\u2014 Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) February 5, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n We\u2019ve said it before and we\u2019ll say it again\u2026<\/p>\n \ud83d\udde3\ufe0f NICK SCHMALTZ SCORES! pic.twitter.com\/wTBTbgWaDV<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) February 5, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Winning the first period has been absolutely critical to Utah\u2019s success this season as they\u2019ve gone 13-4-1 when leading after the initial frame.\u00a0<\/p>\n What usually determines if they\u2019re victorious through the first 20 minutes?\u00a0<\/p>\n Energy and urgency, which is exactly how they dominated Detroit early on.\u00a0<\/p>\n In addition to finding the back of the net twice, Utah was ferocious in their approach as they got pucks in deep, won battles to regain possession, stacked bodies in front of Detroit goaltender John Gibson and made dangerous passes with precision.\u00a0<\/p>\n So, while it may not have felt like a game-seven playoff atmosphere for both teams, the Mammoth certainly approached the contest with that mindset and executed\u00a0to near perfection as they set the tone early.<\/p>\n Karel Vejmelka was nearly impenetrable as he made clutch saves all night<\/p>\n \u201cVeggie\u201d chants were almost constant throughout Delta Center on Wednesday night and Karel Vejmelka was deserving of every single one as he made clutch saves all game to help his team maintain control.<\/p>\n Now, while he successfully stopped 29 of Detroit\u2019s 30 shots (96 SV%), that accomplishment was no picnic as it forced him to make some truly acrobatic saves.<\/p>\n Veggie is THAT guy!\ud83e\udd2f pic.twitter.com\/WG0ua1mrTi<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) February 5, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Tonight meant a little bit more to No. 70 and not just because Utah desperately needed the two points.<\/p>\n After losing a loved one recently, Vejmelka played out of his mind and made sure to dedicate his entire performance to his late uncle.<\/p>\n \u201cHe taught me a lot,\u201d Vejmelka explained. \u201cHe was a great human being. I\u2019m going to miss him, and I played for him tonight. This win is for him.\u201d<\/p>\n Veggie extra\u2019s motivation was almost palpable against Detroit as he gave just a little bit more on every single play and possessed a sixth sense for the puck.<\/p>\n Shot after shot, Utah\u2019s netminder threw everything he had at the Red Wings as he stopped an early breakaway, was impenetrable on the PK, swallowed nearly every puck and absolutely robbed Moritz Seider on a backdoor one-timer that should\u2019ve found the back of the net.<\/p>\n \u201cIt helps you win games there\u2019s no doubt about it,\u201d Head Coach Andre Tourigny said of Vejmelka\u2019s performance.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s been on a good stretch.\u201d<\/p>\n Like Tourigny noted, when a goaltender is playing as well as Vejmelka is, a team is going to have a really good chance to walk away with two points every single night.<\/p>\n With 26 wins (league-high), a .901 save percentage and 2.61 GAA, No. 70 is one of the primary reasons Utah has been so successful this season and currently sit in the top wild card spot (64 points) heading into the break.<\/p>\n As long as he can keep his save percentage around .900 or better, Utah will have a great chance to make the playoffs.<\/p>\n Utah\u2019s victory over Detroit sent a message about their intentions this season<\/p>\n Tonight\u2019s win was a statement victory.<\/p>\n Not just because they beat one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, but the matter in which took care of business to secure two points heading into the break showed how serious they are about making the postseason.<\/p>\n A year ago, that loss to Carolina would\u2019ve paralyzed this team.<\/p>\n Sent them into a downward spiral, especially after losing the next night to Dallas.<\/p>\n Instead, they picked themselves up, allowed it to sting and then quickly got back to business by closing the pre-Olympic schedule out with two massive wins.<\/p>\n How?<\/p>\n By having the right mindset.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we are moving in the right direction. We are hitting the right way, and we need to keep that same mindset for the rest of the season,\u201d Vejmelka explained.<\/p>\n \u201cWith using this break to rest our minds, but have that same mindset when we get back here.\u201d<\/p>\n Utah seems more desperate than last season but in a good way.<\/p>\n They understand the task at hand and are playing in a manner that reflects it.<\/p>\n Rather than hopelessly chasing a playoff spot, they know what brand of hockey they need to play in order to beat anyone.<\/p>\n That\u2019s exactly the way they played against Detroit.<\/p>\n They were well-prepared, fierce from puck drop, stuck to the basics, played their game, suffocated the opposition on the forecheck and were stingy defensively.<\/p>\n But that mindset cannot change going into the break.<\/p>\n Once they return, their playoff hopes will depend on whether or not they can replicate the way they\u2019ve played in 2026 thus far.<\/p>\n \u201cI think just go have a good break, but stay in shape, while also taking advantage of this time,\u201d Guenther said<\/p>\n \u201cWe played well coming back last year, but not good enough. St. Louis was hot, and a lot of teams are going to come out flying. So, we need to make sure that we\u2019re ready to go in the first game.\u201d<\/p>\n Utah needs to be that team this season.<\/p>\n They need to be the squad everyone chases but can\u2019t catch.<\/p>\n The good news?<\/p>\n They\u2019re more than capable, especially considering that Logan Cooley and Alexander Kerfoot should be available once the NHL season resumes.<\/p>\n The Mammoth made a statement about what they intend on doing this season.<\/p>\n Once they come back, it\u2019ll be time to finish the job.<\/p>\n What\u2019s\u00a0next for the Utah Mammoth?\u00a0<\/p>\n The Utah Mammoth will\u00a0now enter the Olympic break before returning to play on February 25 against the Colorado Avalanche\u00a0at 7:00 p.m. MT.\u00a0<\/p>\n The game will be available on Mammoth+.\u00a0<\/p>\n All Mammoth games will also be broadcast live on the KSL Sports Zone (97.5 FM\/1280 AM).\u00a0<\/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.\u00a0<\/p>\n Take us with\u00a0you,\u00a0wherever you go.\u00a0<\/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>