DeSimone breaks tie in 3rd, Mammoth defeat Rangers to snap 4-game skid

SALT LAKE CITY -- Nick DeSimone broke a tie at 7:32 of the third period for the Utah Mammoth in a 3-2 victory against the New York Rangers at Delta Center on Saturday.

DeSimone's slap shot from above the right face-off circle deflected off Rangers forward Taylor Raddysh’s stick and slid five-hole on Jonathan Quick to give Utah a 3-2 lead.

“Everybody bought in tonight,” DeSimone said. “Every guy was playing out the game, and we just stuck with it for the whole night, and we got rewarded for it.”

Clayton Keller and JJ Peterka each scored for the Mammoth (11-8-3), who ended a four-game losing streak (0-1-3). Karel Vejmelka made 20 saves.

“Saturday night against the Rangers, two points, what a beautiful night in Utah,” Mammoth coach Andre Tourigny said. “I cannot be more proud of the battle level… There's a lot of guys I'm proud of, a lot of guys.”

Vladislav Gavrikov had a goal and an assist, and Artemi Panarin had a goal for the Rangers (10-11-2), who have lost four in a row. Quick made 31 saves.

“I thought we got outplayed,” Rangers coach Mike Sullivan said. “I didn't think for whatever reason we had the juice, the energy. If you don't bring a certain amount of energy to the game, it's hard. Today's game is fast, and that's a young, fast team.”

Peterka opened the scoring at 10:08 of the first period, tapping in a rebound off a point shot by Nate Schmidt to give the Mammoth a 1-0 lead.

“Keeping it simple was the message for the game,” Peterka said. “It turned out to be good, just a lot of pucks to the net and a lot of second efforts to the net. That won us the game.”

Gavrikov made it 1-1 at 15:19, tipping in a shot from the right point by Adam Fox.

“I just feel like we're disconnected,” said New York forward Mika Zibanejad, who assisted on the goal. “I think we're too far away from each other, and I think it's a lot of one-and-done's in the O-zone, try to get on the forecheck, it's one guy, and then we don't come up with five together. I just feel like we're late everywhere.”

Panarin scored at 8:07 of the second period, beating Vejmelka between the pads on a breakaway to give the Rangers a 2-1 lead.

Keller tied it 2-2 at 11:15. Kailer Yamamoto drove to the net and the puck slid off his stick to Keller at the right of the crease, who lifted it over a sprawling Quick.

Two minutes before the game-winning goal, the Rangers had several chances directly in front of the Mammoth goal. Vejmelka was able to keep the puck out of the net and the Rangers off the board.

“We need to give credit to [Vejmelka], because at that key moment, he made a key save,” Tourigny said.

DeSimone's game-winner was the second of his career and first since Dec. 21, 2023 when he was a member of the Calgary Flames.

“It’s my job to be ready whether I am playing or not playing,” DeSimone said. “Just being in a good mood, being grateful for every day, and showing up. If I’m playing, I just try and do what I can to help.”

NOTES: Peterka has six points (five goals, one assist) in his past six games.