SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 21: Nick Smaltz #8 of the Utah Mammoth celebrates scoring against Scott Wedgewood #41 of the Colorado Avalanche during the second period of their game at the Delta Center on October 21, 2025 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Dylan Guenther is fast becoming one of the most clutch players in the NHL after scoring 33 seconds into overtime for a 4-3 Utah Mammoth win over the Colorado Avalanche.
Guenther’s second straight game-winning goal sent the Avalanche packing with their first loss of the season.
Utah (5-2-0, 10 points) hosted the Avalanche (5-1-1, 12 points) at Delta Center on Tuesday, October 21, in a battle of the Rockies.
Dylan (Game-Winner) Guenther! pic.twitter.com/SSjFrgA9cf
— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) October 22, 2025
Lawson Crouse and Mkhail Sergachev scored their first goals of the year, and Nick Schmaltz joins Guenther with a team-high four goals.
Karel Vejmelka was outstanding despite allowing three goals, making several highlight plays throughout the night.
Utah opened its second season in franchise history in Colorado, dropping a 2-1 heartbreaker to the Avalanche. Dylan Guenther scored the Mammoth’s only goal, but it was an early third-period power-play goal from Nathan MacKinnon that ended up being the game-winner.
Karel Vejmelka is the first goaltender off the ice this morning.
That indicates he should get the start against Colorado tonight.#TusksUp #GoAvsGo
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 21, 2025
Since then, Utah has won four of five games, including a three-game winning streak to start the 41-game home schedule.
Guenther and Nick Schmaltz lead the club with three goals each, while Schmaltz’s nine points lead all players. Schmaltz recorded the first hat-trick in Delta Center history when he recorded three goals in a 6-3 beating of the San Jose Sharks.
PP1:
Guenther – Cooley – Schmaltz
Sergachev – KellerPP2:
Crouse – McBain – Peterka
Hayton – SchmidtPK1:
Crouse – Stenlund
Simashev – MarinoPK2:
Tanev – O’Brien
Maatta – Cole— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 21, 2025
Karel Vejmelka is the first goaltender off the ice this morning.
That indicates he should get the start against Colorado tonight.#TusksUp #GoAvsGo
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 21, 2025
Rally towels for the Rocky Mountain Rivalry.
Barn is going to be jumping tonight.
Puck drop at 8 on ESPN.#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/qNtm84tMVb
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 21, 2025
Sergachev understood the assignment.#TakeNote https://t.co/IVF6gS2shN
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 22, 2025
Let’s get loud tonight, Utah! pic.twitter.com/mgv9U22rsI
— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) October 22, 2025
Starting with these fellas tonight 💪#TusksUp | @ZionsBank pic.twitter.com/zacqbUfncV
— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) October 22, 2025
LISTEN LIVE: @utahmammoth wrap up their home stand against the @Avalanche on the @kslsports app, @KSLSportsZone and:https://t.co/EBt9tN5H3N pic.twitter.com/YWUQVr3lbs
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 22, 2025
Goal-tending was the story in the first five minutes, with both goalies bailing their teams out with spectacular early saves.
Absolutely unreal save by Wedgewood on Cooley.
Puck landed on 92's stick right in front of the crease, he waited, waited, waited, and tried to beat Wedgewood on the left side but somehow the netminder got a stick on it despite a lot of open net.
Game remains tied.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 22, 2025
Wedgewood is going to be tough to beat tonight.
Currently boasts a .938 SV% and only 1.48 GAA.
Gonna take some brilliance to score.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 22, 2025
Brilliant save from Vejmelka.
Quick pass down low into the crease onto Manson's stick for a quick tap in but he keeps it out.
Both goalies bailing out their teams early.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 22, 2025
Colorado’s Cale Makar started the scoring when he saucered a shot from the slot that Karel Vejmelka lost sight of, giving the Avs a 1-0 lead.
Makar scores.
Avs lead 1-0.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 22, 2025
Jack Drury is called for hooking, and Utah will have their first PP of the night.
1P: 12:22 | 1-0 Avs
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 22, 2025
Utah earned the first power-play when Jack Drury was whistled for hooking John Marino. The home team did nothing to take advantage of the man-advantage, attempting one shot on the PP.
Colorado is a fast, physical, punch you in the mouth type of team.
Utah needs to match that intensity a little more here.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 22, 2025
Vejmelka earned a ‘Veggie’ chant from the home fans when he stopped two Nathan MacKinnon shots on a breakaway for the high-scoring forward.
What a save by Veggie! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/usxwIoSyUu
— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) October 22, 2025
More brilliance from Vejmelka.
Just stopped MacKinnon full speed on a breakaway and the rebound.
What a save.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 22, 2025
Veggie Magic!! 🥦🪄https://t.co/4cUcRVPHt9
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 22, 2025
A strong start for both teams as the Avs lead the Mammoth 1-0 after the first frame.
So much speed & physicality from Colorado but Utah has responded fairly well & Vejmelka’s been brilliant.
2nd period on deck.pic.twitter.com/SASOB3dQU0
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 22, 2025
Colorado thought the lead had doubled 46 seconds into the second 20 when Gabriel Landeskog beat Vejmelka for his first goal in more than three years. The goal was disallowed after an extensive review determined Colorado was offside.
Challenge successful.
No goal.
Mammoth video team remains undefeated this season. https://t.co/8Xt6aAAi6y
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 22, 2025
Vejmelka slams the door on MacKinnon again in a 2 on 1.
