Nick Schmaltz tallied his fifth goal of the season, the best in the NHL so far, helping the Utah Mammoth secure a 5-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night. The Mammoth also benefited from their effective power play, going 2-for-4, and extending their successful man-advantage conversion to eight goals from 13 opportunities this season. Other Utah scorers included Clayton Keller, MacKenzie Weegar, Lawson Crouse, and Vincent Trocheck. Mikhail Sergachev contributed three assists, surpassing 300 career helpers before leaving the game after being struck in the back of the helmet by a puck in the second period.
For the Devils, Luke Evangelista scored twice, with Jesper Boqvist adding another goal. This win marked Utah’s first victory over New Jersey, having previously gone 0-for-4 in their past two seasons. Utah’s Karel Vejmelka made 30 saves, while Jake Allen of the Devils stopped 26 shots. Sergachev’s second assist, on Weegar’s goal in the early second, brought him to the 300-assist milestone in his 634th NHL game. The 28-year-old Russian defender also had a four-assist game for the seventh time in his career, the fourth time in the last 32 contests, with Schmaltz assisting on his goal late in the game.
Injury-wise, New Jersey’s Jonas Siegenthaler left early in the third period due to an injury.
Looking ahead, the Mammoth will play at Boston on Thursday, while the Devils are set to host Vancouver on Saturday.
Fan Take: This game stands out as a landmark moment for Sergachev, reaching 300 assists, which highlights his growing influence in the league. For fans, this win shows Utah’s promising progression and hints at an exciting season ahead for the team — and possibly a shift in power dynamics in the league.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
