Deadspin | Mammoth host first-ever playoff game in 1-1 series vs. Golden Knights 
Mar 10, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Hockey Club fans cheer during the second period of the game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images With their first Stanley Cup playoff victory in franchise history under their belts, the Utah Mammoth head home looking to take advantage of their energized fan base when they host Game 3 of their best-of-seven series against the Vegas Golden Knights in Salt Lake City on Friday night.
Logan Cooley scored the go-ahead goal at 14:00 of the third period as the visitors triumphed 3-2 in Game 2 to tie their Western Conference quarterfinal series 1-1.
“It was just business as usual,” said Utah coach Andre Tourigny of the mood in the room postgame. “We’re happy, obviously. We achieved what we wanted.
“It was a little bit like when we clinched the playoff spot. Guys were like, ‘Ok, good. We did what we worked to do.'”
Dylan Guenther scored a goal and added a helper, while MacKenzie Weegar added the other tally for the Mammoth. Kailer Yamamoto chipped in two assists, and Karel Vejmelka made 19 saves for his first career playoff win.
“There was a lot of pride, guys were happy about the game, but at the same time they were even-keeled,” Tourigny added. “That’s important because if you get carried away one way or another… that can have a long-term effect.”
With his goal, Cooley (21 years, 352 days) became the youngest United States-born player in NHL history to score in each of his first two career playoff games, a record previously held by Mammoth captain Clayton Keller (22 years, six days) when the franchise played in Arizona.
Mark Stone and Ivan Barbashev responded for Vegas, the top seed from the Pacific Division. Jack Eichel added two assists, and Carter Hart stopped 26 shots in the loss.
Mitch Marner contributed an assist in the loss, becoming the sixth player in team history to record a point in each of his first two playoff games with the Golden Knights.
With two days off between Games 2 and 3, Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella gave his team a day off on Wednesday in preparation for Friday.
“We had some good minutes, some bad minutes — just always trying to get better,” Tortorella said of Game 2. “When you play a series, there’s ebbs and flows. You feel good about things at certain times, and other things you need to work on.
“It’s our team concept, trying to be more consistent with our team concept.”
With Tuesday’s loss, Vegas dropped to 6-6 all-time in Game 2s. The Golden Knights have an 8-3 series record after taking a 1-0 lead.
“We have some things we need to improve on after Game 2, and that’s what we’ll work on as coaches and meet with the team (on Thursday) about it,” said Tortorella.
When a best-of-seven series is tied 1-1, the winner of Game 3 holds an all-time series record of 245-124 (.664). Teams winning Game 3 in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs went on to win five of six series.
The Golden Knights and Mammoth split a pair of regular-season meetings in Salt Lake City. Vegas won 4-1 on Nov. 20 while Utah picked up a 5-1 victory four days later.
–Field Level Media
#Deadspin #Mammoth #host #firstever #playoff #game #series #Golden #Knights
Mar 10, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Hockey Club fans cheer during the second period of the game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images With their first Stanley Cup playoff victory in franchise history under their belts, the Utah Mammoth head home looking to take advantage of their energized fan base when they host Game 3 of their best-of-seven series against the Vegas Golden Knights in Salt Lake City on Friday night.
Logan Cooley scored the go-ahead goal at 14:00 of the third period as the visitors triumphed 3-2 in Game 2 to tie their Western Conference quarterfinal series 1-1.
“It was just business as usual,” said Utah coach Andre Tourigny of the mood in the room postgame. “We’re happy, obviously. We achieved what we wanted.
“It was a little bit like when we clinched the playoff spot. Guys were like, ‘Ok, good. We did what we worked to do.'”
Dylan Guenther scored a goal and added a helper, while MacKenzie Weegar added the other tally for the Mammoth. Kailer Yamamoto chipped in two assists, and Karel Vejmelka made 19 saves for his first career playoff win.
“There was a lot of pride, guys were happy about the game, but at the same time they were even-keeled,” Tourigny added. “That’s important because if you get carried away one way or another… that can have a long-term effect.”
With his goal, Cooley (21 years, 352 days) became the youngest United States-born player in NHL history to score in each of his first two career playoff games, a record previously held by Mammoth captain Clayton Keller (22 years, six days) when the franchise played in Arizona.
Mark Stone and Ivan Barbashev responded for Vegas, the top seed from the Pacific Division. Jack Eichel added two assists, and Carter Hart stopped 26 shots in the loss.
