Going into its game against the Lightning, Utah was considered one of the fastest teams in the NHL. When watching the Mammoth play, it’s evident this squad has speed.

Whether it’s a JJ Peterka breakaway or Logan Cooley — the second-fastest player in the league according to NHL EDGE — slipping past defensemen to create open lanes, Utah’s speed has been a big problem for opponents.

But against an experienced Tampa Bay Lightning team, that speed was contained — and ultimately, the Lightning came away with a 4-2 win because of it.

"They have played the same way for maybe 10 years now. So nothing they did was shocking, and there was nothing they did that we were unprepared for, or shouldn't have been prepared for," said Ian Cole. "This wasn't our best game, and we know that. Now we have to respond. We can't let two (losses) turn into three, turn to four, turn to five." 

Coming home for only one game, the Utah Mammoth’s top six had been on fire. Nick Schmaltz entered with an eight-game point streak, and Cooley had scored six goals across four games. Even Utah’s defensemen were finally starting to find the back of the net.

But against Tampa, it wouldn’t be any of Utah’s top skaters who scored either goal. Instead, it was the Mammoth’s other lines that stepped up.

With Utah trailing 2-1 at the top of the third, it was none other than Kailer Yamamoto — scoring his first goal of the season — who tied the game 2-2 and gave the Mammoth a much-needed energy boost.

"I try to play with that energy," said Yamamoto. "Obviously, Tane (Brandon Tanev) has a lot of energy, so. But no, I try to bring that energy too."

Along with an earlier breakaway goal in the first from Lawson Crouse, Utah’s other lines were stepping up offensively and keeping the Mammoth in the game. And when you have Dylan Guenther hitting game-winners frequently, other lines contributing is huge.

Yamamoto’s goal wasn’t just an energy boost for his team — it got the crowd noticeably louder and more engaged with the game. Now, every shot on goal had Mammoth fans ready to erupt with cheers if it found the net.

Unfortunately, the only goal Mammoth fans would end up reacting to came from Tampa Bay’s Jake Guentzel, who scored an incredible unassisted goal.

What started as a simple faceoff win soon turned into Guentzel wrapping around the net. Electing to leave Guentzel, defenseman Olli Määttä decided to get physical with Tampa’s Brayden Point, pushing into him to close off any attempt at a greasy goal.

Unfortunately, Määttä’s push also caused Utah’s Ian Cole, the Mammoth's best shot blocker with 28 blocked shots on the season , to fall to the ice.

Suddenly, Guentzel had a wide-open look and only one man to beat: Karel Vejmelka.

Though Vejmelka was hugging the left post, Guentzel’s shot still squeezed past his body, ricocheting off his pads and into the net.

Utah managed a couple more pushes, almost forcing overtime when a McBain rebound led to a wide-open look at the net. But Tampa’s defense forced his shot wide right and stayed strong when the Mammoth sent out an extra attacker.

"Utah is a great team. I remember last year I came in here and they took us apart," said Lightning coach Jon Cooper. "The big thing for us was protecting on the fast breaks and we did a really good job of that. Now you give up a [Lawson Crouse] breakaway ten minutes in, but really liked the way we responded."

Utah played hard despite its top six not managing any points, but it was too much to overcome with Tampa Bay’s offense rolling.

Now it’s back to the road for the Utah Mammoth, with their next four games away from home ice.

With their next game against the Buffalo Sabres, the team can look forward to what’s likely to be a spirited matchup with former Utah players Josh Doan and Michael Kesselring — and the pieces from the Peterka trade — looking to get a win against their former team.

That game is set for Tuesday, Nov. 4.