\u2014 New York Rangers (@NYRangers) January 6, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Shortly after Guenther tied things up, Brandon Tanev then took a poorly timed tripping penalty (a completely fair call as Tanev swung his stick at the puck and took Artemi Panarin\u2019s legs out) and Alexander Kerfoot was called for a slash on Carson Soucy.<\/p>\n Unsurprisingly, the Rangers then cashed in on the 5-on-3 as the Mammoth were unable to cover bodies in front of the net and Vincent Trocheck tipped one past Karel Vejmelka.<\/p>\n Bread with the shot + Troch tips it in pic.twitter.com\/EbXiDRdK8x<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 New York Rangers (@NYRangers) January 6, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n The lesson for the Mammoth is to avoid even the appearance of a penalty.<\/p>\n Doesn\u2019t matter how it looked or if the opposing player manipulated your stick under their arm to sell a hook.<\/p>\n The officials called it how they saw it and Utah was forced to live with the results.<\/p>\n Luckily, the PK came up big late in the third during a critical stretch, but a penalty-ridden middle frame put them at a major disadvantage.<\/p>\n Sean Durzi was a man on a mission as he secured the OT winner in Manhattan<\/p>\n The wide range of emotions a player can experience over the span of just a few minutes in the National Hockey League is pretty wild.<\/p>\n At the 16:46 mark of the third, Durzi was absolutely livid as Mika Zibanejad had trapped Durzi\u2019s stick under his arm and sold a hooking penalty to the officials.<\/p>\n Understandably, No. 50 slammed his stick on the ice in frustration and argued the call all the way to his seat in the sin bin.<\/p>\n Alas, Durzi would still for two minutes.<\/p>\n But once the door opened and Utah\u2019s veteran defenseman was unleashed from box, he was a man on a mission.<\/p>\n After putting his team in a bad spot, Durzi cruised right to the net front and nearly called game in regulation.<\/p>\n Moments later in overtime, No. 50 finally got his revenge on the questionable penalty as he slipped behind the defense and tapped home a gorgeous pass from Nick Schmaltz into the open net to keep Utah a perfect 6-0 in the state of New York.<\/p>\n There\u2019s no questioning how much Sean Durzi cares about the Mammoth\u2019s success.<\/p>\n Just look at that celly.<\/p>\n What a goal for No. 50.<\/p>\n Huge win for Utah.pic.twitter.com\/LBvBRd2fmP<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 6, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n For Durzi, that one meant just a little bit more.<\/p>\n Not only was he ecstatic to get two points for his team, but according to Durzi, he honored his late grandfather with the OT winner over the Rangers.<\/p>\n \u201cI lost my grandfather a few weeks ago,\u201d Sean Durzi explained. \u201cI said a little prayer in the penalty box hoping he had our back there and then to get that OT winner for him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe was an important guy in my life.\u201d<\/p>\n There\u2019s no questioning how much Durzi cares.<\/p>\n He\u2019s a big character guy and demonstrated his unwavering passion by finding a way to win a critical game.<\/p>\n Hopefully that passion will be infectious as the Mammoth attempt to string together some wins during a lengthy home stand.<\/p>\n A successful road trip has prepared Utah to defend home ice<\/p>\n That was a gutsy win for Utah.<\/p>\n Despite committing some costly penalties and trailing for a good portion of the contest, Utah found a way to get two points and finish the road trip 2-1 as opposed to 1-2.<\/p>\n That\u2019s huge.<\/p>\n Not just for the sake of the trip but to reach .500 through 43 games, remain in the wild card race and prepare to defend home ice for 10 of the next 14 matchups.<\/p>\n \u201cThat trip is important because you can go back home 1-2 or 2-1,\u201d Tourigny explained. \u201cThat is a huge difference. Now we\u2019re playing 10 of 14 at home\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNow we have an opportunity to balance everything out and prove who we want to be. It was a big game.\u201d<\/p>\n Tourigny is right.<\/p>\n Utah has weathered the most difficult part of the schedule and will now settle into a favorable stretch at home.<\/p>\n Beating the Rangers was a major step in the right direction.<\/p>\n They could either flop on the road trip with two losses or pick up four points with confidence as they approach the second half of the season.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have high expectations for us in the second half [of the season],\u201d Tourigny said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe talk about how hard & demanding the schedule was before Christmas. We battled through & we weren\u2019t who wanted to be, but we expect good things for us.\u201d<\/p>\n Now is the time for Utah to prove it.<\/p>\n Live up to all of the preseason talk about making the playoffs.<\/p>\n Show that you\u2019re capable of stringing together wins on a consistent basis by defending home ice.<\/p>\n This road trip was a great start.<\/p>\n Now it\u2019s time to really get to work and win as many favorable games as possible before the Olympic break.<\/p>\n What\u2019s next for the Utah Mammoth?<\/p>\n The Utah Mammoth will begin a seven-game home stand against the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday night at 7:30 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
![](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/1746835450_492_Utah-Mammoth-Newsletter_300x250.jpg\")
\t
![](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Utah-Mammoth-Newsletter_830x100.jpg\")
<\/a>