The storyline was set in stone for the Utah Mammoth’s first game against the Buffalo Sabres. Either JJ Peterka would be scoring goals against his old team, or Buffalo’s Josh Doan and Michael Kesselring would each have revenge games against their former teammates.

Regardless of who came out on top, the drama surrounding the game rose after Utah’s blockbuster trade acquiring Peterka from the Sabres this offseason, and it was expected to be an entertaining affair.

But in the Mammoth’s 2-1 overtime win against the Sabres, the storyline shifted beyond what anyone expected. Instead of a Peterka masterclass against his former team, or Kesselring and Doan getting revenge against Utah, a defensive battle between goalies Karel Vejmelka and Buffalo’s Alex Lyon ensued, eventually leading to overtime.

Instead of either goalie cracking under pressure and making a mistake, the real difference in the game came after a defensive breakdown by Sabres forward Jack Quinn left Clayton Keller with a wide-open lane and plenty of time to shoot.

Capitalizing on a Mikhail Sergachev screen, Keller was able to shake Buffalo’s Alex Tuch and drive to the net. While Quinn was properly positioned in the middle of the ice to keep Sergachev from getting a clean shot from distance, his stationary position proved costly when Tuch fell behind.

In a split second, Keller sped past Quinn — his rotation coming far too late — and went straight at Lyon.

Though Lyon had made save after save throughout the game, Keller had too much space and scored the game-winner — so much so that it looked more like a shootout than overtime.

Funnily enough, Vejmelka would actually be credited with an assist on the play, giving him his first point of the season and only the fourth of his NHL career. 

"Honestly, they had a scoring chance from the slot and I thought I was going to freeze it, but they asked for it [the puck]," said Vejmelka. "It was a quick play. It was a no brainer for me and it was good communication from them for sure."

Originally, Vejmelka gloved an open shot from Tuch, continuing his night of clutch saves. But instead of "freezing" the play, Vejmelka dropped the puck, and Utah was quickly off to the races.

No matter how you look at it, Vejmelka was critical not only for his defensive and offensive contributions on the game-winning play but also for his incredible performance in net all game.

Make no mistake, both Vejmelka and Lyon willed their teams to overtime. Vejmelka stopped a multitude of Grade-A shots, the most notable coming early in the first period, while Lyon endured a barrage of chances and made 33 saves despite several great Utah looks.

Whenever a breakaway occurred or a broken play led to a strange puck bounce, both goalies stayed strong and were clearly the best players for their respective teams.

Reunion in Buffalo

Neither Peterka nor Kesselring and Doan registered any points in this game, but watching each player with their new team was still an interesting watch.

Peterka, of course, looked hungry for a goal, recording three shots, but it was arguably Kesselring who had the most dangerous looks. If not for Vejmelka’s elite play, Kesselring could have had two goals in the first period alone.

Meanwhile, Doan stuck to his game, playing his usual physical style — the same one Utah fans saw countless times when he played alongside Lawson Crouse and Jack McBain.

As of now, crowning a true winner in the Utah-Buffalo trade isn’t possible, especially when it involves young, emerging players. But for the moment, each player looks to be playing good hockey for their new teams.

With he Sabres coming to Delta Center on Nov. 12, there will be plenty of chances for these players to get even with their former teams.

Nick Schmatlz Isn't Slowing Down

After having an eight game point streak snapped in Utah's 4-2 loss to Tampa Bay, Schmaltz went back to his scoring ways in this game. 

With the score still at a 0-0 standstill, it would be Schmaltz who would break the scoring drought, scoring Utah's first goal after a great pass from Keller. 

Now with 18 points on the season, Schmaltz’s offensive output and his chemistry with Keller have been major reasons why Utah has been able to reach a 9-4 record.

What makes that even more valuable is the fact that Utah isn’t solely relying on its young talent to win night in and night out — it’s also getting contributions from veteran leaders like Schmaltz and Keller.

"We worked at it a ton, and a lot of the guys we've added helps a lot," said Keller. "We have a lot of great leadership on this team that helps calm us down and keep us in the game when things go crazy."

The consistency Schmaltz plays with not only reflects his own skill, it reflects the consistency Utah Mammoth has had this season as well. Utah will need that consistency if it wants to win the second game of its back-to-back against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Nov. 5.