The Utah Mammoth keep finding ways to win — even shorthanded and even without their top scorer.
Mikhail Sergachev snapped a tie midway through the third period and Utah survived a frantic finish to beat the Florida Panthers 4–3 on Tuesday night, extending the Mammoth’s impressive run to nine wins in their last 11 games.
Sergachev’s go-ahead goal came with 8:55 remaining, breaking a 2–2 deadlock and giving Utah the lead for good. Barrett Hayton added an empty-net goal with 56 seconds left, which proved crucial after Florida made one final push in the closing moments.
Nick Schmaltz, Sean Durzi and Hayton also scored for Utah, which played without leading goal-scorer Dylan Guenther due to a lower-body injury. Vitek Vanecek stopped 25 shots, while Durzi chipped in with an assist to go along with his goal.
Schmaltz opened the scoring in memorable fashion late in the first period, netting an unassisted short-handed goal with 4:14 remaining. He pounced on a loose puck just inside Utah’s blue line, skated in alone and slipped a backhand past Sergei Bobrovsky. It marked the second short-handed goal of Schmaltz’s NHL career — his first came March 26, 2024, against Columbus — and continued his hot streak. Schmaltz now has 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) over his last 14 games.
Florida responded early in the second period when Sandis Vilmanis scored 2:52 in, tying the game at 1–1. The goal was the first of Vilmanis’ NHL career in just his ninth game. The Panthers also got goals from Cole Schwindt and Carter Verhaeghe, while Bobrovsky finished with 16 saves.
After Utah regained the lead and Florida answered again, Sergachev delivered the decisive blow in the third before Hayton’s empty-netter made it 4–2. Verhaeghe scored with 16 seconds remaining to pull the Panthers within one and set up a tense final sequence, but the Mammoth held on.
Florida’s power play struggled throughout the night, going 0-for-4, and the loss snapped the Panthers’ three-game winning streak. The game also marked a milestone for forward A.J. Greer, who appeared in his 300th career NHL contest.
Utah will continue its four-game road trip Thursday night at Carolina, while Florida heads to St. Louis for its next matchup on Thursday.
