Slow Start Fuels Utah Mammoth Win

The Utah Mammoth win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday came in decisive fashion, a 5–1 result driven by Logan Cooley’s four-goal night at Delta Center. The loss snapped Vegas’ six-game point streak and set the tone early for a long evening on the road.

“They were much better than us tonight,” head coach Bruce Cassidy said. “For whatever reason we just were not good enough early.”

Second-Period Push Falls Short

Vegas controlled long stretches of the second period, outshooting Utah 16–4 and hitting multiple posts. Ivan Barbashev finally broke through at 5:24, finishing a backhand from a Jack Eichel feed. Rookie forward Braeden Bowman earned the secondary assist, his second of the season, on the lone Golden Knights goal.

“We certainly could have come out of the second with more than one,” Cassidy said, pointing to near-misses from Pavel Dorofeyev and Cole Reinhardt.

Turnover Swings Momentum Back to Utah

Any momentum disappeared early in the third when a Vegas turnover led to Cooley’s third goal of the night. “It deflates you a little bit,” Cassidy said. Utah tightened defensively from that point forward.

The Mammoth added two empty-net goals late, both completed by Cooley, who finished with four goals and a career-best five points.

Vegas Focuses on Execution Moving Forward

Afterward, players pointed to avoidable breakdowns. Ivan Barbashev said the team created chances but “made our own mistakes later in the game.” Kaedan Korczak added that Vegas needed sharper execution through the neutral zone.

The teams will meet once more on March 19 with the season series now tied 1–1. The Golden Knights return home next, hosting the 11-7-4 Ottawa Senators on Wednesday, Nov. 26 at T-Mobile Arena, as Vegas enters the matchup at 10-5-7.

Related Stories