The Calgary Flames defeated the Utah Mammoth 4-1 on Sunday, preventing Utah from expanding their lead for the first wild card spot in the Western Conference.
According to the original news source, Utah remains three points ahead of the Los Angeles Kings, who have a game in hand, keeping the pressure on the playoff race.
Brayden Pachal led Calgary with a goal and two assists in his first three-point game in the NHL, while Matt Coronato, Connor Zary and Mikael Backlund also scored. Goalkeeper Dustin Wolf made 28 saves.
Utah coach Andre Tourigny criticized his team’s performance, saying, “I didn’t like the way we approached our game in the sense that we had to be ready to grind, go inside and work extremely hard for every inch.”
“I don’t think our emotion, our focus was in the right place, and that was visible everywhere with everyone. I don’t blame anyone. Coaches, players, we have to be better. We have to grind,” he added.
Calgary opened the scoring in the first period and extended their lead through the game, taking a 4–0 lead before Lawson Crouse scored Utah’s lone goal late in the third.
Flames coach Ryan Huska said, “I thought we played well tonight,” adding that the team responded strongly after a long road trip.
Utah has now lost two games in a row and faces crucial games in the playoffs.
