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Garnet Hathaway’s empty-net blunder fuels Mammoth comeback win

Originally posted on Daily Faceoff | By Hunter Crowther | Last updated Jan 22, 2026 12:44 PM ET

The Utah Mammoth earned a 5-4 win in overtime over the Philadelphia Flyers Wednesday night, thanks to two late goals from Clayton Keller, who scored the game-tying goal with 34 seconds left in regulation then another two minutes into OT.

It was what happened before Keller scored his goal late in the third that has the hockey world buzzing.

Down 4-3 with 1:30 to go, the Mammoth pulled their goalie for the extra skater when Flyers’ forward Garnet Hathaway grabbed the puck and skated into the Utah zone. While it looked like he was going to score on the empty net, Mammoth forward Nick Schmaltz lifted Hathaway’s stick and took the puck, sending it the other way and setting up Keller’s tying goal.

Garnet Hathaway felt the full weight of not burying this empty net opportunity, eventually leading to a Flyers OT loss.

(: NBC Sports) pic.twitter.com/OawgXSVKDU

— BarDown (@BarDown) January 22, 2026

PHLY Sports reporter Charlie O’Connor reported after the game that Hathaway was still in his full uniform and equipment long after the final whistle, staring at the ground.

On Thursday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Tyler Yaremchuk and former NHL goaltender Carter Hutton watch the highlight and examine what went wrong for the Flyers.

Tyler Yaremchuk: Philly had a beautiful opportunity to ice this game, and they somehow don’t cash on this. A gorgeous stick lift saved the game.

Carter Hutton: Nick Schmaltz on the backcheck. I don’t know if there’s a sense from Hathaway that there’s no pressure on him, but as he crosses the blue line, he just lets up. I think he wanted to skate the puck in.

I don’t think there’s anyone that feels worse than Hathaway. This is another one that’s going to sting for him and Flyers fans.

You can watch the full segment and the rest of the episode here…