As the Olympic break looms, the Utah Mammoth find themselves in the thick of a playoff push-and Monday night in Tampa was the kind of test that reveals a lot about a team’s mettle. Facing a battle-tested Lightning squad on the road, Utah came up short on the scoreboard. But the game delivered more than just a result-it gave fans a fiery moment that had social media buzzing, courtesy of defenseman Sean Durzi.
Midway through the contest, things got heated between Durzi and Tampa Bay’s Declan Carlile. After a collision that left Durzi hunched over, Carlile appeared to keep the pressure on, throwing a few extra shots while Durzi was vulnerable.
That didn’t sit well with the Mammoth blueliner. Moments later, both players found themselves in the penalty box-and that's when the fireworks really started.
Cameras caught Durzi unleashing a verbal barrage in Carlile’s direction, and while we won’t repeat what was said, let’s just say it didn’t take a lip-reading expert to catch the gist.
While the intensity was real, the result was what stung most for Utah. Tampa Bay walked away with a shutout win at Benchmark International Arena, thanks in large part to Andrei Vasilevskiy’s 28-save performance.
The Lightning netminder was locked in all night, turning aside everything the Mammoth threw his way. Darren Raddysh and Anthony Cirelli provided the offense, each finding the back of the net to seal the deal.
As for Carlile, the 25-year-old defenseman is still getting his feet under him in the NHL. This season marks his first real run with the Lightning, and he’s making the most of it, averaging over 14 minutes a night. Monday’s game was his 34th career appearance, and while he’s not lighting up the scoresheet-he has one goal and three points on the year-he’s proving he can hang in the league’s physical battles.
On the other side, Durzi continues to be a critical piece for the Mammoth. Logging nearly 21 minutes a night, he’s one of the team’s leaders on the blue line. Injuries have limited his offensive output in recent seasons, but he’s still managed 15 points in 31 games this year-a solid return for a defenseman who’s asked to do a bit of everything.
For Utah, the loss is a tough one, especially in the context of the playoff race. But there’s no time to dwell.
Sean Durzi was GIVING IT to Declan Carlile in the penalty box 😳🤬 pic.twitter.com/hgccundpAF
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) January 27, 2026
The Mammoth are right back at it Tuesday night with another tall order: a showdown against the two-time defending champion Florida Panthers. If Monday was a gut check, Tuesday is a chance to respond.