SALT LAKE CITY (Interstat) — John Marino scored the tiebreaking goal early in the third period and added an assist Thursday night, leading the Utah Mammoth to a 2-1 NHL victory over the Dallas Stars at Delta Center. Marino’s wrist shot at 4:03 broke a 1-1 deadlock. He also assisted on Nick Schmaltz’s second-period goal. Mikko Rantanen scored for Dallas in the third. Karel Vejmelka made 26 saves for Utah, which won for the fifth time in six games before an announced crowd of 12,478. The Mammoth improved to 24-24. The Stars fell to 27-21.

SALT LAKE CITY (Interstat) — John Marino broke a third-period tie and the Utah Mammoth continued their strong January run with a 2-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Thursday night at Delta Center. Marino’s wrist shot at the 4:03 mark of the final frame, assisted by Nick Schmaltz, provided the decisive goal as Utah improved to 5-1-0 in its last six games. The defenseman also assisted on Schmaltz’s second-period goal, finishing with a goal and an assist. The win pushed the Mammoth back to .500 at 24-24-0, while the Stars fell to 27-21-0. Utah goaltender Karel Vejmelka was instrumental in the victory, turning aside 26 of 27 Dallas shots. His counterpart, Jake Oettinger, made 36 saves in a losing effort for the Stars. The game was a tight-checking, low-event affair that saw both teams struggle to generate sustained offense for long stretches. The first period passed without a goal despite a combined 23 shots, with Vejmelka and Oettinger both making key stops to keep the game scoreless. Utah broke through late in the second period. With just 1:07 remaining before the intermission, Schmaltz redirected a John Marino point shot past Oettinger for his 17th goal of the season. Clayton Keller earned the secondary assist on the play, giving the Mammoth a 1-0 lead heading into the third. Dallas responded early in the final period. Just over six minutes in, Mikko Rantanen collected a Wyatt Johnston pass and fired a wrist shot past Vejmelka for his 19th goal, tying the game at 1-1. Jason Robertson recorded the other assist. The tie was short-lived. Less than two minutes after Rantanen’s equalizer, Marino took a return feed from Schmaltz at the right point and wired a shot through traffic that found the back of the net for his fourth goal of the year, restoring Utah’s lead for good. The Stars pressed for another equalizer, pulling Oettinger for an extra attacker with over two minutes to play, but the Mammoth defense, led by physical play from Brandon Tanev and Ian Cole, held firm. Utah blocked 22 shots as a team and limited Dallas’s high-danger chances down the stretch. The game was not without its chippy moments. Dallas’s Roope Hintz was called for slashing in the first period, and Matt Duchene took a tripping penalty in the third. Utah’s J.J. Peterka was cited for holding, while Barrett Hayton was penalized for hooking in the third period. Both teams also took a coincidental minor for roughing and too many men in the second period. The victory marked a measure of revenge for Utah, which lost 4-3 to the Stars in Dallas on Nov. 28 in the only previous meeting between the teams this season. The Mammoth have now won five of their last six overall, a surge that has pulled them even in the standings after a inconsistent first half. Dallas, which entered the game as a pregame favorite, saw a two-game winning streak snapped. The Stars had defeated Los Angeles and Anaheim in California earlier in the week. The low-scoring outcome defied pregame projections, as the total of three goals fell well under the over/under line of 5.5. The announced attendance at Delta Center was 12,478. Utah looks to continue its momentum when it hosts the Seattle Kraken on Saturday. Dallas returns home to face the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday. The two teams will meet again in Salt Lake City on Jan. 31.

Preview: Stars Look to Continue Momentum Against Mammoth SALT LAKE CITY (Interstat) — The Dallas Stars, riding a wave of recent road success, will face the Utah Mammoth at Delta Center on Thursday night in a Western Conference matchup. Dallas (27-19-0) arrives after a convincing 3-1 victory at Los Angeles on Monday, which snapped a four-game skid. Goaltender Jake Oettinger, a key player to watch, stopped 24 of 25 shots in that win. His performance will be critical as he seeks consistency, having allowed four goals in three of his five starts prior to the Kings game. Utah (22-24-0) looks to rebound from a 3-2 overtime loss to Columbus at home on Sunday. The Mammoth had won three straight prior to that defeat. Forward Clayton Keller, Utah’s offensive catalyst, has been productive with nine assists in his last seven games, including a three-assist night in a win over St. Louis on Jan. 9. The Stars hold the upper hand in the season series, having edged the Mammoth 4-3 in Dallas on Nov. 28. In the standings, Dallas sits in a more secure playoff position, while Utah is looking to climb back into the race. Dallas has shown potency on the road lately, with wins in Washington and Los Angeles during its current trip. Beyond Oettinger, forwards Wyatt Johnston and Sam Steel, who combined for three points against the Kings, will be relied upon for offense. Utah’s success at Delta Center has been mixed, with a 2-2-0 record in its last four home games. Keller’s playmaking, alongside contributions from defenseman Mikhail Sergachev, who scored against Columbus, will be vital against a Dallas team allowing just one goal in its last outing. The game marks the start of a pivotal homestand for Utah, which hosts Seattle on Saturday. Dallas continues a four-game road swing before returning home Sunday to face Tampa Bay. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. MST.