The loss to the Utah Mammoth last night was brutal for the Flyers. Blowing a 3-0 lead (and later holding a 4-2 advantage) before Clayton Keller tied it with 35 seconds left in regulation and then won it in OT at 2:01. That’s the definition of a meltdown.
It started off great, as the Flyers jumped out fast with goals from Cam York early and Christian Dvorak adding a pair, but they couldn’t close it out—penalties, defensive lapses, and failing to capitalize on chances let Utah storm back for the 5-4 win. It’s frustrating because the orange and black had been showing some fight lately, but this one stings extra hard.
They’re sitting at 23-17-9 after this, which puts them around the playoff bubble in the East—likely fighting for a wild card spot—but games like this highlight the inconsistency that’s plagued them. Unfortunately, they have dropped seven of their last eight (1-5-2 in that stretch), and collapsing late against a hot Mammoth team (who extended their point streak to eight and finished a strong homestand) doesn’t scream “reliable contender.”
“You have to learn how to play winning hockey,” Flyers’ Head Coach Rick Tocchet said following the loss to the Utah Mammoth.
That said, the Flyers aren’t completely out of it yet. They have talent up front (Dvorak stepping up, Brink contributing), solid goaltending at times with Vladar (Mainly), and a young core that can still grow. But to be a true playoff threat, they need better defensive structure, fewer mental lapses in crunch time, and more consistency closing out leads. Right now, they’re more of a bubble team than a lock—capable of beating good squads on any night but prone to these exact kinds of collapses that kill momentum. What do you think was the biggest issue against the Mammoth—the penalties, the third-period fade, or just Utah’s never-say-die push?
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