Nick Schmaltz recorded one goal and two assists to extend his season-opening goal streak to four games as the Utah Mammoth defeated the New Jersey Devils 5-3 on Tuesday. The victory at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., marked the first time Utah has beaten New Jersey since entering the NHL during the 2024-25 season.
Schmaltz, who leads the NHL with five goals this season, provided crucial offensive production alongside Clayton Keller, who recorded one goal and one assist. Mikhail Sergachev contributed three assists, while goaltender Karel Vejmelka made 30 saves in his second consecutive start for Utah. The Mammoth's victory improves their record to 3-1-0.
The Devils saw two goals from Luke Evangelista, who scored his first two goals with the team. The game saw an early power-play goal from Keller and a response from MacKenzie Weegar, who banked a puck off the pad of Jake Allen to make it 2-1. Evangelista tied the game at 2-2 with a deflection in the second period. Utah reclaimed the lead when Schmaltz scored on a power play at 12:05 of the second period, followed by a goal from Lawson Crouse to extend the lead to 4-2.
The final goal for Utah was scored by Vincent Trocheck, assisted by Schmaltz, marking Trocheck's first goal with the Mammoth since his July 1 trade from the New York Rangers. Jesper Boqvist scored a goal in his season debut to bring the Devils within one goal, but the Mammoth held on for the win. The Devils, now 1-2-0, have lost two consecutive games.
During the game, Sergachev left with an injury after taking a puck to his left ear on a clearing attempt by Weegar with 29 seconds remaining in the second period; Utah coach Andre Tourigny provided no update on his status. Additionally, New Jersey defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler left the game after sustaining a lower-body injury following a fall during the third period.
