Mammoth beat Minnesota 5-2 to end the Wild's winning streak at 6
Utah Mammoth right wing Dylan Guenther (11) is knocked down in front of the net by Minnesota Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon, bottom center, during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Salt Lake City. Credit: AP/Tyler Tate
SALT LAKE CITY — Lawson Crouse scored twice, U.S. Olympian Clayton Keller had a goal and two assists and the Utah Mammoth beat Minnesota 5-2 on Friday night to end the Wild's winning streak at six games.
Logan Cooley and Barrett Hayton also scored and Karel Vejmelka made 21 saves to help the Mammoth rebound from a 4-2 home loss to NHL-leading Colorado on Wednesday night in their return from the Olympic break. Utah holds the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference, three points ahead of Seattle.
U.S. Olympian Matt Boldy scored and assisted on Kirill Kaprizov's goal for Minnesota. Second behind Central Division-rival Colorado in the West, the Wild are 9-2-1 in their last 12. They beat the Avalanche 5-2 on Thursday night in Denver.
Cooley opened the scoring with a short-handed goal with 6:37 left in the first period. The former University of Minnesota star got the puck on the right side off a deflection and put a shot between Wallstedt’s legs for his 15th goal.
Keller scored his 18th at 4:26 of the second. Nick Schmaltz forced a turnover on a forecheck and fed Keller on the right side.
Crouse made it 3-0 at 7:49 of the second. He came down the middle, took a pass from Keller and beat Wallstedt with a backhander.
Kaprizov countered for Minnesota on a power play with 5:57 left in the second. He has 33 goals this season.
Utah Mammoth right wing Clayton Keller (9) and defenseman Nate Schmidt (88) celebrate after Keller's goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Salt Lake City. Credit: AP/Tyler Tate
Hayton made it 4-1 on a power play at 1:19 of the third, and Crouse added his 16th of the season on a tip with 7:12 to go.
Boldy got his 35th of the season with 5:57 remaining.
Up next
Wild: Host St. Louis on Sunday.
Mammoth: Host Chicago on Sunday.
