Schmaltz scores twice, Guenther has three points, Mammoth top Blue Jackets

COLUMBUS -- Nick Schmaltz scored twice and Dylan Guenther had three points for the Utah Mammoth, who defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-1 at Nationwide Arena on Saturday.

Guenther had a goal and two assists, Mikhail Sergachev scored and had an assist, and Clayton Keller and Logan Cooley each had two assists for the Mammoth (2-0-0).

“With two wins, it's unbelievable, especially on the road against a really good team, a heavy team. So, it's a great start,” Cooley said. “There's still obviously a lot of work to be done and got to enjoy it for now and get ready to play a really good team in New York (the Rangers on Sunday).”

Sebastian Cossa made 17 saves in his first NHL start and his second NHL game after getting a shootout win in relief for the Detroit Red Wings against the Buffalo Sabres on Dec. 9, 2024.

“It was great, honestly,” he said. “First game here and I wanted to get off to a good start. The team played really well in front of me, so it was pretty easy for me tonight.

“Pretty cool for me. I played my first year here in Toledo (of the ECHL) then and I came here and got my first start in Columbus. So, you know, Ohio is calling my name, but I was happy with it.”

Kent Johnson scored, and Jet Greaves made 27 saves for the Blue Jackets (1-1-0).

“Penalties kind of killed us tonight,” Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski said. “Saturday night in our building, take an early penalty. They score on it and that's a team that feeds off touching the puck and feeling it.”

Guenther made it 3-1 at 5:59 of the third period on the power play. He was in the left circle to one-time a cross-seam pass by Cooley.

Schmaltz made it 3-for-4 on the power play at 14:13 to make it 4-1. It was his 500th NHL point on a tic-tac-toe play.

“A lot of chances are started off quick puck movement, making sure that we're connecting on those passes, our ‘D’ are jumping up in the play, being more creative,” Keller said. “When we're doing that, we're a tough team to stop off the rush, and allows us to break them down in zone.”

The Blue Jackets allowed the first goal for a second straight game.

Sergachev made it 1-0 at 11:55 of the first period on the first power-play goal allowed by the Blue Jackets in seven penalty kills this season. He scored from the high slot through traffic.

Schmaltz extended the score to 2-0 at 16:31 with a one-timer low in the left circle from a Keller pass for Keller’s 600th NHL point.

“We looked slow because we turn the puck over,” Columbus coach Rick Bowness said. “We look slow because of our transition. Was not even close to being good enough.”

Johnson cut it to 2-1 at 1:30 of the second period after Greaves made a pad save on Keller at the right post.

Matthew Knies, who had two goals and an assist in his Columbus debut against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday, sprang Johnson with a pass off the boards which led to shot between the pads.

“We’ve got to set a standard. I don't think we met it tonight,” Blue Jackets center Sean Monahan said. “I mean you lose on home ice like that. We got outshot, some untimely penalties that obviously cost us and we’ve got to capitalize when we get some power plays. So, it's on us.”

NOTES: The Blue Jackets held a moment of silence before the game for Lyle Odelein, the first captain in franchise history. He died on Friday at age 58. He played 146 games in two seasons with the Blue Jackets (2000-02). Odelein was last at Nationwide Arena in March as part of the celebration for the team’s 25th season. … Johnson’s goal was the first allowed by the Mammoth this season. They opened with a 6-0 victory vs. the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday. … Werenski played 31:43 and defense partner Denton Mateychuk had 28:07 of ice time.