Sunday's Disaster Should Force Utah to Rethink Its Goaltending Future

How many more games will the Utah Mammoth need to watch slip away before they seriously reconsider their situation in goal?

Sunday's 6-3 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers was another day in the office for Karel Vejmelka and not in a good way.

The starting netminder surrendered five goals on just 20 shots against Philadelphia, turning in a .750 save percentage in a game Utah desperately needed to win. The veteran had actually been given a night off in Pittsburgh to begin the club's six-game road trip, but the extra rest didn't result in a better performance.

He's now allowed at least three goals in five consecutive appearances, losing four of his last five starts while posting a .838 save percentage. Through 12 games, Vejmelka owns a 6-5-0 record, a 3.31 goals-against average and an .868 save percentage.

And this isn't entirely on Vejmelka. The defense certainly deserves its share of criticism. Utah has been outscored 20-9 across its four recent losses, and Mikhail Sergachev acknowledged that the team's execution has repeatedly fallen apart when playing from behind. Defensive breakdowns and questionable decisions have left the goaltenders with plenty to overcome.

However, at the end of the day, if you're between the pipes, you have to give your team a save at some point. 

Perhaps that's why it's time to give Sebastian Cossa a more substantial opportunity.

Acquired by the Mammoth in an offseason trade, Cossa hasn't exactly put up spectacular numbers himself, carrying a .857 save percentage. However, he's 3-1 through four starts, has won his last two appearances and stopped 31 of 34 shots against Pittsburgh. Starting him Tuesday against Toronto would be a reasonable opportunity to see whether he can provide some stability.

But Utah might need to think beyond simply changing its starter for a game. How much longer can the organization afford to keep running with a goaltending tandem that hasn't established itself as dependable? And if Vejmelka's struggles continue, should the Mammoth begin exploring the trade market rather than waiting for things to improve?

Trading him wouldn't necessarily be the answer right now, particularly with Utah needing reliable options between the pipes. But it shouldn't be an unthinkable conversation, either.

The Mammoth have invested in building a competitive roster. They can't afford to keep treating goaltending as an issue that will eventually resolve itself.

Tuesday's matchup against Toronto offers Cossa another opportunity to make his case. Perhaps it's also an opportunity for Utah to finally start addressing a problem that has been following this franchise for far too long.