Utah Mammoth tie up Stanley Cup Playoffs in Las Vegas. Photo: courtesy of NHL // Utah Mammoth
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — The Utah Mammoth evened their first-round playoff series Tuesday night with a 3–2 Game 2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights.
With that, the victory marks the franchise’s first-ever Stanley Cup Playoffs win and ties the best-of-seven series 1–1 after Vegas took Game 1 on Sunday.
Utah’s young core played a decisive role. Dylan Guenther, 23, and Logan Cooley, 21, each delivered key moments, with Cooley making NHL history as the youngest American player to score in each of his first two career playoff games. He surpasses the previous mark held by Utah captain Clayton Keller (22 years, 6 days).
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The Mammoth have less experience than the Golden Knights, who have made the playoffs eight times in nine seasons since entering the NHL as an expansion team in 2017-18. The team won the Stanley Cup in 2023.
“To come back and have that performance, it shows a lot for this group right now,” Utah forward Kailer Yamamoto said to NHL.
NHL reports that the Mammoth started to find their stride in the second period. Guenther, who led them with 40 goals in the regular season, gave them a 2-1 lead at 14:56 with a “wicked” one-timer from top of the left circle.
Ivan Barbashev from the Golden Knights tied it 2-2 just 1:02 later.
Cooley scored the go-ahead goal for the Mammoth late in the third period. After Guenther put his own rebound off the left post, Cooley pounced on the loose puck as he crashed the net and slid it past the right skate of Carter Hart to put Utah up 3-2 at 14:00.
Next up is Game Three on Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Salt Lake City at the Delta Center.
“I know all the guys in here and the organization is super excited to see what the Delta Center’s like,” Utah defenseman MacKenzie Weegar said to NHL. “I’m sure (the fans are) all anxious to get in that building and provide a lot of momentum for our group. We’re going to be ready to go, and I’m sure we’ll come out of the gates flying for them.”
Game Four will also be at home for Utah on Monday, April 27.
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