Utah Mammoth Ran Out of Gas Against Senators, and Goaltending Concerns Are Growing
· Yahoo Sports
The Utah Mammoth finally hit the wall. After five games on the road and three straight tests against quality opponents, fatigue caught up with them Saturday night in Ottawa.
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Utah opened the stretch with an impressive 3-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday before falling 5-4 in overtime to the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday. Against the Senators, the Mammoth controlled much of the game, outshooting Ottawa 32-21 and keeping pace for nearly 58 minutes. But the legs eventually gave out, and a couple of costly defensive lapses turned a competitive night into a 4-2 loss.
Ottawa took advantage when Utah needed just two more minutes to secure at least a point. Nick Cousins found room around Barrett Hayton and MacKenzie Weegar, redirecting the puck past Karel Vejmelka for the late winner.
It's a frustrating way to end a road trip, especially after Utah collected five points in five games. But the bigger concern coming out of Ottawa might be in the crease.
It's Time to Give Sebastian Cossa the Net
Karel Vejmelka was better Saturday. That doesn't necessarily mean he was good enough.
The Utah goaltender stopped 17 of 20 shots, finishing with an .850 save percentage. Some of the damage came from defensive breakdowns, but Vejmelka also looked a step behind on several occasions. Whether it was getting across the crease or reacting to developing plays, he wasn't giving Utah the kind of goaltending it needs.
At some point, the Mammoth have to stop treating this as a temporary slump. Vejmelka has now lost five of his last six starts, and Utah is no longer a rebuilding team that can afford to wait around for inconsistent goaltending.
Sebastian Cossa deserves a legitimate opportunity to take over the starting job. The former Detroit Red Wings prospect arrived in Utah during the offseason, and the organization should find out what it has in him.
There's also a bigger swing worth considering: Scott Wedgewood in Colorado. He's backing up Mackenzie Blackwood, but his recent track record suggests he can handle a starting workload. Last season, Wedgewood went 31-6-6 with a 2.02 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage. He's also entering the final year of his contract.
If I'm Bill Armstrong, I'm at least picking up the phone and calling Colorado. Wedgewood could be a major upgrade, and Utah might be able to put together a deal that brings back draft capital while moving Vejmelka.
The Mammoth are too good to keep gambling on goaltending.