For two periods, Utah looked ready to carry its perfect start through Madison Square Garden. Then the Rangers turned a 1-1 deadlock into a 4-2 win, scoring three times in the third to hand the Mammoth their first loss of the season.
Vladislav Gavrikov opened the scoring late in the first, threading a shot through traffic. Utah answered on Nick Schmaltz’s power-play rebound in the second, and the teams went to the final frame level. The tension rose early: Will Cuylle was assessed a minor boarding penalty on Dylan Guenther, and Jack McBain fought Cuylle moments later. Guenther was not injured, but the hit and the penalty decision drew scrutiny in Utah coverage.
Gabe Perreault broke the tie at 3:15, pouncing on a rebound after Karel Vejmelka stopped Alexis Lafrenière’s shot. The goal changed the game’s rhythm. J.T. Miller extended New York’s lead at 12:47, redirecting Gavrikov’s shot, but Andrew Peeke answered just over two minutes later to pull Utah within one.
That left the Rangers with a late test—and Igor Shesterkin supplied the punctuation. After making 28 saves, he helped start the play that ended with Eeli Tolvanen’s empty-net goal at 18:45. It gave Shesterkin an assist just days after he became the first goalie to score in Rangers history.
Utah outshot New York 30-22 and pressed in the third, but the Rangers finished the chances that mattered. The Mammoth leave New York with a first loss and a pointed reminder from coach André Tourigny: missed reloads and forced plays can turn a close game into a chase.