Nick Schmaltz and Clayton Keller combined for four points as the Utah Mammoth edged the Boston Bruins 3-2 on Sunday at Delta Center in Salt Lake City. This thrilling match showcased the Mammoth’s strong performance, solidifying their position in the league.
Game Highlights and Key Performances
Schmaltz registered two assists, while Keller contributed with a goal and an assist, building on their impressive outing just two days prior, where they totaled eight points in a win over San Jose. Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther also scored for Utah, and Vitek Vanecek made 24 saves. The Mammoth have now won three straight games, remained undefeated at home, and improved their record to 4-2-0.
On the other hand, David Pastrnak scored both of Boston’s goals, and Joonas Korpisalo stopped 24 shots. The Bruins fell to 3-4-0, experiencing their fourth consecutive loss, raising concerns about their early season performance.
The game started with Cooley putting Utah ahead at 4:20 of the first period on a power play, as a shot from Schmaltz deflected off Cooley and floated past Korpisalo. Boston responded with a power-play goal at 14:38, where Charlie McAvoy found Pavel Zacha in the slot for a quick touch pass to Pastrnak at the left post.
Pastrnak struck again at 5:46 of the second period, finishing a 2-on-1 opportunity off a feed from Marat Khusnutdinov to give Boston a 2-1 lead. However, Keller tied the game 2-2 at 15:57, knocking in the rebound from a Schmaltz shot, showcasing the Mammoth’s resilience.
Guenther delivered the winning goal at 10:37 of the third period, blasting a one-timer from the left circle after JJ Peterka forced a turnover and set him up. This goal proved crucial as it secured the victory for Utah.
Utah’s coach praised his team’s effort in the third period, noting they managed the pace well despite some earlier puck-management issues. Conversely, Boston’s coach felt his team skated with purpose throughout the game and deserved a better outcome. Pastrnak acknowledged that the loss stung but emphasized that the performance showed signs of improvement compared to earlier games on their trip, which Boston concluded with an 0-3-0 record.
Keller pointed out Utah’s ability to excel in third periods after facing challenges in the second. Guenther expressed that the team embraced the moment at home, aimed to play fast against a heavier opponent, and adjusted effectively to secure the win.
Notes: Pastrnak’s 395th career goal ties him with Ray Bourque for sixth on the Bruins’ all-time list. Utah recorded its third comeback win of the season, tying Montreal and Vegas for the most in the NHL, highlighting their competitive edge this season.