{"id":422974,"date":"2026-01-23T05:00:56","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T05:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/422974\/"},"modified":"2026-01-23T05:00:56","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T05:00:56","slug":"utah-mammoth-beat-philadelphia-flyers-5-4-in-ot-deseret-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/422974\/","title":{"rendered":"Utah Mammoth beat Philadelphia Flyers 5-4 in OT \u2013 Deseret News"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s a good month to be a Utah Mammoth fan. And it\u2019s a bad day to be Garnet Hathaway.<\/p>\n

The Mammoth had a nightmare start to their game on Wednesday against the Philadelphia Flyers. Within the first 30 seconds of the game, they were down by one. Four minutes later, the deficit doubled to two.<\/p>\n

Slow starts to periods became a trend for Utah. Less than a minute into the second period, they allowed another goal, turning the hole into a chasm. In their seven-game home stand, this was the only game in which they\u2019d ever been down by more than a goal.<\/p>\n

But insert your favorite cheesy quote about believing in yourself, because that\u2019s what it took for the Mammoth to get it done.<\/p>\n

\"\"Utah Mammoth fans celebrate after a game tying goal by Utah Mammoth right wing Dylan Guenther (11) as the Mammoth and Flyers play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. Utah went on to win 5-4 in overtime. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News \"\"After scoring the game winning goal in overtime, Utah Mammoth right wing Clayton Keller (9) tosses his stick into the crowd as the Mammoth defeat the Philadelphia Flyers 5-4 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News \"\"Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) works to defend the goal with Philadelphia Flyers centers Christian Dvorak (22) and Trevor Zegras (46) in front and to the side as the Mammoth and Flyers play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News \"\"Utah Mammoth right wing JJ Peterka (77) battles Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Emil Andrae (36) as he tries to flip the puck away with his hand as the Mammoth and Flyers play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News \"\"Utah Mammoth right wing Dylan Guenther (11) celebrates after scoring a goal as the Mammoth and Flyers play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News \"\"Philadelphia Flyers center Christian Dvorak (22) misses the puck as he is defended by Utah Mammoth defenseman Mikhail Sergachev (98) as the Mammoth and Flyers play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News \"\"Utah Mammoth players celebrate as they defeat the Philadelphia Flyers in overtime on a Utah Mammoth right wing Clayton Keller (9) goal at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News \"\"Utah Mammoth change out as they and the Flyers play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News \"\"Utah Mammoth right wing Dylan Guenther (11) just misses the puck with his stick at the goal with Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Samuel Ersson (33) defending as the Mammoth and Flyers play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News \"\"A Utah Mammoth fan celebrates after catching a stick tossed by Utah Mammoth right wing Clayton Keller (9) after he scored the game winning goal in overtime. The Mammoth defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 5-4 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News \"\"Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Noah Juulsen (47) and Utah Mammoth center Jack McBain (22) fight as the Mammoth and Flyers play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News \"\"Utah Mammoth fans laugh and dance as the Mammoth and Flyers play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News \"\"Philadelphia Flyers center Sean Couturier (14) exits the ice after catching a stick across his nose as they and the Utah Mammoth play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News \"\"Utah Mammoth fans cheer after a goal as the Mammoth and Flyers play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News \"\"Philadelphia Flyers center Sean Couturier (14) lays on the ice after catching a stick to the face as the Mammoth and Flyers play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News \"\"Utah Mammoth center Barrett Hayton (27) looks for an opening as the Mammoth and Flyers play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News \"\"Philadelphia Flyers center Sean Couturier (14) reacts in pain after catching a stick across his nose as they and the Utah Mammoth play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News \"\"Philadelphia Flyers center Christian Dvorak (22) and Utah Mammoth center Barrett Hayton (27) battle for the puck as the Mammoth and Flyers play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News \"\"Utah Mammoth defenseman Nick DeSimone (57) works with the puck and Philadelphia Flyers left wing Noah Cates (27) tries to disrupt as the Mammoth and Flyers play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News \"\"Philadelphia Flyers players celebrate after another goal as they and the Mammoth play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News \"\"Utah Mammoth defenseman Nick DeSimone (57) takes a shot as the Mammoth and Flyers play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News \"\"Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Noah Juulsen (47) and Utah Mammoth center Jack McBain (22) fight as the Mammoth and Flyers play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News \"\"Utah Mammoth right wing JJ Peterka (77) battles Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Emil Andrae (36) as he tries to flip the puck away with his hand as the Mammoth and Flyers play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News \"\"Utah Mammoth players celebrate as they defeat the Philadelphia Flyers in overtime on a Utah Mammoth right wing Clayton Keller (9) goal at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News \"\"The Philadelphia Flyers begin exiting as the fall in overtime 5-4 to the Utah Mammoth at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News \"\"Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) allows the puck past as the Mammoth and Flyers play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News \"\"Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) works to defend the goal with Philadelphia Flyers center Christian Dvorak (22) and Philadelphia Flyers center Trevor Zegras (46) in front and to the side as the Mammoth and Flyers play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News \"\"Utah Mammoth fans celebrate after a game tying goal by Utah Mammoth right wing Dylan Guenther (11) as the Mammoth and Flyers play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. Utah went on to win 5-4 in overtime. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News \"\"Utah Mammoth left wing Lawson Crouse (67) tosses a puck into the crowd after the Mammoth defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 5-4 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News \"\"Utah Mammoth defenseman John Marino (6) reaches for the puck as it flies through the air as the Mammoth and Flyers play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News <\/p>\n

