Mammoth enter Olympic break in playoff spot after 4-1 win over Red Wings

SALT LAKE CITY — The Mammoth picked up a critical 2 points against the Detroit Red Wings Wednesday with a 4-1 victory in their final game before the Olympic break.

After scoring two goals in the opening period, Utah was able to hold off any potential comeback from the Red Wings with its swarming play on defense and a spectacular performance from goaltender Karel Vejmelka.

"I think he's been on a good stretch, played a lot of hockey," Mammoth head coach Andre Tourigny said of Vejmelka's performance. "We keep focusing on our game and improving our game, and I think tonight, at five on five, we were really solid. We didn't give much."

Vejmelka, who's representing Czechia at the Olympics, collected 29 saves but made a potential game-altering stop on Detroit's power play in the second period. Vejmelka slid to his right to deflect the open look for Lucas Raymond, keeping a two-goal lead intact.

Fellow Olympian, Clayton Keller, picked up 2 points in the win with an assist on a power-play goal, and then he sank an empty net goal to ice the game.

The Mammoth have turned the tide from its previous games by getting out to a quick lead in the opening minute. Sean Durzi picked up the loose puck in the Detroit zone and got his shot through the legs of Detroit defenseman Ben Chiarot and past John Gibson and into the net.

The early aggressiveness from Utah helped the team pick up the game's first power play, which allowed the Mammoth to take a commanding lead. After another penalty on Detroit, the man advantage turned into a two-man advantage for Utah.

After exercising some power-play demons in the team's win against Vancouver, the Mammoth were able to pick up another power-play goal Wednesday. The Mammoth worked the five-on-three to perfection, and it was Nick Schmaltz who lit the lamp in the end.

It was Schmaltz's 23rd goal of the season and fourth goal in the past two games. The 23 goals for Schmaltz ties his career high in a single-season; he did so previously in 2021-22 with Arizona.

Red Wings goaltender John Gibson prevented further damage in the period after making a great save to take away a goal from Lawson Crouse, who had a good look at the net after receiving a nice pass from John Marino.

Utah held a potent Red Wings offense in check for the majority of the game. A lineup that features plenty of its own Olympians, both past and present, was contained to just one goal.

During the first period, Detroit winger and former Team USA member Patrick Kane got a standing ovation after it was announced over the PA he recently became the NHL's all-time point-scorer by a U.S. born player. Kane, a longtime Chicago Blackhawk, broke Mike Modano's previous record on Jan. 29 against the Washington Capitals.

But none of that mattered for the Red Wings Wednesday night.

After the loss to the Stars, Tourigny and many players preached the need for better special teams. Utah got exactly what they needed and picked up three penalty kills to go along with their goal on the man advantage.

"I think we did a great job," Vejmelka said of Utah's special teams. "We took a couple penalty kills, but we did a great job. It was a big challenge for us and a big win for us."

Utah added an insurance goal in the third period when Dylan Guenther slipped past Detroit's defense and made a quick crossover with the puck to freeze Gibson just enough before getting it past him and into the net.

Vejmelka's shutout bid ended late in the third period when the Red Wings finally got on the board. The puck ricocheted off the boards behind the net and right to Dylan Larkin, who sent the puck into Utah's net as Vejmelka was still recovering from the previous shot.

It was too little, too late for Detroit, though. After Gibson was pulled with just over three minutes left in regulation, the Mammoth retook their three-goal lead on Keller's empty net goal, which sealed the victory.

"I think we are moving in the right direction," Vejmelka said. "We are heading the right way and we need to keep that same mindset for the rest of the season. Use the break to rest our minds, but have that same mindset when we get back here."

Utah currently sits in a playoff spot as they enter the Olympic break and are expected to get Logan Cooley back when the league returns.

"We haven't played a full game with our full roster," Guenther said. "I think a lot of teams will probably be back healthy, but (Cooley) is a huge part of our team. That's a big player loss; and I think that, collectively, we've stepped up, stayed in the race, and now just can't get complacent when he's back."

Utah will be back in action in three weeks when they host the Colorado Avalanche on Feb. 25.

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