Calgary Flames, Game Recap, utah-mammoth

Burned Out

Your Favorite Hockey Guy in Utah

December 7, 2025

^{The Mammoth, like my computer, burned out on Saturday}

So, apologies for a late posting. I ended up with a brand new computer today, obviously a day late and a … more than a few dollars short.

Short recap today, I’ll be getting much more details in the pre-game for tomorrow.

FIRST PERIOD:
The Mammoth lined up with Calgary on the opening puck drop… and they scored. 1-0 Calgary

Calgary had a dump in off the opening face off. A fortunate bounce, a strong forecheck by Joel Farabee, and a net-front feed from Nazem Kadri let a wide open Yegor Sharangovich chip the puck over Utah’s backup goaltender, Vitek Vanecek.

This goal was the fastest goal against Utah in club history. Fun times.

Calgary got on an early power play as Nick Schmaltz took a high sticking penalty, and they put some significant pressure on the Utah PK. However, Utah stood strong against the Calgary Flames’ unit, especially as the power play was ending, as Vanecek was able to stop Sharangovich on a long slapshot from the point, and a Mikael Backlund rebound attempt and second follow up from Blake Coleman. Score still 1-0 despite the push, but the kill ended successfully.

Both teams had a defensive clinic for most of the rest of the first period, with the only notable chances coming with about 5 minutes left.

A blocked shot in the slot left Jack McBain tailing far side on Dustin Wolf, but he was denied. About 45 seconds later, JJ Peterka on the rush took a feed from Clayton Keller, but was stopped by Wolf, and the rebound came out to Nick Schmaltz who missed the wide open cage by about a foot. With a minute left, Daniil But walked in right to the crease, was tripped up on his attempt, and the play stalled momentarily. However, Mikhail Sergachev walked in from the top of the dot and threw a wrister on net, but Wolf again stopped Utah cold.

Shots came in flurries, and up until the last 5 minutes, Utah didn’t seem to have a lot of opportunity. All said and done, Utah had 11 shots on goal, Calgary 8.

SECOND PERIOD:
Here’s where the review just goes by quickly. The period was basically a defensive one for both teams, with Utah having some offensive zone time and chances, and a couple by the Flames, but nothing major occurred. The only main items of note: Utah Mammoth Caveman-mascot-in-waiting Liam O’Brien and Ryan Lomberg each got 5 minutes for fighting with majestic hair.

The Mammoth did get a late power play, with about 6 minutes left after Nazem Kadri was called for holding Sergachev, however the Calgary PK unit – best in the league over the past 10 games – shut down the power play without a single shot.

Liam O’Brien had 2 shots on goal this period, however he’s not known for his goal scoring touch – and the period ended up closing out as it started.

The Mammoth didn’t win the 2nd period, but didn’t fall further behind either. 9 to 6 shots for the period, 20 – 14 edge by Utah through 2.

THIRD PERIOD:
Desperation time for the Mammoth, and over the first 4 minutes it showed. A pair of chances in front, from Schmaltz on a broken play, and a shot from Lawson Crouse (and missed rebound from Jack McBain) were really the only major pushes Utah had. The remainder of the period was fairly uneventful; though we did see a fairly early goalie pull by Andre Tourigny. The Mammoth did what the Mammoth do 6 on 5 though. 2-0 Flames

Utah would keep Vanecek in for the next 45 seconds, then pull him again for the extra attacker a second time, but the game ended without giving up a second ENG, or breaking the 6 on 5 curse.

3 GOALS (THE GOOD):

Defense was solid. The Flames struggle to score and aside from a weird first 15 seconds, they didn’t again until the goalie was pulled. The Mammoth held the Flames to just 14 shots after the first 2 periods, when the game was close, but it was clear they were out of gas by the end of the game. Still, giving up just 23 shots on the back half of a back to back on the longest road stretch in the NHL? Not too shabby.

Just short The best statistical game of Vitek Vanecek’s tenure with the Mammoth was wasted, as he posted a .955 and just 1GA. Problem is, when you get 0GF it doesn’t matter how many are saved after the first. Shame, too, because he played good enough to win. That’s probably how the Canucks felt on Friday.

We the People are going to enjoy a rare homestand, finally. After nearly 2/3rds of the season on the road – and with nearly as many back-to-back games played away this season as home games, the Utah fans deserve to see their team in action back at the Delta Center for 3 games before… surprise, another 3 away including…. a back to back. Shocking, I know.

3 CHIRPS (THE BAD):

And… they’re off I know that the Flames have that horse on their sweater, but they acted like a thoroughbred at the start. A 15 second against goal is just crushing. You’re exhausted, you’re road-weary, and you’re down a goal before you even see the ice. That’s just gotta be disheartening for everyone out on there, especially when Wolf decided to be the Wolf of 2024 and not 2025.

Frozen The weather in Calgary wasn’t the only thing freezing, as Utah failed to score on any of their 27 shots. That included a 2 power plays (hey, that 2 seconds counted at the end!) where they spent 2 minutes and 2 seconds just not creating plays or even getting pucks to the net.

Those that got to the net, though, were stopped by Wolf. Utah just had no answer.

This marked the second time on this road trip Utah was blanked. Not a good look for what’s supposed to be a high-scoring young team.

Broken Record I’ve said many times, so one more. The Mammoth have played 10 games back to back. That’s 1/3rd of the season. They’ve played 11 games at home. That’s 1/3rd of the season +1. They’ve been away for 19 of 30 games.

The Mammoth have the most away games, most away back-to-backs, and are tied for total back to backs. The teams they’re tied with? All of have at least one of those games at home. Several back to back runs have been within 50 miles; Utah’s had back to backs spanning time zones.

Come January, when they’re in the New York area, they play on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th. 3 teams, less than 50 miles apart, and they don’t have a back to back when they could be in the same hotel overnight.

The league scheduling is a joke with or without the Olympics.