JJ Peterka started his team on the path toward a comeback, finding the puck through a jungle of sticks in the crease after a significant effort from Daniil But sent it there. It took Lawson Crouse 36 seconds to tack another goal on, bringing the score to 3-2, with the Flyers still in the lead.<\/p>\n

Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet called his 30-second timeout in an attempt to slow the momentum, and it worked: Utah took a penalty two and a half minutes later, and longtime Arizona Coyote Christian Dvorak scored his second of the game on the ensuing power play.<\/p>\n

To Utah\u2019s disadvantage, the chaos leveled off after that. Back-and-forth play dictated the following 21 minutes with nothing but a few minor penalties to break up the monotony.<\/p>\n

Something had to change, and Jack McBain took it upon himself to cause that change.<\/p>\n

With a little less than 12 minutes to go, McBain steamrolled Flyers defenseman Jamie Drysdale, sparking a response from Noah Juulsen in the form of the fight. Not only did McBain\u2019s eight right hooks and one upper-cut awaken the crowd \u2014 he also drew an extra penalty, as it was a clean hit that instigated the fight.<\/p>\n

\"\"Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Noah Juulsen (47) and Utah Mammoth center Jack McBain (22) fight as the Mammoth and Flyers play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News <\/p>\n

The Mammoth took advantage of the power play, as Barrett Hayton tipped a Dylan Guenther shot past Samuel Ersson to pull his team within one.<\/p>\n

With time draining off the clock, the Mammoth resorted to the last-ditch effort of pulling the goalie in favor of an extra skater who could possibly contribute to a game-tying goal.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s well-documented how poor Utah\u2019s 6-on-5 play has been. They didn\u2019t score a single goal with the extra attacker in their inaugural season, and they got more than halfway through season two without doing it. For context, they were the only team in the NHL without a goal in that circumstance last year, and they were one of three without one so far this year.<\/p>\n

The game was all but over when Garnet Hathaway found himself with the puck on his stick in the Mammoth\u2019s zone with a clear path to the net. But as the thoughts of victory filled his mind, a determined Nick Schmaltz snuck up behind him, stripping him of the puck and preventing a sure goal.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was the play of the game, really,\u201d Guenther said. \u201cI mean, we\u2019re not talking here if he doesn\u2019t do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

A shift later, McBain picked up where Schmaltz left off, blocking another bid from reaching the empty net and sending the puck the other way.<\/p>\n

