Flames Burn Playoff-Bound Mammoth; Pachal Leads Calgary to Victory
Pachal’s Three-Point Night Ignites Flames in Win Over Utah
The Calgary Flames continued their late-season surge at the Scotiabank Saddledome, defeating the playoff-bound Utah Mammoth 4-1 on Sunday night. Brayden Pachal was the undisputed star of the game, recording his first goal of the season alongside two assists to lead a balanced Calgary attack. The victory improves Calgary’s recent home record to 7-0-1, a streak that has provided the local fans with plenty to cheer for despite the team being mathematically eliminated from the 2026 postseason. For Utah, the loss is a minor setback in what has been a historic first season as the rebranded Mammoth.
Calgary came out flying in the first period, taking advantage of a tired Utah squad playing the second half of a back-to-back. Matt Coronato opened the scoring at 7:06, capitalizing on a misplay by Utah goaltender Vitek Vanecek behind the net. Just over a minute later, Connor Zary doubled the lead with a deflected shot, assisted by rookie standout Zayne Parekh. The Flames’ relentless forecheck forced the Mammoth into uncharacteristic turnovers, allowing Calgary to dictate the pace of the game from the opening puck drop.
Wolf's Brilliance and Utah's Struggles
While the offense clicked, Dustin Wolf provided the necessary wall in net for Calgary. Wolf stopped 28 of 29 shots, including a sensational glove save on former Flame MacKenzie Weegar during a Utah power play. The lone goal for the Mammoth came from Lawson Crouse in the third period, set up by captain Clayton Keller. Keller’s assist extended his point streak to eight games, a bright spot for a Utah team that has struggled to find the net consistently over their last two outings after a blistering five-game win streak earlier this month.
The Utah Mammoth, who officially unveiled their permanent name and logo earlier this year, are currently holding the first Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. Despite the loss, they remain in a favorable position with a three-point lead over the Los Angeles Kings. However, head coach André Tourigny noted after the game that the team needs to regain its form before the playoffs begin. "We looked a step slow tonight," Tourigny admitted. "Calgary played with a lot of energy, and we didn't match it in the critical moments."