Mitch Marner contributed an assist in the loss, becoming the sixth player in team history to record a point in each of his first two playoff games with the Golden Knights.
With two days off between Games 2 and 3, Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella gave his team a day off on Wednesday in preparation for Friday.
“We had some good minutes, some bad minutes — just always trying to get better,” Tortorella said of Game 2. “When you play a series, there’s ebbs and flows. You feel good about things at certain times, and other things you need to work on.
“It’s our team concept, trying to be more consistent with our team concept.”
With Tuesday’s loss, Vegas dropped to 6-6 all-time in Game 2s. The Golden Knights have an 8-3 series record after taking a 1-0 lead.
“We have some things we need to improve on after Game 2, and that’s what we’ll work on as coaches and meet with the team (on Thursday) about it,” said Tortorella.
When a best-of-seven series is tied 1-1, the winner of Game 3 holds an all-time series record of 245-124 (.664). Teams winning Game 3 in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs went on to win five of six series.
The Golden Knights and Mammoth split a pair of regular-season meetings in Salt Lake City. Vegas won 4-1 on Nov. 20 while Utah picked up a 5-1 victory four days later.
–Field Level Media
![Madrid Open 2026: Sinner advances as Shelton knocked out; Rybakina scrapes through Jannik Sinner took a first step towards a potential record fifth consecutive Masters 1000 title with a 6-7[6], 6-1, 6-4 victory over Benjamin Bonzi in the Madrid Open second round on Friday.The Italian world number one is looking to beat the record of four consecutive triumphs held by all-time greats Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal this week in the Spanish capital.Sinner dropped only one set on the way to trophies in Paris, Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo, but Bonzi battled brilliantly to claim the first at the Manolo Santana stadium.The Frenchman survived five break points to reach a tie-break, where he also saved set point before edging ahead.However Sinner stepped up a gear in the second set, securing breaks in the fourth and sixth games, and another in the third on his way to the third round.“It was a tough match, I had some chances early on and I couldn’t use them, but this is tennis,” said four-time Grand Slam winner Sinner. “It’s not bad to start the tournament like this, two and a half hours on court, it gives me good feedback where we need to improve for the next round.“Of course, we need to improve, but I’m also happy, when you’re not playing your best tennis and win, it’s still a good result.”With Sinner’s biggest rival Carlos Alcaraz injured and unable to compete either this week or in the upcoming French Open, the Italian is overwhelming favourite for every competition he enters in the weeks ahead.Earlier, promising 20-year-old Prizmic, ranked 87th, secured his first-ever win over a top-10 player in a three-hour battle in the Spanish capital.American Shelton triumphed at the Munich Open on Sunday on clay but was unable to force a single break point on Prizmic’s serve.Italian Lorenzo Musetti, ranked ninth, defeated Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 7-6[4].Women’s number two Elena Rybakina scraped into the Madrid Open third round with a 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 win over Elena-Gabriela Ruse. Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina celebrates winning her round of 64 match against Romania’s Elena Gabriela
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina celebrates winning her round of 64 match against Romania’s Elena Gabriela
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
Kazakhstan’s Rybakina, who won the Australian Open in January and triumphed at Stuttgart last week, struggled in the first set, making 24 unforced errors to just eight winners.After claiming a topsy-turvy second set, she came back from a break down in the third and sealed the victory on her third match point.Rybakina will meet Zheng Qinwen, who produced a similarly battling performance to overcome Sofia Kenin, in the third round.“Today, I basically survived,” said Rybakina after her hard-fought victory. “It wasn’t the greatest performance but Gabriela, she played very well. She was playing very deep and aggressive, so it was very difficult.“My serve was not really helping me today… but I’m really happy that I managed to win, and I hope I can bring better tennis next round.”Last year’s runner-up and the third seed Coco Gauff made light work of Leolia Jeanjean with a 6-3, 6-0 victory at the Arantxa Sanchez stadium.Gauff will take on Romanian Sorana Cirstea in the third round, after she defeated Tyra Caterina Grant in straight sets.Published on Apr 24, 2026 #Madrid #Open #Sinner #advances #Shelton #knocked #Rybakina #scrapes](https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/wsqh25/article70902824.