Utah’s power play? Yeah, it’s a problem. A big, nasty, game-winning problem that just carved up the New Jersey Devils for a 5-3 win on Tuesday night. Nick Schmaltz, the league’s top scorer with his fifth goal already, potted the go-ahead tally and the Mammoth’s man-advantage unit was absolutely clinical, driving home two goals and finishing 2-for-4 on the night.
Mammoth Offense: Not Just Schmaltz, But Everyone!
It wasn’t just Schmaltz bringing the heat, though his league-best fifth goal was clutch. Clayton Keller also lit the lamp on the power play, and MacKenzie Weegar, Lawson Crouse, and Vincent Trocheck all piled on goals for the Mammoth. This team’s offense is deep, man. Weegar’s goal early in the second period was huge, and it also marked a massive milestone for Mikhail Sergachev. The 28-year-old Russian defenseman notched his second assist of the game on that play, passing 300 career assists in his 634th NHL game. Talk about a veteran making plays! Sergachev was on fire, dishing out three assists in total, including another on Schmaltz’s crucial go-ahead goal. He even registered his seventh career four-assist game, his fourth in just the last 32 contests, before taking a puck to the back of the helmet late in the second period and leaving the game. Hope he’s okay, because that guy is a playmaker.
Devils’ Push Back Wasn’t Enough
New Jersey didn’t go down without a fight, you gotta give them that. Luke Evangelista bagged himself two goals, and Jesper Boqvist added another. They tried to rally, but the Mammoth’s power play just kept coming. Schmaltz’s go-ahead goal came midway through the second, making it 3-2, and then he grabbed a second assist on Trocheck’s goal that pushed it to 5-3 with just over three minutes left. Jake Allen in the Devils’ net stopped 26 shots, but Karel Vejmelka for Utah was even better, turning away 30. This win is a big one for the Mammoth, not just for the points. They finally broke the Devils’ curse, beating them for the first time ever after going 0-for-4 in their previous two seasons. That’s gotta feel good, right? Adding insult to injury, Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler also had to leave the game early in the third period with an injury. Rough night for New Jersey.
So what’s next? The Mammoth are hitting the road, heading to Boston for a Thursday matchup. Meanwhile, the Devils have a chance to regroup when they host Vancouver on Saturday. This win for Utah feels like a statement, showing they’re not just a flash in the pan, especially with that lethal power play clicking.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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