Keller scores twice, Mammoth hand Oilers first regulation loss of season

EDMONTON -- Clayton Keller scored twice, and the Utah Mammoth won 4-2 to hand the Edmonton Oilers their first regulation loss of the season Thursday at Rogers Place.

Logan Cooley had a goal and an assist, and Nick Schmaltz had two assists for the Mammoth (6-2-0), who have won three in a row and will host the Oilers on Saturday. Karel Vejmelka made 22 saves.

“I’m really proud of the way we defended, the way we played away from the puck,” said Mammoth coach Andre Tourigny. “We were really structured, were physical and I think we made it hard, every inch on the ice, for the team on the other side. They played really well, as well. It was a hard-fought game.

“I think we were competing with emotion, but we were under control. I’m extremely proud of the boys.”

Leon Draisaitl and Shakir Mukhamadullin scored for the Oilers (5-1-1), who had won their previous five and were the last team in the NHL without a regulation loss. Devon Levi made 20 saves.

“I actually thought we worked. We played a pretty good team here tonight and I thought we worked,” said Oilers coach Mike Babcock. “We needed our big boys. Obviously, I played them too much, but I thought we competed and put in a good effort.

“The good thing for us is we’re getting to see everyone in the organization and we’re seeing who can play and who can’t. They’re getting a great opportunity to show that. We’re getting some good players back, we’ll put them in and get going from here. They have a deep team and we’re going to have a deep team, too, but right now we’re not as deep and I thought that showed tonight.”

Barrett Hayton put Utah ahead 1-0 on the power play at 10:38 of the first period, cleaning up the rebound in close on a point-blank shot from Kailer Yamamoto.

“It took a lot. I think we had a ton of focus,” Hayton said. “We talked prior to this game about kind of a unique situation of playing a team two times in a row, they’re a great team over there, they’ve had a great start to the season, so it was a big challenge for us, and I thought we embraced it.”

Keller made it 2-0 on the power play at 11:57 of the second period, taking a through-the-legs pass by Cooley from the slot, and snapping it short side past Levi’s glove.

Draisaitl cut the lead to 2-1 at 13:54, on a give-and-go from Connor McDavid that he slid through Vejmelka’s legs.

The assist extended McDavid’s season-long point streak to all seven games (four goals, 14 assists).

“It was a tight-checking game, both teams really dug in,” McDavid said. “I thought it was a great game all around. Two good teams that were working and checking and it came down to special teams, they found a way to get a couple and we didn’t.

“We expect to win every night no matter who is in the lineup. It’s just the way it is.”

The Mammoth went ahead 3-1 just 23 seconds later at 14:17, when Cooley drove to the crease to reach a backhand pass from Vincent Trocheck, and lift it past Levi’s glove.

“I think he said it, but it almost does feel like it’s summertime and we’re just out there playing around. Obviously, a great pass by him and hopefully we’ll keep it rolling,” Cooley said. “Obviously, they’re an unbelievable team over there. Some of the best players in the world, and when we have a showing like that, playing committed hockey, we can beat anyone in this league.

“I think that’s the confidence we need and the confidence we’re going to have going into the rest of the season.”

Mukhamadullin closed it to 3-2 at 1:40 of the third period when his wrist shot from the point bounced in off the skate of Mammoth defenseman Andrew Peeke. It was his first goal with the Oilers after being traded from the San Jose Sharks on July 1.

Keller added an empty-net goal with 28 seconds remaining for the 4-2 final.

“I thought as it went on in the later part of the game, we started to get on our toes and make more plays to get in their end and get cycles and try to climb on their goalie and get shots from the point,” said Oilers defenseman Connor Murphy. “So, we simplified and were able to start to execute and win pucks that way.

“We just didn't start the game off that way.”

NOTES: Hayton pushed his point streak to five games (six points; one goal, five assists). ... Keller and Schmaltz have factored on the same goal seven times this season; the only duo to do so more is McDavid and Draisaitl (nine times). ... Evan Bouchard had the secondary assist on Draisaitl’s goal to push his point streak to four games (seven points; two goals, five assists). He leads NHL defenseman with 15 points (six goals, nine assists).