Nick Schmaltz and Clayton Keller scored second-period goals and Vitek Vanecek made 16 saves as the Utah Mammoth posted a 3-0 road victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday.
Dylan Guenther had two assists and Michael Carcone also scored for Utah, which has won five of its last seven games. Vanecek, making his first start since Jan. 27, recorded the 100th victory (and 11th shutout) of his career.
Dan Vladar turned aside 20 shots for Philadelphia, which had its three-game winning streak snapped. The Flyers played without top scorer Travis Konecny (upper-body injury) for the second straight game.
Neither team scored during a first period in which the teams combined for eight shots — four apiece. The Flyers had a power play late in the session but were unable to create much pressure.
Utah received its first power play early in the first period, as Noah Cates was whistled for holding the stick. On the ensuing faceoff, Schmaltz took a feed from Guenther and beat Vladar with a one-timer from a sharp angle.
The goal was the 24th of the season for Schmaltz, who had not scored since Feb. 4 — prior to the Olympic break.
Keller made it 2-0 about 6 1/2 minutes later. On an offensive rush, Guenther sent a pass to Keller, who had slipped behind the defense. The Utah captain made a move to his backhand and slid the puck through Vladar’s five-hole for his 19th of the season.
That was more than enough support for Vanecek, who made a dazzling glove save on Bobby Brink late in the first period and robbed Carl Grundstrom midway through the third.
Philadelphia had a pair of power plays in the third period, but ended up with nothing to show for its time on the man advantage.
Carcone rammed home an empty-netter with 1:48 remaining to seal the victory. He had not scored since Jan. 29.
–Field Level Media
