The Vegas Golden Knights couldn’t hold off a fast Utah Mammoth attack in Game 2, falling 3-2 at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday as the best-of-7 first-round series is now tied 1-1.
Logan Cooley scored the go-ahead goal with six minutes left in regulation, becoming the youngest American player in NHL history (21 years, 352 days) to score in each of his first two career playoff games. The previous mark was held by Utah captain Clayton Keller (22 years, 6 days).
Dylan Guenther, who scored his first Stanley Cup Playoff goal earlier in the second period, carried the puck into the offensive zone with speed, got around defenseman Shea Theodore, and fired a shot that goaltender Carter Hart saved. Guenther gathered the rebound and found Cooley in front for the winner.
“They had a push, which we knew they would,” center Brett Howden said. “They are a good team and we knew it wouldn’t be easy.”
Captain Mark Stone and winger Ivan Barbashev each scored for the second straight game. Stone’s second power-play goal of the series came off a centering pass that deflected off Utah defenseman Mikhail Sergachev’s stick at 11:42 of the first period.
Utah tied it five minutes later when defenseman Mackenzie Weegar’s point shot hit off defenseman Rasmus Andersson’s skate and in. Guenther’s one-timer from the left circle gave Utah a 2-1 lead with 5:04 left in the second. Barbashev responded 1:02 later, forcing a turnover, getting back onside, and beating Karel Vejmelka with a backhand.
The Knights were outshot 23-11 in the final two periods and managed only four shots in the second. Hart made 26 saves in his first loss in eight starts.
“We had decent looks,” winger Mitch Marner said. “We have to do maybe a better job of sustaining pressure.”
The game featured 28 penalty minutes, with 16 in the first period alone. The Knights had 33 hits, down from 51 in Game 1. Utah finished with 39.
Game 3 is Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Delta Center in Salt Lake City.























