Nick Schmaltz, Clayton Keller steer Mammoth past Red Wings

Nick Schmaltz scored his fourth goal in two games and added an assist as the Utah Mammoth beat the Detroit Red Wings 4-1 on Wednesday in Salt Lake City.

Clayton Keller also had a goal and an assist for Utah, which has won two straight after losing two in a row. Sean Durzi and Dylan Guenther also scored, and Karel Vejmelka made 29 saves.

Dylan Larkin scored for the Red Wings, who have lost four of their past five games (1-3-1) while scoring just seven goals. John Gibson turned aside 21 shots.

Utah finished 1-for-3 on the power play. Detroit went 1-for-4.

Both teams were playing their final game before the Olympic break.

The Mammoth took a 1-0 lead 57 seconds into the first period. Durzi collected a turnover along the right wall and fired the puck past Gibson before the goaltender was able to react.

Schmaltz increased the lead to 2-0 during a 5-on-3 power play at 8:11 of the opening period. Keller passed to Barrett Hayton along the goal line, and he centered to Schmaltz, who scored from the slot.

Vejmelka made 11 of his saves in the second period, including a diving glove save to rob Lucas Raymond during a Detroit power play.

Guenther made it 3-0 when he scored his team-leading 25th goal of the season at 4:40 of the third period. He won a puck battle along boards, got behind the defense and skated through the right circle before beating Gibson with a wrist shot.

Larkin pulled the Red Wings within 3-1 at 15:58. With Detroit on a power play and Gibson pulled for an extra skater, Larkin knocked in a loose puck during a scramble in front.

Detroit stayed with the extra attacker, and Keller found the empty net at 17:42, taking a pass from Schmaltz on a 2-on-1 and scoring from just outside the blue line.

--Field Level Media