Deadspin | Mammoth, facing Flames, attempt to break even on road trip

Deadspin | Mammoth, facing Flames, attempt to break even on road trip

Dec 3, 2025; Anaheim, California, USA; Utah Mammoth defeseman Sean Durzi (50) and goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) celebrate the victory against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

The Utah Mammoth go into their Saturday clash with the Calgary Flames not only looking to end a road trip on a positive note, but also to build on a return into a playoff position.

Thanks to a 4-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Friday, the Mammoth arrive in Calgary riding a two-game winning streak and sitting in the Western Conference’s top wild-card spot.

“We want to keep working the same way,” said defenseman Mikhail Sergachev, who scored once and added an assist in Vancouver. “When you keep working hard, you give yourself a chance to win the game. We did that (Friday) and want to keep doing that.”

The Mammoth are set to conclude a six-game road trip that opened with three regulation losses.

Utah stopped the slide with a 7-0 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday, then claimed a 2-0 lead by the end of the second period against the Canucks. The Mammoth held on despite being outshot 32-18 through the clash.

“It’s a tough schedule and you get tired mentally,” Utah coach Andre Tourigny said. “It’s tough to be on top of your game when you’re tired, but that’s the challenge for us to stay strong mentally and to manage the game the right way. The team that does it best will take advantage of it.”

Which means Tourigny’s squad had best be ready to turn the page to finish a tough road swing with momentum.

“Right now for us, what’s important is to move on,” he said. “I had the same message after Anaheim. It’s good we win, but we can’t get ahead of ourselves. Calgary has (points in) seven of their last 10 and they’re playing better hockey. They’re home and want to take advantage of it.”

Calgary, which is six points outside of a playoff position, opened a four-game homestand with an impressive 4-1 win over the Minnesota Wild on Thursday.

The Flames broke open a tie game with a trio of third-period goals in a much-needed victory.

“The game’s definitely been trending in the right direction,” said forward Matt Coronato, whose third-period tally sent Calgary off and running. “I think every night we play hard as a group and we’re playing smart and putting it together.”

A huge key to the team’s success of late has been the penalty kill, and it went to a new level against the Wild. The Flames were perfect against five Minnesota power plays. They have not allowed an opposition man-advantage marker in five consecutive games, and they have killed 29 of 30 power plays over the past nine outings.

“I think they have a really good understanding now of how we want to kill,” Calgary coach Ryan Huska said. “Trent (Cull, an assistant coach) has done a really good job of breaking it down the last little while. It still gives up chances we don’t want to give up, but I feel it’s much more aggressive in an intelligent way. … There’s a purpose.”

Now the quest is to build a winning streak to have any hope of pulling into the playoff picture.

“We know they’re a good team, play with a lot of skill,” Coronato said of the Mammoth. “For us, it’s playing our game. I know it’s sounds simple, but when we’re doing things the right way, we can shut down their offense and create our own off that.”

–Field Level Media

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Deadspin | Braves blast four homers to bypass Nationals  Apr 22, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA;  Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II (23) celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run in the second inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images   Michael Harris II hit two home runs, Matt Olson smacked a three-run shot and the Atlanta Braves rallied from an early three-run deficit to claim an 8-6 win against the host Washington Nationals on Wednesday night.  The seventh multi-homer game of Harris’ career helped Atlanta manager Walt Weiss earn his 300th victory. Drake Baldwin homered for the second straight game for the Braves, who have earned at least a split of the four-game series.  Dylan Lee (1-0) pitched a scoreless inning for the win. Robert Suarez pitched the ninth for his second save. After walking 12 batters on Tuesday night, Braves pitchers issued only three free passes.  James Wood homered for the second straight game for Washington. Daylen Lile hit a three-run homer and Joey Wiemer had a pinch-hit solo shot.  Washington starter Zack Littell (0-3) allowed eight runs (six earned) on seven hits over six innings.  The Braves started in on Littell early as Baldwin homered to right center in the first to make it 1-0.  Washington jumped in front with a four-run first against Atlanta starter Didier Fuentes, who lasted just three innings while allowing seven hits and four runs.   Wood and Luis Garcia, Jr. opened the first with singles and, after two strikeouts, Lile delivered a homer to center. Jacob Young singled and scored when Jorbit Vivas doubled to right.  The Braves came right back. Ozzie Albies reached on a Vivas error and Harris homered to right. Mike Yastrzemski singled, went to third on a single by Jonah Heim and scored on a sacrifice fly by Ronald Acuna, Jr.  Harris struck again in the third as his solo shot gave the Braves a 5-4 lead.  Atlanta broke it open in the fourth. Heim and Acuna drew one-out walks and, with two outs, Olson homered to right to make it 8-4.  The Nationals cut the deficit in half in the sixth on solo homers by pinch-hitter Wiemer and Wood, whose 413-foot shot was his National League-leading ninth of the season.  Washington got the tying runs on with two outs in the eighth, but Tyler Kinley struck out Curtis Mead.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Braves #blast #homers #bypass #NationalsApr 22, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II (23) celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run in the second inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images

