Mammoth end Maple Leafs’ 10-game streak in blowout fashion

The Utah Mammoth beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-1 at the Delta Center on Tuesday

Utah Mammoth defenseman Mikhail Sergachev (98) fights for the puck against Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Matthew Knies (23) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)
Utah Mammoth defenseman Mikhail Sergachev (98) fights for the puck against Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Matthew Knies (23) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak) | Melissa Majchrzak

The Toronto Maple Leafs have one of the largest fan bases in the NHL, and it spans all 32 markets — including Utah. But the hundreds of fans who wore navy blue to the Delta Center on Tuesday left disappointed.

Going into their matchup with the Utah Mammoth, the Maple Leafs were on a 10-game point streak. The night before, they’d knocked off the league-leading Colorado Avalanche, so they were the heavy favorites.

But the Mammoth took advantage of a tired opponent, running up the score to 6-1 by the end of the night. For Leafs fans’ sake, it’s probably a good thing the puck didn’t drop until after 10 p.m. Eastern Time.

Here’s the full story.

Quick catchup

Utah Mammoth: 6

Toronto Maple Leafs: 1

Starting strong was on the Mammoth’s to-do list, and they accomplished it. By the end of the first period, they owned a 1-0 lead and doubled their opponents on the shot clock. Ironically, that was their least productive period of the night.

Dylan Guenther set a new franchise record for fastest pair of goals by the same player (1:18), besting Logan Cooley’s time from earlier this season when he scored twice in (1:50) against the St. Louis Blues. JJ Peterka would get in on the fun before the end of the middle frame, sending the Mammoth into the intermission with a 4-0 lead.

Calle Järnkrok’s lone goal last season came at the Delta Center, and he followed it up with another goal in his second visit. That goal was the only one that would stand between Karel Vejmelka and a shutout. Utah has still never had a shutout at home.

Jack McBain and Daniil But would pile on before the game concluded, turning the night into a proper blowout.

“We liked the pace of our game, the speed we had offensively and defensively,” said Mammoth head coach André Tourigny. “We attacked every shift with a lot of speed through the neutral zone and a lot of pace, lot of pressure on their D.”

Tidbits and takeaways

Third line on paper, first line on the ice

Dylan Guenther is not a third-liner, but that’s where he was positioned on Tuesday — at least on paper.Tourigny made it clear after the game, as he has in the past, that he doesn’t like numbering his lines because roles are always changing throughout the course of a game.

Whatever you want to call the grouping of Guenther, McBain and Michael Carcone, they were the best line in the league Tuesday evening.

The three forwards accounted for four of Utah’s six goals and 19 of their 40 shots on net — and that doesn’t include the shots taken by defensemen while their line was on the ice. Per Natural Stat Trick, that line also went 82% in the face-off circle and had a Corsi of 80%, meaning eight of every 10 shot attempts while they were on the ice were in their favor.

“Gunner’s got a world-class shot,” said defenseman Ian Cole after the game. “Any time he can get pucks on net, we want him to do that. And, you know, his line mates were awesome tonight, too. Really supported him and got him pucks and opportunities and space where he can shoot it.”

Tourigny attributed their success to the speed and pace with which they played. Guenther added that simplicity was a major factor, too.

“(McBain is) super predictable, and I think me and (Carcone) can kind of just read off him that way.”

Guenther’s second goal of the night was his 50th with the Utah franchise, which is the most in franchise history. Auston Matthews recently broke the Maple Leafs’ all-time goals record, though being the second-oldest team in the league, their record is much higher than 50.

Don’t forget a-’But’ Daniil

Daniil But put the puck in the net twice on Tuesday, though the second was the only one that counted (despite Tourigny’s opinion that both should have counted).

His success was much more than those two offensive plays, though. He showed great defensive awareness, breaking up Maple Leafs’ passes on several occasions and having a significant presence as a forechecker.

And Peterka’s goal would not have happened without But screening Leafs goalie Dennis Hildeby. At 6-foot-7, there aren’t many people in the league who are tall enough to block his vision, but But’s 6-foot-6 was good enough.

“He (made) the right decisions with the puck. He was good defensively, he had good pace, he was good on the forecheck, finished a few hits. I really liked his game,” Tourigny said.

Goal of the game

Dylan Guenther copies Mikael Pyyhtiä

When the Columbus Blue Jackets were in town on Sunday, Mikael Pyyhtiä streaked down the left wing and fired at full speed, scoring off the back bar. Guenther must have thought it looked cool, because on Tuesday, he scored the exact same goal.

Category: General Sports