Mammoth win the first NHL playoff game in Utah, beating Vegas 4-2 for 2-1 series lead

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Lawson Crouse scored twice in a 5:42 span in the second period and the Utah Mammoth won the first NHL playoff game in the state, beating the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 on Friday night for a 2-1 series lead.

Game 4 of the best-of-seven series is Monday night in Salt Lake City. Utah evened the series in Las Vegas on Tuesday after winning 3-2. Vegas won the series opener 4-2 on its home ice on Sunday.

The Mammoth are in their second season in Utah after leaving Arizona.

Crouse’s goals capped an early flurry that saw the Mammoth score four times over the first 30 minutes while being limited to only eight shots on goal during that stretch.

“Over the years, we’ve been a team that’s been able to generate in different ways,” Utah captain Clayton Keller said. “Sometimes we’re going to have more shots than other nights. Quality over quantity sometimes and just bearing down on the looks that you do get. I think that’s the most important thing.”

MacKenzie Weegar and Dylan Guenther scored for Utah in the first period, with Guenther striking on a power play. Crouse followed in the second. He tipped in the puck at the 4:06 mark and then struck on a long shot between the circles at 9:48 to make it 4-0.

Carter Hart stayed on the ice for the Golden Knights through all three periods despite giving up four goals by the midway point of the second.

“I have full faith in him. He wants to work through it,” Vegas coach John Tortorella said. “He has an attitude and a mental toughness about him at that position. He’ll be fine.”

Karel Vejmelka made 29 saves for the Mammoth, who had only 12 shots on goal against Hart. Keller had two assists for the first multi-point game of his playoff career.

Jack Eichel got Vegas on the board with 6:40 left in the second. Nic Dowd made it 4-2 with 3:08 left in the third.

Vegas went 0 of 4 on the power play while Utah converted its lone opportunity.

“I think (Vejmelka) was rock solid and made keys saves at key moments on the PK,” Mammoth coach Andre Tourigny said. “We had a great performance from our special teams.”

Weegar opened the scoring with 7:01 left in the first, tracking down a feed from Liam O’Brien and blasting the puck between the circles.

Guenther converted on a power play with 2:14 to go in the period on a slap shot from the top of the left circle.

AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9) scores against Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) during the second period of Game 3 of the first round in an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series, Friday, April 24, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) blocks a shot by Vegas Golden Knights center Brett Howden (21) during the second period of Game 3 of the first round in an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series, Friday, April 24, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

Utah Mammoth center Logan Cooley (92) fights with Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9) during the first period of Game 3 of the first round in an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series, Friday, April 24, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

Utah Mammoth center Clayton Keller (9) celebrates a goal with teammates against the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period of Game 3 of the first round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series, Friday, April 24, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

Utah Mammoth celebrate after a goal against the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period of Game 3 of the first round in a NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series, Friday, April 24, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Athletics got off to a fast start against Texas on Friday night, hitting three solo home runs in the first inning and adding two later in their 8-1 win over the Rangers.

Nick Kurtz, Carlos Cortes and Tyler Soderstrom each hit a ball over the outfield wall — just seven pitches into the game – all off 15-season veteran Nathan Eovaldi.

“Three runs on the board is huge,” said Cortes, who also homered off Eovaldi in the fifth with two runners on. “That guy’s a legend, great pitcher. I just felt good today. Excited to come through in some big situations.”

Kurtz launched Eovaldi’s first-pitch fastball over the right-field wall. Cortes sent another shot to right, and Tyler Soderstrom homered on the first pitch he saw to straight-away center.

“It’s kind of great from pitch one to be able to put a score up on the board,” Kurtz said. “The boys followed up that with two more. It’s pretty cool. We usually get a heater, so I was looking for it, and he threw it in a place where I could hit it.”

It was the first time in franchise history the A’s homered three times in the top of the first inning, according to Elias and Sarah Langs. The last time they homered three times in the first came at home on July 8 last season against the Atlanta Braves.

Eovaldi gave up at least three homers in an inning for the fourth time in 15 big league seasons, the first time since he came to Texas in 2023. He allowed a career-high five to Houston in May 2022, while with the Boston Red Sox.

The 36-year-old right-hander had no trouble with the Athletics’ batting order when he faced them on April 13 in California, shutting them out over seven innings on three hits in an 8-1 Rangers victory. He entered Friday with a career ERA against the A’s of 2.54, his lowest against any opponent he has faced at least six times.

“We’ve had our struggles against him,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said. “We came out tonight and got some balls up in the zone. It’s obviously a great start when your leadoff guy hits a homer. There’s a lot of excitement, a lot of momentum.”

“Early on they were really on top of the fastball,” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said. “First pitch of the game, obviously, their game plan was on the attack, and they executed it.”

Eovaldi's ERA is 5.79 through six starts after compiling a career-best 1.73 last season in 22 starts. He said he's struggling with pitch location.

“Lately I’ve just been middle-middle, middle-away, middle-in," he said.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb

Athletics' Zack Gelof is greeted in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run off Texas Rangers pitcher Cal Quantrill during the ninth inning of a baseball game Friday, April 24, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Athletics' Carlos Cortes, left, is greeted by Jacob Wilson after hitting a solo home run off Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, April 24, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Athletics' Nick Kurtz reacts after hitting a solo home run on the first pitch of the game against Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi during a baseball game Friday, April 24, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Athletics' Tyler Soderstrom swings at a pitch from Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi while connecting on a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, April 24, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi throws to the Athletics during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, April 24, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Athletics' Carlos Cortes reacts while running the bases after hitting a solo home run off Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, April 24, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Athletics' Nick Kurtz runs to the dugout after hitting a leadoff home run on the first pitch from Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, April 24, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)