The Utah Mammoth have opened the season at 10-6 and haven’t dropped consecutive games yet, but the biggest issue hanging over them is in net.
Sebastian Cossa gave them a reason to think harder about that problem last night. In his fifth start, he looked steady and gave Utah the kind of stability it has been missing, which only sharpened the question: should the Mammoth rethink the starting goalie job?
Karel Vejmelka has not given them much to feel good about so far. He is allowing 3.31 goals per game and owns a .872 save percentage, with a 6-5-0 record after going 38-20-3 last season. Even though his numbers were not strong a year ago, Utah at least knew what it was getting from him then.
That has not been the case this season. The rhythm has been almost exactly one step forward, one step back - when the offense shows up, the Mammoth win, and when it doesn’t, Vejmelka tends to have a rough night and Utah comes up short.
Cossa’s line is not spotless either, but the results are starting to matter. After stopping 27 of 29 shots last night, he improved to 4-1-0.
His save percentage climbed to .875, and he is now at 2.95 goals allowed per game. Those numbers are still shaped by two ugly outings, including a 6-1 loss to the Boston Bruins in which he was pulled and another 6-1 loss where he came in for Vejmelka.
Even with that baggage, there’s a case building here. The 23-year-old former first-round pick has appeared in only seven games in his career, and in his last two starts Utah has won both while he posted a save percentage above .900.
If Vejmelka keeps struggling, the Mammoth may not have much choice but to lean harder toward Cossa. Utah’s next test comes against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday, and that decision will be worth watching.
In Other News...
Utah Mammoth Are Chasing Respect In The NHLs Toughest Division
Since relocating from Arizona to Utah in April 2024, the franchise has spent its first full stretch in a new market trying to build something more than a fresh logo and a new name. The early returns have been encouraging. Under coach Andr Tourigny, the Mammoth have found a steadier identity, and core voices like Clayton Keller, Nate Schmidt and MacKenzie Weegar have all pointed to the way the group has grown into its surroundings and into its own skin.
What makes the start even more interesting is the setting. The Central Division is unforgiving, and any team trying to earn respect there has to prove it night after night, not just with a hot start but with the kind of consistency that changes how opponents view them. Utah has already shown it can belong in that conversation, and the next step is turning that first wave of progress into something lasting. [Read more 🡒]
Roadrunners Hot Start May Trace Back To One Early Team-Building Move
The Tucson Roadrunners opened their American Hockey League season with a pair of losses against the Colorado Eagles, but they steadied quickly with two wins over the San Jose Barracuda. For a team with a roster full of newcomers, including players new to the organization and, in some cases, to professional North American hockey, the early turnaround has offered a glimpse of how quickly chemistry can matter in the AHL.
Steve Potvin and his players pointed to a team-building trip in Scottsdale as a useful step in getting everyone on the same page. The group spent time together away from the rink in go-karts and other bonding activities, and the experience was described internally as a positive one that helped build unity. For a club still learning each others habits, that kind of off-ice connection can be just as important as any practice rep. [Read more 🡒]