SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Stefan Noesen and Connor Brown each scored goals, Nico Hischier had two assists and the New Jersey Devils beat the Utah Mammoth 2-1 on Friday night.
Jacob Markstrom had 32 saves for New Jersey, which finished with 25 blocked shots. The Devils won for the third time in four games.
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New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom (25) makes a stick save during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Utah Mammoth, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate)
Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) protects the net during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate)
New Jersey Devils center Dawson Mercer (91) passes the puck past Utah Mammoth center Jack McBain (22) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate)
New Jersey Devils right wing Stefan Noesen scores a goal past Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate)
Daniil But scored his first NHL goal and Karel Vejmelka had 20 saves for the Mammoth.
Noesen scored on a power play 4:20 into the third period to give the Devils their first lead of the game. Hischier’s slap shot was stopped by Vejmelka but Noesen tapped in the rebound. Luke Hughes also had an assist on the play for his 19th of the season.
The Devils fought off a frantic power play and an empty net — a 6-on-4 Utah advantage — over the final 1:21 to get the victory.
But scored 9:35 into the first period as he lifted a pass from Durzi over Markstrom’s left shoulder for a 1-0 lead
Brown tied it with 8:39 left in the second period, scoring off a nifty short pass from Hischier. Brown scored on his only shot and has goals in three of the last four games and nine on the season.
But is a 20-year-old, 6-foot-5 rookie forward and 2023 first-round pick from Russia playing in his 10th game for Utah this season.
Durzi extended his point streak to four, his longest in Utah.
Alexander Kerfoot played his first game for the Mammoth after missing the first 36 following offseason surgery.
Utah defenseman John Marino played in his 400th career game – the first time a 400-game veteran has skated for Utah.
Devils: Host Buffalo on Sunday.
Mammoth: Host Winnipeg on Sunday.
AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/NHL
New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom (25) makes a stick save during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Utah Mammoth, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate)
Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) protects the net during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate)
New Jersey Devils center Dawson Mercer (91) passes the puck past Utah Mammoth center Jack McBain (22) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate)
New Jersey Devils right wing Stefan Noesen scores a goal past Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate)
CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Breezy Johnson is poised to earn her second gold of the Olympics on Tuesday — as long as teammate Mikaela Shiffrin can maintain the U.S. squad's advantage in the new team combined event.
The team combined consists of one racer competing in a downhill run and another in a slalom run, with the times from the two runs added together to determine the results.
Johnson gave her and Shiffrin a narrow edge by finishing 0.06 seconds ahead of Ariane Raedler of Austria and 0.27 in front of Laura Pirovano of Italy. Johnson is seeking her second gold in the Dolomite Mountains after finishing atop the podium in the downhill on Sunday.
“I didn’t feel so worried that I was going to blow out, which was my biggest fear today,” Johnson said. “And then I just was like, ‘Let’s have some fun. Let’s ski relaxed and free.’ And I feel like I did that.”
The slalom run is Tuesday afternoon and Shiffrin — the most decorated skier in history — will step into the starter's house in search of a bit of vindication after being unable to medal in any of the six events she entered four years ago in Beijing.
Johnson said Shiffrin texted that she was "blown away by the run because she’s very complimentary.
“And I just said, ‘No pressure from me and go get ’em,’” Johnson added. “I already have my gold medal. I hope that she has fun and does her best. But if anything happens I’m not going to be like, ‘Oh you ruined anything.’”
The U.S. also has another medal contending team in Jacqueline Wiles and Paula Moltzan. Wiles placed fourth in the downhill leg, 0.45 behind.
Johnson and childhood friend Shiffrin already combined to win gold in this event when it made its debut at last year's world championships. Johnson also won the downhill at the event in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria.
“It’s super special to bring it full circle,” Johnson said. “It’s been something that I’ve wanted ever since they announced this event. It’s not something that existed when we were kids (so) to be able to have a moment where you win a gold medal with one of your best friends is not something that a lot of people get to experience.”
Wiles and Moltzan have known each other since they were teenagers at the national development camp at Mount Hood, Oregon.
“We’ve grown up on the team together,” said Wiles, who also placed fourth in Sunday's downhill race.
There were no major crashes on the course where American star Lindsey Vonn broke her left leg on Sunday, though U.S. teammate Bella Wright lost her balance exiting Gate 4 — the same gate Vonn clipped — and drifted wide of the following gate. Wright was not injured and skied safely down.
Wright was one of two skiers unable to finish the downhill leg. Italian star Sofia Goggia lost her edge just past the midway point, much to the dismay of the hometown crowd in the bleachers below.
AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
United States' Mikaela Shiffrin concentrates ahead of an alpine ski, women's slalom portion of a team combined race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
United States' Mikaela Shiffrin concentrates ahead of an alpine ski, women's slalom portion of a team combined race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
United States' Jacqueline Wiles waves at the finish area of an alpine ski, downhill portion of a women's team combined race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Italy's Sofia Goggia crashes as she speeds down the course during an alpine ski, downhill portion of a women's team combined race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
United States' Breezy Johnson celebrates at the finish area of an alpine ski, downhill portion of a women's team combined race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
United States' Breezy Johnson speeds down the course during an alpine ski, downhill portion of a women's team combined race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
United States' Breezy Johnson after completing an alpine ski, downhill portion of a women's team combined race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)
United States' Breezy Johnson speeds down the course during an alpine ski, downhill portion of a women's team combined race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
United States' Breezy Johnson celebrates at the finish area of an alpine ski, downhill portion of a women's team combined race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
