Nick DeSimone scored the tiebreaking goal on a fortuitous bounce with 12:28 remaining in the third period, and the Utah Mammoth snapped a four-game losing streak with a 3-2 victory over the New York Rangers on Saturday night in Salt Lake City.
Utah snapped its longest streak of the season and won for the third time in 12 games (3-6-3) since starting 8-2-0 thanks to DeSimone’s fifth goal.
The Rangers were unable to clear as defenseman Matthew Robertson flailed at the puck near the red line. DeSimone gained possession above the left circle and his shot banked off Taylor Raddysh’s leg and by goalie Jonathan Quick.
JJ Peterka scored in the first period, and Clayton Keller scored a tying goal in the second as Utah capitalized on mistakes by the Rangers.
Vladislav Gavrikov and Artemi Panarin scored for the Rangers, who took their season-high fourth straight loss after going 7-2-0 in their previous nine games.
Utah goalie Karel Vejmelka made 20 saves, including five on two New York power plays. He made a point-blank stop on Alexis Lafreniere shortly before DeSimone scored, and he stopped a Mika Zibanejad slap shot with 1:18 left.
New York’s Jonathan Quick stopped 30 shots and stayed in the game after Utah’s Michael Carcone collided with his right leg with 3:20 left in the third.
Utah struck first with 9:52 left after Vincent Trocheck lost the puck to Jack McBain in the right corner.
Nate Schmidt’s shot from the slot went by Quick, off Robertson and rang off the post. Peterka swooped in for the loose puck in the crease and converted the easy tap-in.
The Rangers answered a little over five minutes later when Fox sent the puck to the net, and it grazed off Gavrikov’s stick. After the puck changed direction, Gavrikov’s deflection tucked inside the right side of the net.
The Rangers went ahead when Panarin eluded Barrett Hayton after crossing into the offensive zone and finished off a breakaway by getting a shot to trickle off Vejmelka’s pads with 11:53 left.
Utah tied it when Keller forced defenseman Scott Morrow into a turnover along the boards. Kailer Yamamoto went through the slot alone. His shot was stopped, but Keller cut to the right edge of the crease and lifted the rebound over Quick.
