Mammoth pummel Kings 6-2 to create more separation in Western Conference wild-card race

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Alexander Kerfoot and Logan Cooley scored two goals each, Mikhail Sergachev tied a franchise single-game record with four assists, and the Utah Mammoth beat the Los Angeles Kings 6-2 on Saturday night.

Nick Schmaltz and Jack McBain also scored, Karel Vejmelka made 29 saves, as the Mammoth avoided a second losing streak of at least three games in March.

Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe scored for the Kings, who have won one of their last six games. Darcy Kuemper allowed five goals on 16 shots before being replaced by Anton Forsberg to start the third period. Forsberg made 11 saves in relief.

The Mammoth continued their charge toward a playoff berth when Kerfoot opened the scoring 2:31 into the game, followed by two goals from Cooley late in the first period. Cooley struck on the power play to pick up his second with less than nine seconds remaining, canceling out any momentum Los Angeles had when Kopitar got them on the board two minutes earlier.

Utah is now five points ahead of Nashville for the first wild-card berth in the Western Conference, which would put them against the Pacific Division in the postseason and away from the Central Division powerhouse trio of Colorado, Dallas and Minnesota.

The Kings started a critical seven-game homestand with a chance to move into the second wild-card spot ahead of the Predators — a team they face twice next week — but instead face planted with a dismal showing.

Special teams was particularly dire for Los Angeles, giving up two goals on the penalty kill plus an even-strength tally to Kerfoot shortly after its own power play expired midway through the second period.

Mammoth: Visit Seattle on Thursday night.

Kings: Host St. Louis on Wednesday night.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Utah Mammoth center Alexander Kerfoot (15) celebrates his goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar (11) celebrates his goal with teammates during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Utah Mammoth Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) stops a shot by Utah Mammoth right wing Clayton Keller (9) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Utah Mammoth center Logan Cooley (92) celebrates his goal with defenseman Mikhail Sergachev (98) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

HOUSTON (AP) — Though the stage keeps getting bigger, coach Ben McCollum continues to prove he’s a winner.

McCollum and Iowa’s underdog March Madness run ended with a loss to Illinois on Saturday, but his success in his first season with the Hawkeyes proved he can win at any level.

McCollum won four Division II national titles at Northwest Missouri State before spending one season at Drake. He led the Bulldogs to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before moving on to Iowa.

Last season, the Hawkeyes went 17-16 overall and 7-13 in Big Ten play, and Fran McCaffery was fired after 15 seasons. Iowa finished 2025-26 at 24-13.

“It’s got to be the biggest impact a first-year head coach has ever had in Iowa history,” the Hawkeyes' Cooper Koch said. “What he’s done is pretty special, and there’s going to be many years of this to come.”

McCollum reflected on the ride he’s been on since leaving Northwest Missouri State after 15 years.

“You have to make yourself uncomfortable,” he said. “And it’s been uncomfortable for a couple years. But we’re getting there. We’re continuing to build and I certainly appreciate my family, my wife and kids and all that they have sacrificed for us to reach this goal, the goal of getting Iowa basketball to where it belongs. I think we’ve got a good foundation for that and we’ll continue to build it.”

No. 9 seed Iowa opened the tournament with a win over eighth-seeded Clemson before knocking off top seed and defending national champion Florida. The Hawkeyes beat Big Ten rival and No. 4 seed Nebraska on Thursday night. Their three wins in this tournament matches the number of March Madness victories they'd had in the last 20 years.

Next season, Iowa won't have guard Bennett Stirtz, who finished with 24 points on Saturday. Stirtz played for McCollum for two seasons at Northwest Missouri State, then followed him to Drake and finally Iowa.

Stirtz didn't get a single Division I offer out of high school but became a March Madness star.

“I just gave it my all in this Hawkeye uniform,” Stirtz said. “But I just hope that they have continued success and that’s all I want for them. They will do just that. It’s hard to put everything into words right now, but I gave it my all and we all gave it our all and it was a fun run.”

McCollum credited Stirtz, Tavion Banks and the other players who followed him from Drake for Iowa's success.

“Bennett, Tavion, those guys started this,” he said. “It’s pretty cool. I think they will look back at it in 10 years and hopefully we’ll be going to Final Fours and winning championships and they will sit there and say, ‘Man, I did that.’”

AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

Iowa's Cam Manyawu (3) and Bennett Stirtz (14) hug after an Elite Eight game against Illinois in the NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Iowa coach Ben McCollum yells to his players during the first half of an Elite Eight game against Illinois in the NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Iowa coach Ben McCollum yells during the first half of an Elite Eight game against Illinois in the NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)