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/2026-04-24T140355Z_1777741233_UP1EM4O132H4S_RTRMADP_3_TENNIS-MADRID.JPG "Madrid Open 2026: Sinner advances as Shelton knocked out; Rybakina scrapes through Jannik Sinner took a first step towards a potential record fifth consecutive Masters 1000 title with a 6-7[6], 6-1, 6-4 victory over Benjamin Bonzi in the Madrid Open second round on Friday.The Italian world number one is looking to beat the record of four consecutive triumphs held by all-time greats Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal this week in the Spanish capital.Sinner dropped only one set on the way to trophies in Paris, Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo, but Bonzi battled brilliantly to claim the first at the Manolo Santana stadium.The Frenchman survived five break points to reach a tie-break, where he also saved set point before edging ahead.However Sinner stepped up a gear in the second set, securing breaks in the fourth and sixth games, and another in the third on his way to the third round.“It was a tough match, I had some chances early on and I couldn’t use them, but this is tennis,” said four-time Grand Slam winner Sinner. “It’s not bad to start the tournament like this, two and a half hours on court, it gives me good feedback where we need to improve for the next round.“Of course, we need to improve, but I’m also happy, when you’re not playing your best tennis and win, it’s still a good result.”With Sinner’s biggest rival Carlos Alcaraz injured and unable to compete either this week or in the upcoming French Open, the Italian is overwhelming favourite for every competition he enters in the weeks ahead.Earlier, promising 20-year-old Prizmic, ranked 87th, secured his first-ever win over a top-10 player in a three-hour battle in the Spanish capital.American Shelton triumphed at the Munich Open on Sunday on clay but was unable to force a single break point on Prizmic’s serve.Italian Lorenzo Musetti, ranked ninth, defeated Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 7-6[4].Women’s number two Elena Rybakina scraped into the Madrid Open third round with a 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 win over Elena-Gabriela Ruse. Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina celebrates winning her round of 64 match against Romania’s Elena Gabriela
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina celebrates winning her round of 64 match against Romania’s Elena Gabriela
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
Kazakhstan’s Rybakina, who won the Australian Open in January and triumphed at Stuttgart last week, struggled in the first set, making 24 unforced errors to just eight winners.After claiming a topsy-turvy second set, she came back from a break down in the third and sealed the victory on her third match point.Rybakina will meet Zheng Qinwen, who produced a similarly battling performance to overcome Sofia Kenin, in the third round.“Today, I basically survived,” said Rybakina after her hard-fought victory. “It wasn’t the greatest performance but Gabriela, she played very well. She was playing very deep and aggressive, so it was very difficult.“My serve was not really helping me today… but I’m really happy that I managed to win, and I hope I can bring better tennis next round.”Last year’s runner-up and the third seed Coco Gauff made light work of Leolia Jeanjean with a 6-3, 6-0 victory at the Arantxa Sanchez stadium.Gauff will take on Romanian Sorana Cirstea in the third round, after she defeated Tyra Caterina Grant in straight sets.Published on Apr 24, 2026 #Madrid #Open #Sinner #advances #Shelton #knocked #Rybakina #scrapes")
![Madrid Open 2026: Sinner advances as Shelton knocked out; Rybakina scrapes through Jannik Sinner took a first step towards a potential record fifth consecutive Masters 1000 title with a 6-7[6], 6-1, 6-4 victory over Benjamin Bonzi in the Madrid Open second round on Friday.The Italian world number one is looking to beat the record of four consecutive triumphs held by all-time greats Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal this week in the Spanish capital.Sinner dropped only one set on the way to trophies in Paris, Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo, but Bonzi battled brilliantly to claim the first at the Manolo Santana stadium.The Frenchman survived five break points to reach a tie-break, where he also saved set point before edging ahead.However Sinner stepped up a gear in the second set, securing breaks in the fourth and sixth games, and another in the third on his way to the third round.“It was a tough match, I had some chances early on and I couldn’t use them, but this is tennis,” said four-time Grand Slam winner Sinner. “It’s not bad to start the tournament like this, two and a half hours on court, it gives me good feedback where we need to improve for the next round.“Of course, we need to improve, but I’m also happy, when you’re not playing your best tennis and win, it’s still a good result.”With Sinner’s biggest rival Carlos Alcaraz injured and unable to compete either this week or in the upcoming French Open, the Italian is overwhelming favourite for every competition he enters in the weeks ahead.Earlier, promising 20-year-old Prizmic, ranked 87th, secured his first-ever win over a top-10 player in a three-hour battle in the Spanish capital.American Shelton triumphed at the Munich Open on Sunday on clay but was unable to force a single break point on Prizmic’s serve.Italian Lorenzo Musetti, ranked ninth, defeated Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 7-6[4].Women’s number two Elena Rybakina scraped into the Madrid Open third round with a 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 win over Elena-Gabriela Ruse. Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina celebrates winning her round of 64 match against Romania’s Elena Gabriela
