Vejmelka blanks Avalanche as Mammoth close preseason

Karel Vejmelka stopped all 25 shots he faced as the Utah Mammoth beat the Colorado Avalanche 2-0 Saturday in their preseason finale at Delta Center.

Jack McBain opened the scoring about six and a half minutes into the first period, assisted by Barrett Hayton and Nate Schmidt. Logan Cooley scored on the power play roughly four minutes later, with Clayton Keller and Dylan Guenther assisting.

Vejmelka made his second preseason appearance. Cooley said the goaltender was “huge for us” during a second period in which Utah allowed several chances.

The Mammoth killed all four Colorado power plays. They also survived 22 seconds down two skaters after taking a tripping penalty and a bench minor during a late second-period sequence.

Utah used its full NHL roster for the first time this preseason. Coach André Tourigny praised the pace of Hayton's line and said his players made the remaining roster decisions difficult.