Schmaltz scores late power-play winner as Mammoth edge Maple Leafs
Jack Roslovic scored twice for Toronto but Sergei Bobrovsky made 33 saves in a losing effort.
TORONTO · The Utah Mammoth defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 on Tuesday night thanks to a late power-play goal from Nick Schmaltz. Schmaltz broke a 2-2 tie with 6:48 remaining in the third period, converting a loose puck in the crease. Dylan Guenther and Andrew Peeke also scored for the Mammoth, who improved their record to 10-6-0. Sebastian Cossa made 27 saves in the Utah net, while Clayton Keller contributed three assists and Mikail Sergachev added two.
Jack Roslovic scored both goals for the Maple Leafs, who fell to 8-7-2. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 33 shots in the loss, and Auston Matthews recorded two assists. Roslovic had tied the game earlier in the third period, scoring on a backhand at 9:05 after breaking in alone on Cossa for his second of the night. Bobrovsky, a two-time Stanley Cup champion signed to a major free-agent deal this past summer, entered the game with a 3-5-2 record, an .885 save percentage and a 3.29 goals-against average. The 38-year-old goaltender, who had surrendered three or more goals in nine of his previous ten starts, was aided by the post on a few occasions in the first period. He was beaten by Guenther with 12.4 seconds left in the opening frame, as the Utah forward shot through a screen on the league's top-ranked power play.
Roslovic evened the score at 10:20 of the second period, firing a shot past Cossa shortly after Maple Leafs defenceman Troy Stecher's stick broke on an odd-man rush. Peeke restored Utah's lead at 13:42 of the middle frame with a shot through traffic that beat Bobrovsky. The goal was controversial, as Mammoth centre Barrett Hayton appeared to make contact with the goaltender's skates, but the on-ice officials allowed the goal to stand. The Maple Leafs opted not to challenge the play to avoid a potential minor penalty.
The Mammoth, who will have played 13 of their first 19 games away from home, visit the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday. Their next home game is scheduled for Nov. 12 against the St. Louis Blues. The Maple Leafs will host the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.
With files from The Globe and Mail, Sportsnet and Yahoo Sports