief from within the room,” Vegas coach John Tortorella said. “We’ve seen it through five games. They never feel like they’re out of it.”

History is also on Vegas’ side. The Golden Knights have won all eight of their previous playoff series in which they took a 3-2 lead.

Game 7, if necessary, will be played Sunday in Las Vegas. -Field Level Media/Reuters