SUNRISE, Florida – The Utah Mammoth stood toe-to-toe with the two-time defending Stanley Cup Champion Panthers and never trailed in a massive, 4-3 win.
The Mammoth (28-21-4, 60 pts) is facing the Florida Panthers (28-21-3, 59 pts) at Amerant Bank Arena on Tuesday, January 27.
Vítek Vaněček put up an outstanding performance between the pipes against the team he earned a title with last season. Vaněček ended the night with 24 saves to secure a victory on the back end of a back-to-back.
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Feline good after that win 👀😼 pic.twitter.com/F2724333PD
— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) January 28, 2026
Utah has opened up a three-point lead for the top Western Conference Wild Card spot. The San Jose Sharks, Los Angeles Kings, and Seattle Kraken linger with 55 points each. The Panthers are third in the Eastern Conference Wild Card race, trailing the Boston Bruins by four points.
The win puts an end to Florida’s three-game winning streak and evens the season-series one game apiece after a 4-3 win Panthers win in Salt Lake on December 10.
Pregame
GAMEDAY
The Mammoth are closing the eighth of 11 back-to-back sets this season at FLA (1/27), and the team has earned a 2-4-1 record in the second game of a back-to-back in 2025-26. pic.twitter.com/u0dZXOprYk
— Utah Mammoth PR (@UtahMammoth_PR) January 27, 2026
The Utah Mammoth have recalled defenseman Dmitri Simashev from the Tucson Roadrunners.
Forward Cam Hebig has been assigned to the Roadruners
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 27, 2026
Per the Mammoth,
Dylan Guenther will not play in tonight’s game due to a lower body injury.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 27, 2026
Time for work 💪 pic.twitter.com/QdWGFqxcQX
— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) January 27, 2026
Not currently projected to play tonight but Simashev is in Florida and going through warmups. pic.twitter.com/msXIf4U3IC
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 27, 2026
Vaněček gets the start ⬇️#TusksUp | @ZionsBank pic.twitter.com/M7q8YT2mv2
— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) January 27, 2026
First Period
LISTEN LIVE: @utahmammoth continues their road trip against the defending champion @FlaPanthers on the @kslsports app, @KSLSportsZone and:https://t.co/KisySlcQgG pic.twitter.com/wkbP7KEUOZ
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 28, 2026
Here come the boys.#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/UOPx8Sc9zX
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 28, 2026
Florida is vicious on the forecheck.
They not only suffocate teams physically, but they waste no time going right at the net.
Very little perimeter play. Pucks and bodies to the net immediately.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 28, 2026
Nice welcome back & standing ovation for Nate Schmidt who won the cup with Florida last season. pic.twitter.com/gGWDphSj1v
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 28, 2026
Brandon Tanev to the box for a trip.
Florida to the PP.
1P: 5:05 | 0-0
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 28, 2026
NICK SCHMALTZ SCORES A SHORTY ON THE BREAKAWAY AND UTAH LEADS 1-0!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 28, 2026
Great stick by Stenlund and then a burst of speed from Schmaltz to capitalize shorthanded.
Have to be opportunistic against the Florida panthers. https://t.co/eopPIHICwk
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 28, 2026
Could hear a pin drop in this arena.
They are not happy about how this first period has gone lol.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 28, 2026
A fairly quiet yet opportunistic period for the Mammoth as they lead the Panthers 1-0 after 20 minutes.
A great stick by Kevin Stenlund presented Schmaltz with a breakaway on the PK and he cashed in.
40 to go.pic.twitter.com/HcGyVpPbHo
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 28, 2026
Second Period
Panthers score.
Brutal turnover by Cole right into the slot and Vilmanis finds the back of the net.
1-1
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 28, 2026
DURZI SCORES ON A QUICK ONE-TIMER AND UTAH REGAINS THE LEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2-1 Utah!
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 28, 2026
Durzi takes that one back! 👏
🚨 2-1, Utah. pic.twitter.com/Bbg8hcVugQ
— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) January 28, 2026
Utah back to full strength. https://t.co/OKMn8IDw3u
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 28, 2026
Schwindt scores and the Panthers tie things up.
Utah has been too careless with the puck in their own zone this period.
2-2
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 28, 2026
But crashed into Bob and then Tkachuk went after him.
It looked like Bennett checked to make sure he was ok and then Tkachuk came in HOT.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 28, 2026
I think Tuna wants to dance with Greer.
Those two were chirping during the faceoff.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 28, 2026
Greer to the box for holding.
Utah to the PP.
2P: 6:23 | 2-2
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 28, 2026
Utah back to full strength.
Fought for their lives on that PK as Florida maintained possession in the O-zone for the majority. https://t.co/2ts6HsAVWI
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 28, 2026
This game just got really physical.
McBain pulverized Lundell and then Lundell went after Schmidt and Carcone.
Didn’t want to take on McBain lol.
Lundell to the box for roughing.
Utah with another PP.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 28, 2026
2-2 after 2 in Florida.
Utah going head to head with reigning Stanley Cup champs despite trailing SOG 20-12.
3rd period on deck.pic.twitter.com/DlvmDJ3RLd
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 28, 2026
Third Period
Utah has really struggled to stay out of the box the last 2 nights.
Carcone will sit for 2 minutes for interference.
Panthers with their 4th PP opportunity.
3P: 17:00 | 2-2
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 28, 2026
Utah back to full strength.
They barely survived that one.
Panthers are pressing hard right now. Utah is just trying to keep their heads above water. https://t.co/T8BDSbspFQ
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 28, 2026
SERGACHEV SCORES FROM DEEP AND UTAH LEADS 3-2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 28, 2026
SERGACHEV! 🤯
🚨 3-2, Utah. pic.twitter.com/s8Q29Y0urB
— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) January 28, 2026
Tkachuk to the box for roughing.
Utah to the PP.
3P: 6:12 | 3-2 Utah
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 28, 2026
Hayton to the box for interference.
Rodrigues to the box for embellishment.
The penalties cancel out.
Utah remains on the PP.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 28, 2026
Bob to the bench.
Extra attacker on for Florida.
2 minutes to go.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 28, 2026
Schmaltz and Tkachuk both to the box.
4 on 4 hockey for 2 minutes.
Bob back in net.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 28, 2026
Bob returns to the bench.
Extra attacker on for Florida.
1 minute left. https://t.co/0wpaacCkdT
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 28, 2026
BARRETT HAYTON SCORES AN EMPTY NETTER AND UTAH IS UP 4-2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 28, 2026
Florida takes a TO.
They trail Utah by 2 with 30 seconds left.
Empty net again.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 28, 2026
Verhaeghe scores.
4-3 Utah.
14.6 seconds remaining.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 28, 2026
Close call but Utah wins the hockey game 4-3!
That’s a big win. Arguably stole 2 points tonight.
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) January 28, 2026
Follow the Utah Mammoth with KSL Sports
The Mammoth has a day off before continuing its southern road swing against the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday, January 29. The puck drops at 5 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) also airs Jazz games.
Take us with you, wherever you go.
Brian Preece is a KSLSports.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.
