Author: Sports Radio Service

Shorthanded Spartans drop contest to UNLV 76-62

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San Jose State Spartans Melvin Bell Jr scored a career high 22 points against the UNLV Runnin Rebels at Provident Union Event Center at San Jose on Sat Jan 17, 2026 (SJSU photo)

By Ryan Hannagan

San Jose — UNLV pulled away late to defeat shorthanded San Jose State 76-62 on Saturday afternoon, capitalizing on its depth and timely scoring runs to secure a Mountain West victory.

The Spartans dressed just seven players and were without leading scorer Colby Garland, who remains sidelined with a concussion. San Jose State also missed Ben Roseborough, Javaughn Hannah, Yaphet Moundhi and Jermaine Washington, leaving the Spartans thin against a UNLV team that entered the game favored.

Despite the limitations, San Jose State (6-12, 1-6 Mountain West) showed early resilience, trading baskets with the Rebels before UNLV began to find rhythm offensively. A Rebel run midway through the first half pushed the lead to eight, but the Spartans responded with a 9-1 surge to tie the game at 14.

San Jose State relied heavily on its interior offense in the opening half, drawing fouls and converting at the free throw line as perimeter shots failed to fall consistently. The Spartans briefly regained the lead at 20-19 with 8:23 remaining, but UNLV answered with a decisive 16-5 run to seize control.

Adrian Myers provided a spark late in the half, knocking down a 3-pointer and converting a pair of free throws to pull the Spartans within four. UNLV closed the half on another run and took a 40-31 lead into the locker room.

The Rebels opened the second half with efficient shooting, extending their advantage, but San Jose State adjusted offensively and found success from beyond the arc. A strong stretch of perimeter shooting cut the deficit to three and briefly swung momentum.

As the half progressed, the Spartans balanced inside scoring with perimeter looks, but UNLV maintained a cushion for much of the second half. Each San Jose State push was met with a response from the Rebels, who repeatedly halted comeback attempts.

Fatigue eventually set in for the undermanned Spartans, and UNLV pulled away in the closing minutes to secure the 76-62 win.

UNLV improved to 9-8 overall and 4-2 in conference play, while San Jose State fell to 6-12 overall and 1-6 in Mountain West action.

Cal Bears game wrap: Bears barely hold on in traumatic thriller for miraculous 84-78 win over #14 UNC:

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Cal Bears forward Lee Dort (left) throws down against UNC Tar Heels forward Caleb Wilson (8) in the first half at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley on Sat Jan 17, 2026 (AP News photo)

#14 North Carolina Tar Heels 78 (14-4 Overall; 2-4 ACC)

California Golden Bears 84 (14-5 Overall; 2-4 ACC)

Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026

Haas Pavilion, Berkeley, California

By Stephen Ruderman

BERKELEY–The Bears nearly blew a 19-point lead, but at the end they came out on top in a wild and emotional thriller with a nevertheless miraculous 84-78 win over the 14th-ranked UNC Tar Heels.

Another large crowd packed into Haas Pavilion on this Saturday afternoon to see the Bears take on another ranked team. Today, it was the 14th-ranked UNC Tar Heels. Cal came into today’s game 1-4 in ACC play.

The Bears got the crowd into the game right away. Lee Dort opened the scoring with a layup and an alleyoop dunk, and John Camden hit a three to give Cal a 7-0 start.

Derek Dixon hit a three to put UNC on the board, and remind everyone that they were here to play. Dixon’s three also reminded everybody that UNC had a large contingency of fans ready to make a lot of noise as well. Dai Dai Ames hit a three to make it 10-3, but UNC scored seven unanswered points to tie the game at 10-10.

The Bears responded with an impressive 19-5 run to open up a 29-15 lead. However, the Tar Heels came charging right back with an 11-2 run to close Cal’s lead to 31-26 with 6:51 left in the first half.