It bounced to the Flyers\u2019 blue line, where Travis Sanheim \u2014 who will play for Team Canada at the Olympics next month \u2014 was waiting to begin another rush. But Team USA\u2019s \u201cClayton Clutch\u201d thwarted that plan, poking it away, carrying it wide, driving to the net and roofing a backhander.<\/p>\n

Tied game: 4-4.<\/p>\n

To the best of my knowledge, the NHL doesn\u2019t keep decibel meters running at all times, but I\u2019d be willing to bet that was a top-five loudest moment in franchise history. Also in the running, of course, would be Guenther\u2019s last-second OT winner the last time the Flyers were in town<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In the 26 games the Mammoth have won this year, the game-winning goal has come from either Guenther or Keller in a remarkable 10 of them. And when they\u2019re on the ice together for 3-on-3 overtime, their odds are pretty good.<\/p>\n

Owen Tippett let his scoring chance slip on one end of the ice, creating a 2-on-1 for Guenther and Keller. The former passed it to the latter in prime slot real estate, and Keller knew exactly what to do with it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think a lot of it\u2019s belief and the mental talk that I\u2019m saying to myself in my head,\u201d Keller said when asked why he responds so well to big opportunities. \u201cI think I\u2019ve always just trusted my training. I know I\u2019ve done everything possible to leave myself in a good position and let the rest take care of itself.\u201d<\/p>\n

He explained that he practices those situations every day \u2014 winter and summer \u2014 to be prepared for when they come up in actual games.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s nothing to be worried about or second-guess,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s just second-nature to me, and something that I want to continue to get better at, even throughout the season \u2014 before practice, those little touches. I think it really does make a difference.”<\/p>\n

Keller followed it up with one of the flashiest celebrations the NHL has ever seen: throwing your stick into the crowd. Jack Hughes, whom Keller surely knows from one Team USA event or another, did it in 2021<\/a>, and Keller did it on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

What also can\u2019t go without mention is Karel Vejmelka\u2019s save of the year on the red-hot Trevor Zegras. How many 6-foot-4, 29-year-old men do you know who can do the splits? And when you tack on the perfect glove positioning, it becomes a piece of art worthy of the best galleries in the world.<\/p>\n

Without that save, this game is probably too far out of reach for a great comeback story.<\/p>\n

A learning opportunity<\/p>\n

It takes teams time to learn how to win. The Mammoth\u2019s eight-game point streak suggests that they\u2019re figuring it out, but truthfully, it\u2019s in the moments of perseverance when you learn the most \u2014 on the ice and off it.<\/p>\n

This is the type of game that these young guys can look back on. In future years, when they\u2019re down by a couple of goals late in a playoff game, they might remember Schmaltz\u2019s back-check or Vejmelka\u2019s save and dig in to make the extra effort. And who knows? Maybe it pays off again.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a good development (opportunity) for our team, to understand the good, the bad and the ugly,\u201d said Mammoth head coach Andr\u00e9 Tourigny after the game. \u201cWhen we didn\u2019t do what we had to do, what should happen happened. We got what we deserved. And when we did what we had to do, we were successful.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, we need to learn (from) that. I think it\u2019s part of a long season, a process, a grind. It\u2019s great to do it in victory, get the two points, but we need to learn from it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"After scoring the game winning goal in overtime, Utah Mammoth right wing Clayton Keller (9) tosses his stick into the crowd as the Mammoth defeat the Philadelphia Flyers 5-4 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It\u2019s a good month to be a Utah Mammoth fan. And it\u2019s a bad day to be Garnet…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":422975,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[5112],"tags":[1468,5,1442,4,1467,56,5205],"class_list":{"0":"post-422974","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-philadelphia-flyers","8":"tag-flyers","9":"tag-hockey","10":"tag-news-feed-national","11":"tag-nhl","12":"tag-philadelphia","13":"tag-philadelphia-flyers","14":"tag-philadelphiaflyers"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nhl\/115942661141843621","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/422974","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=422974"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/422974\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/422975"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=422974"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=422974"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=422974"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}