The Utah Mammoth survived a frantic third-period rally to claim a 5-4 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night, with 19-year-old Daniil But marking his NHL debut with the opening goal in a contest that showcased both the promise and the growing pains of the league’s newest franchise. Before a raucous crowd at the Delta Center, Utah built a commanding three-goal lead only to watch Toronto’s veteran core claw their way back to the brink, forcing Karel Vejmelka to author a clutch penalty-kill performance in the dying seconds to secure the two points.
A Debut to Remember for But
The script could not have been written more favourably for the Mammoth’s prized Russian prospect. Selected 12th overall in the 2025 draft, But had barely settled into his new surroundings before he flicked the puck around a bewildered defender and snapped a high shot past Anthony Stolarz with 5:05 remaining in the opening frame. The goal — a blend of poise and improvisation rare for a teenager in his first professional game on North American ice — set the tone for an evening where Utah’s youth repeatedly answered the bell.
Vincent Trocheck doubled the advantage barely sixty seconds into the middle period, converting a surgical cross-ice feed from Logan Cooley at the back post. Then came the sequence that silenced the travelling Toronto support: Mikhail Sergachev, the veteran blueliner acquired in the off-season to anchor the blue line, stripped the puck at his own blue line and raced the other way, depositing a short-handed breakaway to make it 3-0 at the 8:14 mark.
Toronto’s Veteran Response
Credit the Maple Leafs; they did not fold. Auston Matthews, ever the catalyst, redirected a power-play chance past Vejmelka at 5:16 to spark the comeback. Yet every time Toronto struck, Utah had an immediate reply. Dylan Guenther unleashed a missile from distance to restore the three-goal cushion. Jack Roslovic answered with a deft one-timer between Vejmelka’s pads. And with 40 seconds left in the period, MacKenzie Weegar — another summer arrival — pinched deep and buried a rebound to send the Mammoth into the intermission with a 4-2 lead.
The third period belonged, briefly, to Toronto’s captain. John Tavares converted a man-advantage opportunity at 7:12, and rookie Gavin McKenna — the 18-year-old phenom making his own case for Calder Trophy consideration — snapped his second of the season from the circle four minutes later. Suddenly, a comfortable lead had evaporated. The Delta Center held its collective breath.
Vejmelka Stands Tall
The difference, ultimately, was the man between the pipes. Vejmelka, the Czech netminder who arrived from Arizona with the franchise relocation, faced a barrage in the final five minutes. A late tripping call gave Toronto a six-on-four advantage with the net empty, and the Leafs cycled with surgical precision. Time and again, Vejmelka turned aside grade-A chances — a Matthews one-timer from the slot, a Marner deflection at the crease, a Tavares wrap-around attempt. Twenty-two saves on the night, but the final four were the ones that mattered.
Why it Matters
For Utah, this was more than two points in the standings; it was a statement that the Mammoth possess the depth and resilience to compete immediately in the Western Conference, with But’s instant impact accelerating a timeline many projected would require patience. For Toronto, the loss exposes familiar fragilities — slow starts, defensive lapses, and an over-reliance on the power play to manufacture offence — that have plagued previous campaigns. With a quick turnaround against Edmonton on Thursday, Utah has the chance to build momentum; the Leafs, meanwhile, must regroup before hosting Buffalo, lest a season-opening stumble harden into a trend.