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina celebrates winning her round of 64 match against Romania’s Elena Gabriela
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
Kazakhstan’s Rybakina, who won the Australian Open in January and triumphed at Stuttgart last week, struggled in the first set, making 24 unforced errors to just eight winners.After claiming a topsy-turvy second set, she came back from a break down in the third and sealed the victory on her third match point.Rybakina will meet Zheng Qinwen, who produced a similarly battling performance to overcome Sofia Kenin, in the third round.“Today, I basically survived,” said Rybakina after her hard-fought victory. “It wasn’t the greatest performance but Gabriela, she played very well. She was playing very deep and aggressive, so it was very difficult.“My serve was not really helping me today… but I’m really happy that I managed to win, and I hope I can bring better tennis next round.”Last year’s runner-up and the third seed Coco Gauff made light work of Leolia Jeanjean with a 6-3, 6-0 victory at the Arantxa Sanchez stadium.Gauff will take on Romanian Sorana Cirstea in the third round, after she defeated Tyra Caterina Grant in straight sets.Published on Apr 24, 2026 #Madrid #Open #Sinner #advances #Shelton #knocked #Rybakina #scrapes](https://i2.wp.com/ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/wsqh25/article70902824.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/2026-04-24T140355Z_1777741233_UP1EM4O132H4S_RTRMADP_3_TENNIS-MADRID.JPG?ssl=1 "Madrid Open 2026: Sinner advances as Shelton knocked out; Rybakina scrapes through Jannik Sinner took a first step towards a potential record fifth consecutive Masters 1000 title with a 6-7[6], 6-1, 6-4 victory over Benjamin Bonzi in the Madrid Open second round on Friday.The Italian world number one is looking to beat the record of four consecutive triumphs held by all-time greats Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal this week in the Spanish capital.Sinner dropped only one set on the way to trophies in Paris, Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo, but Bonzi battled brilliantly to claim the first at the Manolo Santana stadium.The Frenchman survived five break points to reach a tie-break, where he also saved set point before edging ahead.However Sinner stepped up a gear in the second set, securing breaks in the fourth and sixth games, and another in the third on his way to the third round.“It was a tough match, I had some chances early on and I couldn’t use them, but this is tennis,” said four-time Grand Slam winner Sinner. “It’s not bad to start the tournament like this, two and a half hours on court, it gives me good feedback where we need to improve for the next round.“Of course, we need to improve, but I’m also happy, when you’re not playing your best tennis and win, it’s still a good result.”With Sinner’s biggest rival Carlos Alcaraz injured and unable to compete either this week or in the upcoming French Open, the Italian is overwhelming favourite for every competition he enters in the weeks ahead.Earlier, promising 20-year-old Prizmic, ranked 87th, secured his first-ever win over a top-10 player in a three-hour battle in the Spanish capital.American Shelton triumphed at the Munich Open on Sunday on clay but was unable to force a single break point on Prizmic’s serve.Italian Lorenzo Musetti, ranked ninth, defeated Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 7-6[4].Women’s number two Elena Rybakina scraped into the Madrid Open third round with a 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 win over Elena-Gabriela Ruse. Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina celebrates winning her round of 64 match against Romania’s Elena Gabriela
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina celebrates winning her round of 64 match against Romania’s Elena Gabriela
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
Kazakhstan’s Rybakina, who won the Australian Open in January and triumphed at Stuttgart last week, struggled in the first set, making 24 unforced errors to just eight winners.After claiming a topsy-turvy second set, she came back from a break down in the third and sealed the victory on her third match point.Rybakina will meet Zheng Qinwen, who produced a similarly battling performance to overcome Sofia Kenin, in the third round.“Today, I basically survived,” said Rybakina after her hard-fought victory. “It wasn’t the greatest performance but Gabriela, she played very well. She was playing very deep and aggressive, so it was very difficult.“My serve was not really helping me today… but I’m really happy that I managed to win, and I hope I can bring better tennis next round.”Last year’s runner-up and the third seed Coco Gauff made light work of Leolia Jeanjean with a 6-3, 6-0 victory at the Arantxa Sanchez stadium.Gauff will take on Romanian Sorana Cirstea in the third round, after she defeated Tyra Caterina Grant in straight sets.Published on Apr 24, 2026 #Madrid #Open #Sinner #advances #Shelton #knocked #Rybakina #scrapes")
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