The Utah Mammoth built a three-goal advantage early in the third period and held off a late comeback attempt to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-4 at Delta Center on Monday. Nate Schmidt and Kevin Stenlund each registered a goal and an assist to lead Utah in the victory.
Pittsburgh struck first when Erik Karlsson notched his first goal of the season on a power-play slap shot 1:11 into the first period, assisted by Bryan Rust and Tommy Novak. Clayton Keller tied the game for Utah at 6:00 with an even-strength backhand shot. Stenlund then put the Mammoth ahead 2-1 with a wrist shot at 10:10 for his first goal of the season.
Rickard Rakell leveled the score at 7:01 of the second period, scoring his first goal of the season on a power-play wrist shot. Utah pulled ahead with two goals later in the frame. Schmidt snapped the tie with a slap shot at 11:44 for his first goal of the season, and Kailer Yamamoto converted a tip-in at 14:40 off passes from Schmidt and Barrett Hayton to give the Mammoth a 4-2 edge.
Nick Schmaltz widened the lead to 5-2 on a power-play backhand shot 1:36 into the third period. Pittsburgh rallied back into contention with a pair of even-strength goals. Egor Chinakhov scored on a snap shot at 2:55, and Declan Carlile beat the goaltender with a wrist shot at 14:55 to trim the deficit to one, but the Penguins could not generate another goal before time expired.
Sebastian Cossa earned the win for Utah by stopping 15 of 19 shots. Arturs Silovs took the loss in net for the Penguins, recording 24 saves on 29 shots. Pittsburgh converted both of its power-play opportunities, while Utah went 1-for-2 on the man advantage.
Utah improved to 7-3-0 on the season with the victory. Pittsburgh fell to 3-6-1 and saw its winless streak reach four consecutive games.
Both teams continue their schedules on Thursday, October 22. Pittsburgh will host the Florida Panthers, and Utah will visit the Seattle Kraken.
