\u2014 New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) January 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Wraparound goals are incredibly tough to score but they should never happen with three, almost four defensemen in front of the net.<\/p>\n However, that didn\u2019t stop Jesper Bratt from finding the back of Utah\u2019s net as Sean Durzi was simply too late to close down, Barrett Hayton was preoccupied in a scrum with Nico Hischier and Mikhail Sergachev elected to stay on the opposite post.<\/p>\n We\u2019re on Timo Time all 2026. pic.twitter.com\/k9lHmscCmO<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) January 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n As for the second, after Durzi got caught reaching at the blue line which then cost him speed as he tried to close down space, Timo Meier launched a wicked snapshot past Vejmelka.<\/p>\n Costly mistake at the blue line but a tough goal to give up on a bad angle for Utah\u2019s netminder.<\/p>\n Serving up some Swiss PB&J. #NJDevils<\/a> | @Mikes_Amazing<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/AJVQoP6Hnl<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) January 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n New Jersey\u2019s third was more about the mistakes that happened well before the Devils were ever in scoring position.<\/p>\n Two penalties in less than a minute that gave the opposition a 5-on-3 power play.<\/p>\n Not a guarantee by any means, but far too much space to defend against the likes of Jack Hughes and Co.<\/p>\n Be seated. Professor Douglas D. Admin\u2019s geometry class is now in session. pic.twitter.com\/SlLOEu55cV<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) January 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n In terms of the fourth, just another defensive breakdown by Utah that opened up space for the Devils.<\/p>\n After losing the faceoff, Jack McBain got tied up in the faceoff circle which presented Dougie Hamilton with an open lane to the net, and he sniped Vejmelka near post on a brutal angle.<\/p>\n Credit to the Devils for taking advantage of Utah\u2019s mistakes but those are the kinds of blunders that cannot happen in the NHL.<\/p>\n Teams are too good and will punish you for the slightest imperfection which unfortunately has been a constant lesson for the Mammoth this season.<\/p>\n \u201cCritical mistakes are costing us,\u201d Sean Durzi explained. \u201cWhether it\u2019s puck management\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLooking at the effort it\u2019s not like guys don\u2019t want to win. There\u2019s a lot of heart. There\u2019s a lot of character. There\u2019s no separation. There\u2019s no pointing fingers. We\u2019re owning it\u2026we have the right leadership; we just have to do it. That\u2019s what it comes down to.\u201d<\/p>\n John Marino should be given a shot on Utah\u2019s top defensive pairing<\/p>\n Amidst a day of frustrations for the Utah Mammoth, especially in their own zone, there\u2019s something that needs to be considered in terms of the defensive pairings.<\/p>\n Before taking a statistical deep dive, John Marino has consistently proven that he deserves a shot at playing on Utah\u2019s top pair.<\/p>\n Now for the explanation.<\/p>\n Through 42 games this year, John Marino owns the best plus\/minus (+18) on the roster as he\u2019s been a defensive anchor all season long.<\/p>\n Additionally, on top of playing the second most minutes per night (20:24 TOI\/G), Marino also has 17 points (eighth-most on the team), 15 assists (second-most amongst defensemen), 39 blocks (fifth most on the team) and has stayed out of the box (eight minutes).<\/p>\n On the flipside, while Marino has excelled in those areas, Utah\u2019s current top pairing has struggled immensely to keep to puck out of the net.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s how.<\/p>\n Through 21 games this season, Sean Durzi owns the Mammoth\u2019s worst plus\/minus (-13).<\/p>\n To make matters worse, his linemate Mikhail Sergachev owns the second worst (-10).<\/p>\n Now, it is important to still have some perspective here.<\/p>\n The top pairing is playing a lot of minutes against other top lines and both skaters contribute to special teams.<\/p>\n But with only three games in the positive this season for Durzi and just 13 for Sergachev through 41 appearances, something needs to change.<\/p>\n A collective plus\/minus of -21 should result in those two being separated.<\/p>\n Perhaps elevating Marino to the top line could balance out Sergachev while playing alongside Nate Schmidt could have a similar effect on Durzi.<\/p>\n They\u2019re obviously not bad players.<\/p>\n It\u2019s just a bad combo right now and Marino should be given a well-deserved shot.<\/p>\n Even in a game where Utah gave up four goals to New Jersey, Marino wasn\u2019t in the negative.<\/p>\n His play should be rewarded with more responsibility.<\/p>\n Utah\u2019s inability to win consecutive games is reaching dangerous levels<\/p>\n No reason to spend much time on this (I probably still will) but it has to be said.<\/p>\n Utah\u2019s inability to win consecutive games is reaching dangerous levels as they enter a critical stretch of the season and even players are making note of it.<\/p>\n \u201cClearly just not good enough,\u201d Sean Durzi said. \u201cWe shouldn\u2019t be happy about that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEvery night in the NHL right now is a battle. Points are as critical as ever. We\u2019ve got to try and get on a run here. Can\u2019t have one good game and then one bad game.\u201d<\/p>\n Durzi is right.<\/p>\n Playoff teams don\u2019t do this.<\/p>\n They don\u2019t dominate a game 7-2 and then lose 4-1 two days later.<\/p>\n But that\u2019s been the story for the Mammoth this season.<\/p>\n Aside from their seven-game win streak, Utah has only won back-to-back games three times and have yet to win three in a row.<\/p>\n That\u2019s unacceptable and is starting to cost them as they trail the wild card by two points but have played twice more than the Sharks and three more games than the Kraken.<\/p>\n Now for some good news.<\/p>\n Through the remaining 40 games left, 24 of them will be at home with only 16 on the road.<\/p>\n Additionally, with almost three weeks off during the Olympic break, most of the roster will get some rest and Logan Cooley can return fully healthy.<\/p>\n But they still need to be better.<\/p>\n They can\u2019t be so hot and cold with an inability to capture multiple wins in a row.<\/p>\n Not if they want to make the playoffs.<\/p>\n What\u2019s next for the Utah Mammoth?<\/p>\n The Utah Mammoth will conclude their three-game road trip against the New York Rangers on January 5 at 5 p.m. MT.<\/p>\n The game will be available on Mammoth+.<\/p>\n All Mammoth games will also be broadcast live on the KSL Sports Zone (97.5 FM\/1280 AM).<\/p>\n Cole Bagley is the Utah Mammoth insider for KSL Sports.\u00a0Keep up with him on X here<\/a>.\u00a0You can hear Cole break down the team on KSL Sports Zone and KSL 5 TV.
\nTake us with you, wherever you go.<\/p>\n
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