Michael Harris II hit two home runs, Matt Olson smacked a three-run shot and the Atlanta Braves rallied from an early three-run deficit to claim an 8-6 win against the host Washington Nationals on Wednesday night.

The seventh multi-homer game of Harris’ career helped Atlanta manager Walt Weiss earn his 300th victory. Drake Baldwin homered for the second straight game for the Braves, who have earned at least a split of the four-game series.

Dylan Lee (1-0) pitched a scoreless inning for the win. Robert Suarez pitched the ninth for his second save. After walking 12 batters on Tuesday night, Braves pitchers issued only three free passes.

James Wood homered for the second straight game for Washington. Daylen Lile hit a three-run homer and Joey Wiemer had a pinch-hit solo shot.

Washington starter Zack Littell (0-3) allowed eight runs (six earned) on seven hits over six innings.

The Braves started in on Littell early as Baldwin homered to right center in the first to make it 1-0.


Washington jumped in front with a four-run first against Atlanta starter Didier Fuentes, who lasted just three innings while allowing seven hits and four runs.

Wood and Luis Garcia, Jr. opened the first with singles and, after two strikeouts, Lile delivered a homer to center. Jacob Young singled and scored when Jorbit Vivas doubled to right.

The Braves came right back. Ozzie Albies reached on a Vivas error and Harris homered to right. Mike Yastrzemski singled, went to third on a single by Jonah Heim and scored on a sacrifice fly by Ronald Acuna, Jr.

Harris struck again in the third as his solo shot gave the Braves a 5-4 lead.

Atlanta broke it open in the fourth. Heim and Acuna drew one-out walks and, with two outs, Olson homered to right to make it 8-4.

The Nationals cut the deficit in half in the sixth on solo homers by pinch-hitter Wiemer and Wood, whose 413-foot shot was his National League-leading ninth of the season.

Washington got the tying runs on with two outs in the eighth, but Tyler Kinley struck out Curtis Mead.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Braves #blast #homers #bypass #Nationals">Deadspin | Braves blast four homers to bypass Nationals  Apr 22, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA;  Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II (23) celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run in the second inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images   Michael Harris II hit two home runs, Matt Olson smacked a three-run shot and the Atlanta Braves rallied from an early three-run deficit to claim an 8-6 win against the host Washington Nationals on Wednesday night.  The seventh multi-homer game of Harris’ career helped Atlanta manager Walt Weiss earn his 300th victory. Drake Baldwin homered for the second straight game for the Braves, who have earned at least a split of the four-game series.  Dylan Lee (1-0) pitched a scoreless inning for the win. Robert Suarez pitched the ninth for his second save. After walking 12 batters on Tuesday night, Braves pitchers issued only three free passes.  James Wood homered for the second straight game for Washington. Daylen Lile hit a three-run homer and Joey Wiemer had a pinch-hit solo shot.  Washington starter Zack Littell (0-3) allowed eight runs (six earned) on seven hits over six innings.  The Braves started in on Littell early as Baldwin homered to right center in the first to make it 1-0.  Washington jumped in front with a four-run first against Atlanta starter Didier Fuentes, who lasted just three innings while allowing seven hits and four runs.   Wood and Luis Garcia, Jr. opened the first with singles and, after two strikeouts, Lile delivered a homer to center. Jacob Young singled and scored when Jorbit Vivas doubled to right.  The Braves came right back. Ozzie Albies reached on a Vivas error and Harris homered to right. Mike Yastrzemski singled, went to third on a single by Jonah Heim and scored on a sacrifice fly by Ronald Acuna, Jr.  Harris struck again in the third as his solo shot gave the Braves a 5-4 lead.  Atlanta broke it open in the fourth. Heim and Acuna drew one-out walks and, with two outs, Olson homered to right to make it 8-4.  The Nationals cut the deficit in half in the sixth on solo homers by pinch-hitter Wiemer and Wood, whose 413-foot shot was his National League-leading ninth of the season.  Washington got the tying runs on with two outs in the eighth, but Tyler Kinley struck out Curtis Mead.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Braves #blast #homers #bypass #Nationals

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