SALT LAKE CITY (Interstat) — Anton Lundell scored with 50.8 seconds remaining to lift the Florida Panthers to a 4-3 victory over the Utah Mammoth on Wednesday night at Delta Center. Sam Bennett led Florida with two goals and an assist, and Carter Verhaeghe added a goal and an assist. Dylan Guenther scored twice for Utah. The Panthers improved to 15-14. The Mammoth fell to 14-18.

SALT LAKE CITY (Interstat) — Anton Lundell scored with 50.8 seconds remaining in regulation, batting a loose puck out of mid-air and into the net to lift the Florida Panthers to a 4-3 victory over the Utah Mammoth on Wednesday night at Delta Center. The dramatic finish capped a back-and-forth contest and extended Florida’s point streak to four games as they opened a challenging four-game road trip. The Panthers improved to 15-14-0, while the Mammoth fell to 14-18-0. Sam Bennett was the offensive catalyst for Florida, registering two goals and an assist to continue his recent surge. Over his last three games, the center from Holland Landing, Ontario, has compiled seven points. His linemate, Carter Verhaeghe, also stayed hot with a goal and an assist, extending his personal point streak to seven games. Utah’s Dylan Guenther matched Bennett’s goal output with two of his own, but the Mammoth could not hold a third-period lead in front of a home crowd of 17,255. The game began at a frantic pace, with both teams trading chances. Utah struck first at the 11:23 mark of the opening period when Guenther collected a John Marino pass and snapped a wrist shot past Florida goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky for his 12th goal of the season. Florida answered late in the period. With just 43 seconds left, Verhaeghe finished a precise passing sequence, taking a feed from Sam Bennett and wiring a shot past Utah netminder Karel Vejmelka. Aaron Ekblad recorded the secondary assist on the play, which sent the teams to the first intermission tied 1-1. The second period featured a flurry of four goals in less than four minutes. Bennett gave Florida its first lead at the 2:40 mark, converting a setup from Evan Rodrigues and Niko Mikkola. The Panthers doubled their advantage just over three minutes later when Bennett struck again, this time finishing a play created by Verhaeghe to make it 3-1. The Mammoth responded swiftly. Just 13 seconds after Bennett’s second goal, Guenther netted his second of the night, jamming a backhand past Bobrovsky to cut the deficit to 3-2. Lawson Crouse and Marino assisted on the play that reignited the Utah bench. Utah completed the comeback and tied the game at 3-3 with 8:37 remaining in the second. Jack McBain, stationed in front of the net, deftly redirected a Sean Durzi point shot, with Ian Cole earning the secondary helper. The third period settled into a tighter, more defensive struggle. Both Bobrovsky and Vejmelka made key saves to preserve the tie. Bobrovsky finished with 27 saves on 30 shots to earn the win, while Vejmelka stopped 32 of 36 Florida attempts in the losing effort. The game appeared destined for overtime until the final minute. With the Panthers applying heavy pressure, a scramble ensued in front of the Utah net. The puck popped into the air, and Lundell, positioned to the left of the crease, swatted it home for his eighth goal of the season. Eetu Luostarinen and Sam Reinhart were credited with assists on the game-winner. Utah pulled Vejmelka for an extra attacker but could not generate a tying goal in the final minute. The game was relatively disciplined, with only five minor penalties called. Florida was assessed three infractions, while Utah had two. The Panthers’ penalty kill was perfect, nullifying both Mammoth power plays. Florida’s victory defied the pregame projections, which heavily favored the Panthers. National Statistical’s game simulator had projected a 3-2 Florida win, and its ELO system gave the Panthers a 65.1% probability of victory. The combined seven total goals went over the betting line of 5.5. The Panthers continue their road trip Thursday night against the Colorado Avalanche. The Mammoth look to rebound when they host the Seattle Kraken on Friday.

Preview: Panthers at Mammoth SALT LAKE CITY (Interstat) — Two teams looking to build momentum in the Western Conference playoff race will meet Wednesday when the Florida Panthers visit the Utah Mammoth at Delta Center. The Panthers (14-14-0) arrive after a 4-1 victory over the New York Islanders on Sunday, which halted a two-game skid. Florida has shown a Jekyll-and-Hyde tendency recently, following an 8-3 rout of Nashville with a 1-2 overtime loss to the same Predators just over a week later. Their offense, averaging 3.25 goals per game in their last eight contests, will be tested by a Utah squad seeking consistency. The Mammoth (14-16-0) are coming off a shutout loss, falling 2-0 in Calgary on Saturday. That defeat followed a dominant 7-0 win in Anaheim and a 4-1 victory in Vancouver, highlighting their unpredictable form. Utah has struggled at times to find offensive traction, having been held to one goal or fewer in four of their last ten games. A key matchup will feature Florida’s offensive catalyst against Utah’s defensive stalwart. Panthers forward Sam Reinhart enters on a hot streak, with 13 points (6 goals, 7 assists) in his last 10 games. He recorded a goal and an assist in Sunday’s win. For Utah, veteran defenseman Ian Cole provides a physical presence on the blue line. He logged a season-high seven hits in Friday’s win at Vancouver and contributed a goal and an assist in the 7-0 victory over Anaheim. Slowing Reinhart’s line will likely be a primary focus for Cole and the Mammoth defense. In net, Florida’s Daniil Tarasov made 20 saves for the win against the Islanders. Utah’s goaltending situation remains fluid, with the team allowing 16 goals over its last five games. This contest opens a three-game road trip for Florida, which heads to Colorado on Thursday. Utah begins a brief two-game homestand before embarking on a four-game East Coast swing starting Sunday in Pittsburgh. The Panthers won the only meeting between these franchises last season. Faceoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. MST.