\u2014 Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) January 28, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Better aim than a stormtrooper \ud83d\udc4a pic.twitter.com\/8BCzXvcx4k<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) January 28, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n In addition to a deeply talented All-Star roster, Florida is an opportunistic squad themselves.<\/p>\n Not that they can\u2019t create on their own, but the Panthers excel at forcing their opponent into submission and then capitalizing on the mistake.<\/p>\n Against Utah, that\u2019s exactly how Florida stayed in the game as they suffocated the Mammoth on the forecheck, generated a few turnovers and found the back of the net.<\/p>\n While Utah still came out on top, the Panthers made it a game as they clawed and scratched to the bitter end.<\/p>\n Vitek Vanecek finally got another win between the pipes for the Utah Mammoth<\/p>\n Despite only dressing for 13 games this season, it\u2019d been a while since backup goaltender Vitek Vanecek had registered a win between the pipes for the Utah Mammoth.<\/p>\n After beating the Winnipeg Jets all the way back on October 26, Vanecek lost 10 straight games in net as his appearances generally landed on some off nights for the rest of the team.<\/p>\n However, facing another likely scheduled loss on the second half of a back-to-back against his former team in Florida, Vanecek stood tall to help Utah steal two points.<\/p>\n \u201cIt feels good,\u201d Vitek Vanecek explained. \u201cI didn\u2019t get a win [for] a long time and then right time in the right rink. [We] Get the win.\u201d<\/p>\n With 25 saves on 28 shots (89 percent), \u201cV\u201d did just enough to help his team get across the finish line.<\/p>\n For most of the night, he was locked in as he made several key saves and was impenetrable on the PK despite four opportunities for the home team.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got a couple former guys in our room. They wanted this one pretty bad. Obviously, \u2018V\u2019 with a performance like that deserved it. He\u2019s been playing really good for us,\u201d Durzi said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe really wanted to put together a good effort in front of him. He deserves it.\u201d<\/p>\n Like Durzi noted, Vanecek clearly wanted this game.<\/p>\n While he did still allow three pucks to get past him, his intentions were visible as he played with confidence, composure, athleticism and an extra edge to make those few additional saves that gave his team a chance to win.<\/p>\n For any goaltender, that\u2019s all a team can ask but especially when it\u2019s your backup on a back-to-back against a really tough team.<\/p>\n Was it perfect?<\/p>\n No.<\/p>\n But it was enough to steal two massive points.<\/p>\n An opportunistic approach helped the Utah Mammoth beat the reigning Champs<\/p>\n While the Florida Panthers have yet to play a game with all their stars this season, they\u2019re still a formidable opponent that generally doesn\u2019t give up much.<\/p>\n As previously mentioned, they play a rough style at both ends that demands a lot physically and tactically in order to break down.<\/p>\n To make matters more difficult, Utah was also without both Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther as No. 11 was held out of Tuesday night\u2019s contest due to a lower body injury.<\/p>\n Per the Mammoth,<\/p>\n Dylan Guenther will not play in tonight\u2019s game due to a lower body injury.<\/p>\n \u2014 Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 27, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Not exactly a favorable situation but that didn\u2019t stop Utah from playing an opportunistic style to walk away with two points.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a team that doesn\u2019t give you much,\u201d Durzi explained. \u201cBut when you take what\u2019s given, you get opportunities and let your skill take over.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s continuing to just play our game, stay patient, play our game and then goals will come\u2026staying on our game, staying patient with our game, taking what\u2019s given, and winning the game.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s exactly what Utah did.<\/p>\n After a turnover in the neutral zone by Florida, Nick Schmaltz scored a shorty.<\/p>\n Nick Schmaltz shorty!<\/p>\n \ud83d\udea8 1-0, Utah. pic.twitter.com\/o1jIsKm5x1<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) January 28, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Then a defensive takeaway turned into a rush which Durzi himself buried on a one-timer.<\/p>\n Durzi takes that one back! \ud83d\udc4f<\/p>\n \ud83d\udea8 2-1, Utah. pic.twitter.com\/Bbg8hcVugQ<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) January 28, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Finally, Hayton\u2019s empty net goal proved to be critical as Florida cut Utah\u2019s lead down to just one with only 14 seconds remaining.<\/p>\n No Guenther, no Cooley, Veggie has the night off.<\/p>\n WHAT A WIN FOR THE MAMMOTH pic.twitter.com\/N9BOKAT2MI<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Cap\u2019n Cook \ud83c\udfd4\ufe0f (@JazzePinkman) January 28, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Not that Florida\u2019s season has been overly impressive, but they\u2019re still the reigning Stanley Cup champs who play a brutal style of hockey.<\/p>\n Without two of their best players, Utah was forced to be opportunistic and remarkably got the job done which makes this road trip a success no matter what happens in Carolina.<\/p>\n What\u2019s next for the Utah Mammoth?<\/p>\n The Utah Mammoth will conclude their four-game road trip against the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night 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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