Mammoth drop first game post Olympics break in 4-2 loss to Colorado

SALT LAKE CITY — After three weeks off for the Olympics, shaking off some rust was expected — and the Mammoth showed plenty of it in a 4-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche at home.

Clayton Keller, fresh off winning a gold medal with the United States at the Olympics, made it back to Utah late Tuesday night when team owner Ryan Smith sent a private plane to pick him up from Washington D.C. so he could suit up for Wednesday's game.

In the first period, Utah's four Olympians were recognized for their participation and accomplishments during the Olympics, but it was Keller who received a standing ovation after he and the U.S. men's team won the country's first gold medal in 46 years.

Despite 11 combined Olympians between the Mammoth and Avalanche, it was apparent early in the contest it was the first game action for many players in three weeks.

Utah also welcomed back Logan Cooley and Alex Kerfoot into the lineup Wednesday. Cooley had been out with a lower-body injury he suffered on Dec. 5, while Kerfoot has battled a multitude of injuries this season.

"There's a lot of hard work that went into it," Cooley said. "Big thanks to the trainers and everyone who's supported me coming back. It felt good to be back, but now it kind of shifts to the team and how we need to be better."

It was a long road back for Cooley, who recorded a point in his first game back.

"Early on, I couldn't walk as much," Cooley said. "I was just trying to get my strength back a little bit. Then I started to lift more in the gym, and then I was fortunate to get back on the ice pretty quick. It was a long journey, those three months felt like a year."

Cooley slid into the second line at the center position next to Jack McBain and Dylan Guenther, while head coach Andre Tourigny opted to move J.J. Peterka and Barrett Hayton down to the third line alongside Kailer Yamamoto.

After a scoreless — and at times sloppy — first period, action picked up in the second. All six goals in the game were scored between Utah and Colorado in an entertaining second period.

The Avalanche jumped out to a two-goal lead halfway through the second period; and despite a strong showing from Dylan Guenther, Colorado had too many answers for the Mammoth.

"We played a good team, but I didn't like our grind," Tourigny said. "I didn't like our physicality. I thought we didn't have the pace we should have in our zone, on the forecheck. I don't think we were the fastest team tonight, and that's what makes us special, when we play really fast."

The situation could have been much worse for Utah, but they avoided an opening period deficit after Tourigny challenged a goal from Gabriel Landeskog. Upon further video review, the call was overturned and the goal was negated due to goalie interference on Brock Nelson.

The Mammoth escaped trouble again after a careless turnover from Sean Durzi in Utah's zone gave way to a two-on-one opportunity for the Avalanche, but Karel Vejmelka turned the shot away to keep a zero on the board.

The scoring opportunities finally opened up for Colorado after Parker Kelly showcased a dazzling display of puck control as he fought off two Utah skaters to get a shot past Vejmelka for the first score of the game.

Minutes later, a giveaway from Kevin Stenlund near the Mammoth's blue line led to Kelly retrieving the puck before passing it off to Sam Malinski, who then found Victor Olofsson for the shot that also beat Vejmelka to give the Avalanche a two-goal lead.

Guenther picked up where he left off at the break and net two goals, with one coming on a power play and the other being a product of the chemistry between his linemates, McBain and Cooley. Guenther matched a career-high with goals in a single-season with 27 after the two-goal night.

Cooley broke out plenty of moves throughout the game, including a spin move that sent a Colorado skater falling to the ice. He looked comfortable in his first game back but will still need to knock off some rust to help the team's potential playoff push.

"He looks like he hasn't really missed a beat," Guenther said. "I think he was skating really well and moving really well, so that's a great sign for us."

After Guenther helped cut the deficit in half with his one-timer that beat Wedgewood to the corner of the net, Keller's Team USA teammate, Nelson, immediately got the goal back for Colorado after he sunk a one-timer of his own on the pass from Gabriel Landeskog.

Wedgewood and the Avalanche defense tightened up in the third period and shut the door on a potential comeback for the Mammoth.

Special teams were a struggle for Utah in their first game back from the break. The team picked up a goal on a man advantage but went just 1-for-5 overall on the power play. The Mammoth's penalty kill also allowed a goal on three power play chances for the Avalanche.

"They play a style where they apply pressure, there's a lot of man on man, and you need to win those battles," Tourigny said. "If you don't win battles, possess the puck enough, and you obviously have to defend too much."

Utah will face another division opponent on Friday when they host the Minnesota Wild in what will be another crucial game for the playoff race.

Related topics