SALT LAKE CITY – Despite a valiant individual comeback effort by JJ Peterka, the Utah Mammoth lost their third straight in OT as young star Macklin Celebrini delivered the game-winner and a hat-trick for the San Jose Sharks.
Here are the key takeaways from Utah’s 3-2 OT loss in San Jose.
The Utah Mammoth are making far too many costly mistakes defensively
Coming into the matchup with San Jose, the Utah Mammoth had allowed the fourth fewest shots on goal in the NHL over the previous three games (66).
However, despite heavily limiting their opponents and also outshooting them during that same stretch (84-66), the Mammoth only won one of those three as they made a collection of costly mistakes in their own zone.
YOUR GAME WINNER. #LGI | @FORD pic.twitter.com/xpuz7vqb6f
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) November 15, 2025
GO CRAZY, ORANGE COUNTRY!!@HondaCenter IS ROCKIN’#FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/BGK7SvGpx4
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) November 18, 2025
Unfortunately for Utah, things only got worse against the Sharks as they yet again outshot their opponents (26-22) but neglected to contain the third best scorer in the league who made them pay.
Celebrini 🤝 Smith
ABSOLUTE CHEMISTRY pic.twitter.com/KxVbYhbL2K
— NHL (@NHL) November 19, 2025
On the first, the Mammoth simply got caught sleeping as all five skaters watched the puck go behind the net, neglecting a lethal Macklin Celebrini on the backdoor and leaving him wide open to finish an easy one.
In terms of the second, the defense pinched in the offensive zone which left Nate Schmidt on an island and to no surprise, he couldn’t keep up with Celebrini who then beat Vitek Vanecek on the breakaway.
As for the third from No. 71, the defense wasn’t necessarily poor, but it was the fact that Utah put themselves in a 4-on-3 situation in OT after being called for too many men on the ice.
Not that those kinds of mistakes are every really acceptable, but right now, they just cannot happen.
Utah is in a tight spot with only two wins in their last 10 games and should be hyperaware of those situations.
A team can live with results when a player simply beats them with brilliance.
But when you offer one of the best players in the world multiple Grade A chances, you’re BEGGING to be scored on.
The Utah Mammoth need some answers in net
To preface, I don’t intend on exhausting too many words on the netminders here.
The position between the pipes is a different beast and it’s tough to fully blame the goaltenders when the defense has made so many glaring mistakes recently.
However, with that in mind, it’s still important to note that the netminding for Utah has just simply been poor this season.
Through 19 games, the Mammoth possessed the 4th worst save percentage in the NHL (.871%).
Against the Sharks, the poor play only continued as Vanecek allowed three goals on just 22 shots (.863%).
Interestingly enough, Utah is actually top half in the league in terms of goals against (58), but ever since the offense has cooled off, the goaltending has taken a turn for the worse which is a deadly combo.
Again, it’s not necessarily the number of goals they’re allowing (2.85 GAA), but the fact that they’re letting nearly 13 percent of the shots they face past them every night.
No team is going to win consistently that way.
So, what’s the solution?
That’s a tough question.
Changing a goaltender is a lot more difficult than changing a line or scratching a different forward/defenseman.
Utah only has two guys on their roster, and neither is playing well.
If it continues, they may need to look to the trade market if they’re serious about making the playoffs because right now, the collective effort will not cut it.
The energy has to be more consistent for the Utah Mammoth if they want to make the playoffs
Another subject that doesn’t need a ton of commentary from me but still needs to be addressed.
For whatever reason, Utah cannot find a way to play with consistent energy for the majority of a hockey game.
Against the Sharks, it wasn’t until JJ Peterka scored his first goal at the 9:25 mark of the final frame that Utah decided to play with some juice.
“Coming out of the locker room better. Not having to chase the game was kind of the main message,” Peterka explained.
“We fought back but it’s way harder when you chase the game.”
It’s almost as if Utah waits for a desperation goal to spark the belief that they can actually win the game.
The same thing happened against Buffalo.
They came out flat and didn’t start playing until Nick DeSimone scored in the second frame.
While there’s plenty of issues going on, that seems to be the biggest overlying problem for the Mammoth right now.
“[I’m] not happy because we didn’t start on time,” Andre Tourigny explained. “We need to find a way to win games, especially those games.”
“We need to find a way.”
He’s right.
They need to find a way, and something has to change.
Somebody needs to light a fierce fire under this team.
Doesn’t matter who.
But someone needs to say enough is enough.
Not to say that Utah is going to dominate all 60 minutes.
But a consistent and collective energy through the vast majority of the game shouldn’t be too much to ask.
This team has preached playoffs since the end of last season.
Right now, it’s time to start playing with a palpable energy as if they really intend on delivering a postseason appearance.
What’s next for the Utah Mammoth?
The Utah Mammoth will begin a four-game homestand against the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday 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.
