SALT LAKE CITY – Despite a strong push by the Utah Mammoth in the third period, a questionable goaltender interference call shifted momentum in favor of the Ottawa Senators and halted any potential comeback effort by the visiting team.
As both offensive and defensive woes continued for the Mammoth, Utah has now lost five of their last six after dropping their final match of the road trip to the Senators.
Here are the key takeaways from Utah’s 4-2 loss in Ottawa.
The Utah Mammoth were victim to a questionable goaltender interference call that shifted momentum
Not to say that Utah deserved to win the hockey game against the Senators, but there was a questionable call early in the third period that shifted momentum and undeniably impacted the overall outcome.
Trailing by a goal to begin the final frame, Utah went back to the crease in an attempt to tie things up after finding success in that area twice before.
Here’s where things get tricky.
After tripping over the backside of the goal and slightly nudging Senator’s goaltender Leevi Meriläinen, forward Jack McBain then inched his way out of the paint and poked a loose puck into Ottawa’s net.
No issues from the officials as it was signaled a goal.
However, Ottawa’s coaching staff then decided to challenge the call and after several minutes of review, the referees determined it was in fact interference, and the goal was overturned.
Another look at McBain’s goal that was challenged and overturned.
Sure, there’s contact by McBain but the goalie has 3 seconds to recover & then pushes off under his own power to hug the right post…can’t fathom how that was considered interference… https://t.co/4bhR7WjvBn
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) November 10, 2025
Now, to clarify, let’s take a look at the official NHL rulebook on the definition of goaltender interference:
“Goals should be disallowed only if: (1) an attacking player, either by his positioning or by contact, impairs the goalkeeper’s ability to move freely within his crease or defend his goal; or (2) an attacking player initiates intentional or deliberate contact with a goalkeeper, inside or outside of his goal crease.”
“Incidental contact with a goalkeeper will be permitted, and resulting goals allowed, when such contact is initiated outside of the goal crease, provided the attacking player has made a reasonable effort to avoid such contact.”
“The rule will be enforced exclusively in accordance with the on-ice judgement of the Referee(s) but may be subject to a Coach’s Challenge.”
Based on that ruling, McBain did not impair the goalkeeper’s ability to move freely or defend the goal as Meriläinen had roughly three seconds to recover and even pushed off his left skate under his own power to hug the right post.
Additionally, McBain did not initiate intentional or deliberate contact as he tripped over the goal and even inched his way out of the paint to play the puck.
“It was unfortunate that Bainer went out there and got one for us and call it back. That’s just the way it goes sometimes,” Nick Schmaltz explained.
Unfortunately, adversity is part of the game and bad calls are going to happen.
However, as many of these calls are often in a gray area, the officials made a poor judgement call that erased a goal, a potential Utah power play and effectively shifted the momentum in favor of the Senators.
Again, not to say that call cost them the game, but the refs impacted the outcome more than they should’ve with that decision.
Goaltending has been a significant issue for the Utah Mammoth as of late
While the Mammoth’s offense has undoubtedly struggled to score goals recently, especially across their top six forwards, Utah’s goaltending has simply been abysmal over the last six games.
Now, I’m not one to generally put it all on the goaltenders as their job is incredibly difficult, but aside from a few defensive breakdowns, the play between the pipes has just been bad.
Unfortunately, that only continued in Ottawa as Vitek Vanecek allowed four goals on just 25 shots (84 percent).
Cuzzy ➡️ Cuzzy pic.twitter.com/vNrGTSrbrO
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) November 10, 2025
Five goals in his last six games 🖐#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/74BqE5nZvf
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) November 10, 2025
With that in mind, lets dive a little deeper into the issues in the crease.
Pretty crazy what a difference a week and a half can make in the NHL, eh?
Following seven-straight victories for Utah, the Mammoth have only won one of their last six.
Why?
Well, after nothing could go wrong during their winning streak, it seems as though nothing can go right as of late, and the goaltending has been arguably the biggest issue.
Not that the play from Karel Vejmelka and Vanecek was flawless during the winning streak, but it was up to par and gave the team a chance to win every night.
Despite facing 185 shots during the win streak, the tandem only allowed 17 goals (90.8 percent).
Again, not amazing but you’ll win plenty of hockey games when your goaltenders are stopping more than nine out of every 10 shots.
As for the last six, Utah has faced 135 shots and only stopped 109 (80.7 percent).
That’s just bad. No sugarcoating it in the slightest.
You simply will not win hockey games with a percentage like that in NHL.
So, what needs to change?
The goalies simply need to dig deeper and play better.
Make more stops, gather some confidence, feed off the energy of Delta Center and get back to near 90 percent as a tandem.
Again, I generally refrain from just putting all the blame on one group, especially goaltenders.
But when your team has outshot their opponents five out of the last six games (167-135) and have allowed the sixth fewest shots in the league this season, there’s clearly an issue in net.
The sky isn’t falling but Utah needs to collectively play with a chip on their shoulders
To preface, the sky is not falling for the Utah Mammoth…not yet anyway.
Through 16 games, Utah is currently 9-7 in the second wild card spot with 18 points.
That’s good and honestly right about where they should be.
However, with that in mind, they have lost five of their last six and are not playing good hockey as a collective unit right now.
The goaltending has been poor, the offense has significantly cooled off, the power play is ice cold and frustrations are running high.
“When you go through tough stretches & you’re not winning games you get frustrated easier,” Schmaltz explained.
“We need that drive, that energy…we’ve got to want it…just play our game…no one can play with us when we’re playing at our best.”
Collectively, the entire team needs to say enough is enough and play with a chip on their shoulders as they head home for six of the next eight.
Like Schmaltz pointed out, Utah has to WANT it and they’re clearly capable as they dominated the league for two weeks with seven straight wins.
But when adversity came along as it always does, there just hasn’t been enough of a push back as a team.
Why not drop the gloves?
Break a stick over the post or along the boards?
Yell. Scream. Be visibly upset.
Whatever it takes to dig a little deeper and get across the line because right now, it’s just not enough.
For those who paid close attention to the postgame broadcast, as the players made their way to the locker room, Clayton Keller threw his stick against the wall in frustration.
Good.
Utah needs more of that.
They should be frustrated and demand more from themselves right now because they’re a good team and should make the playoffs.
Simple as that.
What’s next for the Utah Mammoth?
The Utah Mammoth will host the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. MT.
The game will be available on Mammoth+.
Cole Bagley is the Utah Mammoth insider for KSL Sports. Keep up with him on X here. You can hear Cole break down the team on KSL Sports Zone and KSL 5 TV.
Take us with you, wherever you go.
