Mammoth bounce back to beat the Sabres 4-1 to close trip

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — John Marino, Anders Lee and Kailer Yamamoto each had a goal and an assist to help the Utah Mammoth beat the Buffalo Sabres 4-1 on Saturday night.

Nick Schmaltz also scored, and Barrett Hayton had two assists.

Karel Vejmelka made 23 saves as the Mammoth bounced back from a 6-1 loss in Boston on Thursday night to win for the third time on a five-game trip.

Tage Thompson had a goal for the Sabres in their second straight loss at home. Colten Ellis stopped 26 shots.

Schmaltz and Lee scored 2:01 apart late in the second period to give the Mammoth a two-goal lead.

Thompson’s goal at 8:00 into the game was Buffalo’s first on the power play this season.

Yamamoto, making his season debut, tied it just past the midway point of the first period. Yamamoto entered the lineup in place of forward Michael Carcone, who is listed as week to week with an upper-body injury.

Schmaltz got his sixth goal in six games this season, and his fourth on the power play, when Cooley set him up at the left edge of the crease.

Marino’s goal at 1:45 into the third period also came on a power play.

Utah leads the NHL with 10 goals in 25 chances this season with the man-advantage. Buffalo ranks near the bottom in converting 1 of 18.

Mammoth: Host Toronto on Tuesday night.

Sabres: Host Florida on Monday to conclude a five-game homestand.

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

Utah Mammoth center Vincent Trocheck (16) takes a shot during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) makes a save during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Buffalo Sabres right wing Jack Quinn (22) falls to the ice during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Utah Mammoth Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Utah Mammoth center Nick Schmaltz (8) celebrates his goal with center Logan Cooley (92) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Buffalo Sabres left wing Zach Benson (6) skates in front of Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

CHICAGO (AP) — Jackson Blake and Jordan Martinook had a goal and an assist each and the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-2 on Saturday night.

Mark Jankowski, Sebastian Aho and Taylor Hall also scored for the defending Stanley Cup champions who won their fourth in a row and outplayed the Blackhawks, outshooting them 39-26 and winning the majority of the faceoffs.

Beginning with Jankowski’s breakaway score in the final minute of the first period, Carolina scored three goals in a span of 4:25. A short-handed goal by Aho and an even-strength goal by Blake within 1:19 of each other early in the second period gave Carolina a 3-0 lead.

Chicago’s Roman Kantserov scored his first NHL goal 4:40 into the second period, briefly drawing the Blackhawks within two goals. Hall’s goal 1:25 later gave Carolina a 4-1 lead. Martinook beat Spencer Knight on a slot backhand five minutes into the third period.

Oliver Moore scored Chicago’s second goal with 5:46 to play.

Lightly-tested Brandon Bussi stopped 24 shots for Carolina in picking up his second win in four starts. Knight made 34 saves for the Blackhawks, and fell to 1-3.

It was the fifth loss in six games for Chicago. The game was the first of two for the Blackhawks without center Frank Nazar, suspended for an illegal check to New York Islander Bo Horvat’s head on Thursday.

Carolina is at Philadelphia on Sunday night.

Chicago plays the second of seven straight games at home against Pittsburgh on Tuesday night.

__

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

Carolina Hurricanes' Mark Jankowski (77) scores a goal against Chicago Blackhawks goalie Spencer Knight (30) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Carolina Hurricanes goalie Brandon Bussi misses a goal scored by Chicago Blackhawks' Roman Kantserov during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Chicago Blackhawks' Roman Kantserov (80) celebrates with teammate Anton Frondell (16) after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Chicago Blackhawks goalie Spencer Knight misses a goal scored by Carolina Hurricanes' Jackson Blake during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)