Dmitri Simashev scored twice as Utah turned a 28-shot night into a 5-4 victory over the Lightning.
Utah Mammoth held off Tampa Bay 5-4, making its 28 shots count against a Lightning side that put 32 on net. Dmitri Simashev supplied the biggest scoring punch with two goals on three shots, finishing plus-2 with two hits. Anders Lee added a goal on four shots and was plus-2 with two hits, while Kailer Yamamoto scored on four shots, finished plus-3 and recorded two hits. Dylan Guenther scored Utah’s power-play goal, finishing with one goal, three shots and one hit; the teams each scored once on the power play, and Utah out-hit Tampa 26-23. Vincent Trocheck assisted on two goals for two points, with two shots and a plus-2, while Tampa’s Nikita Kucherov had one assist and three shots, and Pontus Holmberg and Conor Geekie each scored. Karel Vejmelka stopped 29 of 32 shots for an .875 save percentage, while Dennis Hildeby made 23 saves on 28 shots for an .821 mark as Utah’s five goals proved decisive.
Key Performers
Dmitri Simashev, Utah: 2 goals, 2 points, 3 shots, +2, 2 hits. Kailer Yamamoto, Utah: 1 goal, 1 point, 4 shots, +3, 2 hits. Vincent Trocheck, Utah: 2 assists, 2 points, 2 shots, +2.
Standings Impact
Utah improves to 8-4-0 and 16 points. Tampa Bay moves to 7-4-0 and stays at 14 points.
DYMA Insight
Tampa Bay entered ranked sixth in the DYMA Power Index, with Utah 14th, but the Mammoth won despite being outshot 32-28. Both teams scored once on the power play; Utah’s edge came in finishing, with five goals to Tampa’s four.