Full Breakdown
Utah Mammoth Defeats St. Louis Blues in Physical Showdown
1/10/2026, 9:06:52 PM
Game Overview
On January 9, 2026, the Utah Mammoth secured a 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City. This win marked the Mammoth's third consecutive victory, improving their record to 21-20-3, while the Blues fell to 17-20-8, extending their losing streak on the road to four games.
Key Players and Performances
Nick Schmaltz was instrumental for Utah, scoring two goals and providing an assist, bringing his career total against St. Louis to 43 points in 40 games. Clayton Keller also played a crucial role, contributing three assists and setting a record for the highest total goals scored by a pair of U.S.-born teammates in NHL history, with 198 goals alongside Schmaltz. Lawson Crouse added another goal, while goaltender Karel Vejmelka made 26 saves, becoming the first goalie this season to reach 20 wins.
For the Blues, Oskar Sundqvist and Pavel Buchnevich each scored, with Joel Hofer making 19 saves in net. Despite their efforts, the Blues struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities, with head coach Jim Montgomery noting the need for improvement in converting chances.
Game Highlights
The game began with a physical altercation as Jack McBain of the Mammoth fought Alexey Toropchenko, setting a combative tone for the match. Schmaltz opened the scoring for Utah at 15:10 in the first period, tapping in a rebound from Keller's shot. Crouse extended the lead to 2-0 early in the second period before Sundqvist quickly responded for the Blues, cutting the deficit to 2-1 just ten seconds later.
Utah regained a two-goal lead with Sean Durzi's goal, assisted by Schmaltz, before Buchnevich narrowed the gap again for St. Louis. Schmaltz sealed the victory with a power-play goal in the third period, solidifying the Mammoth's win.
Special Teams Impact
Special teams played a significant role in the outcome, with Utah successfully converting one of their three power-play opportunities while effectively killing off all four of St. Louis's power plays. Schmaltz emphasized the importance of winning the special teams battle, stating, "If you win the special teams battle, I feel like you're gonna win a lot of games."
Official Statements & Responses
Montgomery acknowledged the Blues' missed opportunities, stating, "We need to bear down on those chances more. That's kind of where the game slipped away from us." Meanwhile, Mammoth head coach Andre Tourigny praised Schmaltz's performance, describing him as "possessed" during the game.
What's Next
The Utah Mammoth will look to extend their winning streak as they host the Columbus Blue Jackets on January 11, 2026. The St. Louis Blues will attempt to rebound in their next game against the Vegas Golden Knights on January 10, 2026.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Schmaltzy was possessed,” — Andre Tourigny, Head Coach, Utah Mammoth
- “We need to bear down on those chances more.” — Jim Montgomery, Head Coach, St. Louis Blues
- “If you win the special teams battle, I feel like you're gonna win a lot of games, most nights in this league,” — Nick Schmaltz, Forward, Utah Mammoth
- “It’s a big accomplishment,” — Karel Vejmelka, Goaltender, Utah Mammoth, on reaching 20 wins.
