Mammoth Look to Silence Doubts With Crucial Response Against Sabres

Two teams coming off bad losses will meet Saturday night when the Utah Mammoth visit the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center.

Utah was unable to get much going offensively in Thursday’s 6-1 loss to Boston, while Buffalo had an even tougher night against Dallas, falling 4-0. Both teams have a chance to put those performances behind them, with the Mammoth wrapping up their road trip and the Sabres continuing their homestand.

Utah comes into the game at 3-2-0, one win better than Buffalo’s 2-2-0 record.

The Mammoth have given opponents plenty to worry about offensively this season. They are averaging 3.60 goals per game, seventh-best in the NHL, and their power play has converted 40% of its chances. That percentage leads the league.

Nick Schmaltz has been a big part of that early success, scoring five goals through Utah’s first five games. Clayton Keller has chipped in six assists, and the two forwards are tied with seven points apiece.

Getting that offense going again will be important against a Buffalo team that has done a good job keeping games under control late. The Sabres have allowed just two third-period goals in four games, tied for the third-fewest in the league.

Buffalo will also need more from its own attack after being held scoreless Thursday. Tage Thompson and Jack Quinn have two goals apiece, while defenseman Owen Power leads the team with five points.

Goaltending could help decide which team gets the response it needs. Utah’s Karel Vejmelka has won two of his three starts, posting a 2.43 goals-against average. Buffalo’s Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has had a more difficult start, going 1-2-0 with a 4.02 goals-against average.

Saturday is the Mammoth’s final game of the road trip. Puck drop is at 5 p.m. local time. They return to Utah on Tuesday to host Toronto before facing Edmonton twice later in the week.

The two teams will meet once more this season, with Buffalo traveling to Utah on Jan. 27.