70 is playing out of his mind tonight.
Offense needs to reward him.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 22, 2025
The Mammoth had a goal taken off the board when Liam O’Brien was called for goalie interference, erasing a John Marino goal.
Interference is called against O'Brien and the goal is reversed.
Score remains 1-0 Colorado. https://t.co/LkyIEjyYQw
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 22, 2025
Minutes later, Nick Schmaltz found himself in front of the net when a Clayton Keller rebound bounced to his stick. Schmaltz beat Scott Wedgewood for his fourth goal of the homestand.
Keller is tripped and Utah will head to the PP.
2P: 11:11 | 1-0 Colorado
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 22, 2025
SCHMALTZ SCORES ON THE POWER PLAY AND UTAH HAS TIED THIS HOCKEY GAME.
1-1 in SLC!!
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 22, 2025
What does this guy eat for breakfast?!? UNBELIEVABLE!
🚨 Schmaltzy ties it up! pic.twitter.com/caC9MqUrGu
— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) October 22, 2025
Keller & Schmaltz remain RED HOT.
14 points over the last 3 games for those two.
Unreal.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 22, 2025
Utah took its first lead when Kevin Stenlund and Michael Carcone earned their first assists, leading to Lawson Crouse’s first goal of the season.
LAWSON CROUSE SCORES ON A ONE-TIMER AND UTAH TAKES THE LEAD!!!!!
2-1 Utah!
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 22, 2025
Crouse was due a goal and he absolutely blasted that one through Colorado's net.
Could tell he was hungry during morning skate as he went 3 for 3 on a 2 on 1 drill.
Translated to the game. https://t.co/b7EFl0aR4B
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 22, 2025
Colorado with a PP opportunity after Simashev is called for a high stick.
2P: 1:13 | 2-1 Utah
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 22, 2025
Mammoth lead 2-1 following the middle frame.
That may have been the best second period of hockey Utah has ever offered.
Not that Colorado dominated the first, but the ice felt tilted in that direction.
Utah responded ferociously in the second.
Impressive.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 22, 2025
The Mammoth have outshot Colorado 25-20, and out-hit the Avalanche 17-15 through 40 minutes.
Drury ties the game on a rebound backdoor.
2-2 in SLC.
18:50 left in the third.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 22, 2025
Per the Mammoth, Jack McBain is being evaluated (upper body) and is questionable to return.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 22, 2025
The Mammoth regained the lead on Mikhail Sergachev’s first goal of the season. The Russian defender used a quick flick of the wrist to beat a sprawling Wedgewood.
MIKHAIL SERGACHEV SCORES AND UTAH RETAKES THE LEAD 3-2!!!!!!
What a steal and an absolute laser beam from No. 98!
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 22, 2025
I don't think anything hits harder than a Sergie Celly.
Dude erupts with emotion.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 22, 2025
Sergy gets Delta Center rockin'!
🚨 3-2, Utah! pic.twitter.com/LwE8oBIlgE
— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) October 22, 2025
Sergy gets Delta Center rockin'!
🚨 3-2, Utah! pic.twitter.com/LwE8oBIlgE
— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) October 22, 2025
Colorado is pushing remarkably hard right now to even things up.
Blazing speed, physicality, and battling around the net.
Utah needs to calm things down here.
Defending a lead against Colorado is a dangerous game.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 22, 2025
The Avalanche suffocated the Mammoth in the closing minutes. Colorado’s swarming attack and excellent puck control prevented Utah from even threatening to increase its advantage.
Necas ties the game.
Beat Vejmelka up high.
3-3 in SLC with 2:16 to go.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 22, 2025
Unfortunate and awkward goal that goes in 1/10 times.
Veggie has still been incredible tonight.
This is a heavyweight battle. https://t.co/oIXZK2OQHu
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 22, 2025
1 minute left in regulation.
Game tied 3-3.
Just get to the OT, secure a point, and go from there.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 22, 2025
End of regulation.
Both teams get a point.
3 on 3 hockey up next.
A point against Colorado right now is huge, not to mention 7 so far during this home stretch.
We'll see if they can get a perfect 8.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 22, 2025
GUENTHER SCORES THE GAME-WINNER AND DELTA CENTER IS GOING BONKERS!!!!!
PERFECT 8/8 POINTS AT HOME!!!
UNREAL!
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 22, 2025
Utah just beat the best team in hockey to remain perfect at home and claim their 10th point which places them 3rd in the Division.
Mammoth fans, how we feeling?????????#TusksUp
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 22, 2025
The goal is unreal but the pass from Keller.
Are you kidding???pic.twitter.com/aO1Asw3Fak
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) October 22, 2025
The Mammoth head out on a four-game road trip that begins on Thursday, October 23, against the St. Louis Blues. The puck drops at 6 p.m. MT.
Follow the entire 2025-26 Utah Mammoth schedule here.
The Smith Entertainment Group’s (SEG) streaming platform will also continue to carry all Mammoth games on SEG+ in 2025-26.
Cole Bagley is the Utah Mammoth insider for KSL Sports. Follow him on X. You can hear Cole break down the team on KSL Sports Zone and KSL 5 TV.
All Mammoth games will be broadcast live on the KSL Sports Zone (97.5 FM/1280 AM). Occasionally, KSL NewsRadio (102.7 FM / 1160 AM) will also pick up Jazz games.
Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
