Mammoths beat Flames 3-1 in home opener – The Hockey Writers – Calgary Flames
On Wednesday night, we saw the Utah Mammoths host the Calgary Flames in their 2025-26 home opener at the newly renovated Delta Centre.
The Flames ended Tuesday’s loss to the Vegas Golden Knights with a multi-goal lead while the Mavericks look to bounce back from a loss to the Chicago Blackhawks.
game review
The Mammoths applied pressure early on and dominated their chances in the first few minutes. However, Mikhail Sergachev was sent to the penalty area and on the ensuing Flames power play, Rasmus Andersen fired home a shot from Morgan Frost for his first goal of the season.
It was the only goal of the first period, despite a total of five power play opportunities in the period. The Mammoths controlled most of the shots in the quarter but trailed by one entering the first intermission.
The Mammoths’ constant pressure early in the second quarter finally paid off when Nick Schmaltz beat Devin Cooley when he found Barrett Hayton open for his first win of the season.
They took the lead three minutes later on an unassisted goal from JJ Peterka, who intercepted a cross-ice pass at the Mammoth blue line and entered the game on a breakaway. He fought off the Flames defender and earned a delayed penalty. They didn’t need the man advantage, however, as Peterka beat Cooley to give Utah a one-goal lead they carried into the third quarter.
While the Mammoths were able to take the lead, things could have gotten worse for the Flames as they missed 18 shots, 21 scoring chances and 10 high-danger chances in the midfield.
Cooley and Vermelka were strong in front of the net all game and shut the door in the third period, going scoreless for the final 20 minutes until Kevin Stenlund scored an empty-net goal with 22 seconds left to seal the 3-1 win.
The two meet again in December in what could be a crucial season series between two fringe playoff hopes.
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