SALT LAKE CITY (Interstat) — The Dallas Stars built a three-goal first-period lead and held on to defeat the Utah Mammoth 3-2 in an NHL game Saturday night at Delta Center. Wyatt Johnston, Matt Duchene and Thomas Harley all scored in the opening frame for Dallas, which chased Utah goaltender Karel Vejmelka after he allowed three goals on 12 shots. The Mammoth’s Kailer Yamamoto scored twice, including a late third-period goal, but Utah could not complete the comeback before a crowd of 12,478. Casey DeSmith made 12 saves for the win. The Stars (32-23) won their third straight, while the Mammoth fell to 28-27.

SALT LAKE CITY (Interstat) — A first-period offensive explosion proved sufficient for the Dallas Stars, who withstood a late push to defeat the Utah Mammoth 3-2 in a tightly contested National Hockey League game Saturday night at Delta Center. The Stars, capitalizing on early momentum and a dominant opening frame, built a three-goal lead and then leaned on a sturdy defensive structure and timely goaltending to secure the road victory before an announced crowd of 12,478. The win improved Dallas to 32-23 on the season, while Utah fell to 28-27. Dallas set the tone from the opening faceoff, dictating play and peppering Utah goaltender Karel Vejmelka with chances. The pressure paid off at the 2:11 mark when defenseman Thomas Harley collected a loose puck and fired a wrist shot past Vejmelka for his fourth goal of the season, with assists to Mavrik Bourque and captain Jamie Benn. The Stars continued to press, and their efforts were rewarded again during a power play. With Utah’s Jack McBain serving a delay of game penalty for clearing the puck over the glass, Dallas worked the puck around the perimeter. Mikko Rantanen’s shot from the point was deftly tipped in front by Wyatt Johnston, beating Vejmelka at 7:42 for Johnston’s team-leading 29th goal of the campaign. Rantanen and defenseman Miro Heiskanen recorded the assists. Dallas wasn’t finished in the period. Just over eight minutes later, at 16:37, veteran center Matt Duchene extended the lead to three. After a Utah turnover in the neutral zone, Sam Steel carried the puck into the Mammoth zone and dished to Benn, who found Duchene streaking into the slot. Duchene made no mistake with his wrist shot for his ninth goal of the year. Utah, struggling to generate offense against a structured Dallas defense, finally broke through on a power play of its own. With Dallas’s Rantanen in the box for tripping, the Mammoth capitalized. JJ Peterka fed a cross-ice pass to Kailer Yamamoto, who snapped a quick wrist shot past Stars netminder Casey DeSmith at 10:23. The goal was initially challenged by Dallas for goaltender interference, but the call on the ice stood, resulting in a minor penalty against the Stars for an unsuccessful challenge. The second period saw a significant shift in momentum as Utah began to find its game. The Mammoth controlled much of the play, outshooting Dallas and creating several quality scoring chances. However, DeSmith was equal to the task, turning aside all 12 shots he faced in the middle frame to preserve the 3-1 lead. Vejmelka was also sharp at the other end, making several key stops to keep his team within striking distance, including multiple denials on Johnston and Heiskanen. A feisty sequence late in the period resulted in matching roughing minors to Utah’s McBain and Dallas’s Roope Hintz, but neither team could convert with the ensuing four-on-four play. The Mammoth’s persistent pressure finally yielded a reward in the third period, setting up a tense finish. At 18:41, with Utah pressing for a comeback, Yamamoto struck again for his second goal of the night. Peterka, from behind the net, found Barrett Hayton at the side of the goal, who immediately centered to Yamamoto for a one-timer that beat DeSmith cleanly. The goal brought Utah within one and energized the home crowd. Utah pulled Vejmelka for an extra attacker with just over a minute remaining, applying intense pressure in the Dallas zone. The Stars, however, blocked shots, cleared lanes, and won critical faceoffs to disrupt the Mammoth’s rhythm. A final flurry in the closing seconds was calmly handled by DeSmith and the Dallas defense, sealing the victory. DeSmith earned the win with 28 saves on 31 shots, while Vejmelka was tagged with the loss despite a strong 28-save performance on 31 shots. Yamamoto’s two-goal night led the Utah attack, with Peterka contributing two assists. For Dallas, Johnston’s goal and six shots on net paced the offense, while Benn’s two assists and Heiskanen’s steady play (one assist, five shots, three hits) were crucial factors. The game defied the pregame projection from National Statistical’s simulator, which had forecast a 4-1 Utah victory. However, Dallas entered as a slight favorite according to betting markets and statistical models, with National Statistical’s ELO system giving the Stars a 53.9 percent probability to win. The combined five goals went under the posted over/under line of 5.5. The victory extends Dallas’s recent strong form, having now won four of its last five games. The Stars will look to continue their momentum when they return home to host the Winnipeg Jets on Monday. Utah, which had won two straight and four of its last five coming into the contest, will aim to rebound when it hosts the Vancouver Canucks, also on Monday. The season series between Dallas and Utah now stands at 2-1 in favor of the Stars.

DALLAS (31-23-0) at UTAH (28-26-0) SALT LAKE CITY (Interstat) — The Dallas Stars and Utah Mammoth meet for the third and final time this regular season Saturday night at Delta Center, with the visitors looking to avenge a tight loss from two weeks ago and solidify their playoff positioning. The Stars (31-23-0) enter on a positive note, coming off a 5-4 shootout victory in Vegas on Thursday. Rookie forward Mavrik Bourque was the catalyst in that win, scoring two goals. He has three goals and an assist in his last five games and will be a focal point for Dallas’s attack. Utah (28-26-0), meanwhile, is looking to rebound after a 5-4 road loss to Carolina, also on Thursday. Winger Kailer Yamamoto was brilliant in defeat, posting two goals and an assist. He has been a driving force for the Mammoth, with three goals and two assists in his last three games played. The season series is split 1-1. Utah earned a 2-1 home win on Jan. 15, while Dallas secured a 4-3 victory in Texas back on Nov. 28. The Jan. 15 contest was a defensive struggle, suggesting another close matchup could be in store. Dallas has been inconsistent lately, going 5-5-0 in its last 10 games. Utah has been stronger over the same stretch, posting a 7-3-0 record, including a dominant 6-1 win over Toronto on Jan. 13. The Mammoth have also been strong on home ice, winning four of their last five at Delta Center. The game features a contrast in the standings. Dallas currently holds the first Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, eight points ahead of Utah, which sits just outside the playoff picture. A regulation win for the Mammoth would significantly close that gap. According to National Statistical’s game simulator, Utah is projected to win 4-1. The simulation highlights Utah’s recent home-ice form and Dallas’s occasional defensive lapses. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. MST at Delta Center. For Dallas, the game begins a brief two-game trip before returning home. Utah opens a two-game homestand before heading out on a lengthy six-game road trip in early March.