The New York Rangers celebrate a goal scored by J.T. Miller #10 during the third period against the Utah Mammoth at Madison Square Garden on October 04, 2026 in New York City. The Rangers won 4-2. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
(Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK — After beginning the new NHL season red-hot with two commanding wins and an unstoppable power play, the Utah Mammoth suffered their first loss of the year to the New York Rangers.
Drawing the New York Rangers at MSG on the second half of a back-to-back was never going to be an easy task and the Mammoth learned that the hard way as they suffered their first loss of the new season, 4-2.
Despite skating with New York for a majority of the contest and entering the final frame tied at one apiece, the Mammoth’s impatience resulted in a series of odd man rushes which ultimately led to their demise.
“We were impatient,” Head coach Andre Tourigny told KSL Sports. “We were forcing play. Instead to reload quickly and be above, we were forcing things. We were waiting to see if we will cut the play before you reload.”
“If we don’t reload properly, that will cost us. I think there was a little mental fatigue there.”
Now, to give credit where credit is due, Karel Vejmelka was on top of his game in New York as he stopped a multitude of odd man rushes, several of which resulted in dangerous breakaways.
However, eventually, one of those rushes did end up in the back of the net as the forwards failed to properly forecheck, Nate Schmidt missed a stretch pass along the boards and John Marino incorrectly defended a two-on-one situation.
While Vejmelka made the original stop in spectacular fashion, nobody covered the trailing Ranger who then buried the rebound to give New York a 2-1 lead.
GABE WITH THE REBOUND 😮💨 https://t.co/eOh9epZNCn
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) October 5, 2026
“Just a little sloppy on some execution things,” Andrew Peeke said. “We made Veggie have to stand on his head. He obviously kept us in the game, and we couldn’t get one there at the end.”
“We put too much pressure on him in that game.”
As both Peeke and Tourigny noted, Utah simply wasn’t at their best tonight which is understandable.
In addition to the back-to-back, Utah faced a formidable New York team who consistently suffocated the Mammoth at both ends.
Eventually, the pressure was simply too much as the Rangers outscored Utah 3-1 in the third to claim the victory.
“They had a lot of pressure,” Vincent Trocheck said. “Like I said, our execution wasn’t there. We turned pucks over that ended up in the back of our net.”
“Overall, I thought it was a pretty even game. It’s just the puck went their way a couple more times.”
FROM YOUR CAPTAIN 🫡 https://t.co/b4bob3IRU4
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) October 5, 2026
Now with a day in between games, the Mammoth can rest and refocus before facing New Jersey on Tuesdsay.
The Utah Mammoth will continue their five-game road trip against the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday at 5 p.m. MDT.
The game will be available on SEG+.
All Mammoth games will also be broadcast live on the KSL Sports Zone (97.5 FM/1280 AM).
Cole Bagley is the Utah Mammoth insider for KSL Sports. Follow him on X. You can hear Cole break down the team on KSL Sports Zone and KSL 5 TV.