Caleb Wilson went for a jumper to try and cut Cal’s lead to just three, but he missed, which spurred a monumental momentum shift for the Bears. Chris Bell hit a three to make it 34-26, and from there, the Bears went on a roll.

Camden made a layup, and was fouled. He was sent to the line, where he made his shot, and Cal now led 37-26. Seth Trimble was fouled, and hit his second of two shots from the line to make it 37-27.

Justin Pippen then hit a three to make it 40-27. Trimble hit a jumper to make it 40-29, but every time UNC was able to score two, Cal followed it up with a three. That sequence was capped off with a three by Pippen to open Cal’s lead to 52-35.

Zayden High missed a three for UNC, which killed the drill. Dai Dai Ames then hit a jumper for two, and Dixon got a layup in. Cal led 54-37 at the half.

The Bears dominated the final six minutes and 17 seconds of the first half, and closed out the half with a 23-11 run. The question was then whether Cal could carry the momentum through the layover, and into the second half. While the Bears had a rather-comfortable lead, they were still up against the 14th-ranked team in the country, and as a result their lead was far from safe.

Pippen fired the opening salvo with a dunk to make it 56-37, and Cal got their lead to 20 at 63-43. However, UNC got a little bit of momentum, back, and scored seven unanswered points to close it to 63-50. Camden threw a bad pass, which resulted in a turnover, but Wilson was thrown out of bounds. Montas Koncanas then hit a three to get the Bears back on track.

The Bears had regained the momentum, and an Aimes jumper put the Bears back ahead by 19 at 74-55 with 8:26 to go.

Then suddenly, everything changed. Wilson and Trimble were both fouled, and both hit each of their two shots from the line. Dixon then hit a three to cut Cal’s lead to 12, which was their slimmest since the first half.

It got even worse. Jayden Young hit a three to cut it to 74-65, and the sea of light blue that made its way all the way from North Carolina was on fire. After Wilson was fouled and sent to the line, UNC fans were chanting so loud, it felt like a literal UNC home game.

Caleb hit one of two from the line, and Pippen gave Cal a brief reprieve with a three to get their lead back to 11. Unfortunately, that wouldn’t last long. Henri Veesaar threw down an alleyoop dunk; Dixon hit a three and Jaydon Young was fouled and hit both shots from the line.

It was now just a four-point game at 77-73, and while the Bears still had the lead, the Tar Heels were in complete control. UNC showed throughout this entire comeback why they were the 14th highest-ranked team in the country, and that they were the clearly-superior team in this game. Even with three minutes still remaining, the Bears were doing everything they could to run down the clock.

Pippen hit a jumper to make it 79-73 with 2:52 to go. Neither team scored in their next position, and then the Bears were hit with a shot clock violation.

Trimble was fouled by Dort with 1:47 to go, which sent the former to the line. Trimble hit both, and it was back to a four-point game at 79-75.

Both teams missed shots on their next possessions. After Trimble missed a jumper, there was a scramble for the ball, but Dort was able to hold onto it to give Cal the possession. Dort was fouled by Young, so the Bears threw the ball back in. Pippen got the ball, but he too was fouled by Young. Since that was UNC’s seventh team foul, Pippen went to the line with 57 seconds left.

Pippen hit both shots from the line, but the Bears were still not out of the woods. Trimble missed a three for UNC. Dort was then fouled, and unable to hit his first shot from the line. Veesaar also missed a three.

Veesaar took another shot from beyond the arc with 19 seconds left, and it was back to a three-point game at 81-78. All the Tar Heels had to do was foul; hope whoever was fouled misses his first shot; and then hit a three to tie it.

Veesaar fouled Pippen with 10 seconds left, but Pippen hit both shots, to make it 83-78, and the Bears were now in good shape. Wilson missed a three, and that pretty much did it. Dort was fouled, and hit a three throw for the hell of it.

Dort missed his second free throw, but who cared? Because someway, somehow, the Bears miraculously held on for a big 84-78 upset over the 14th highest-ranked team in the country.

It was really three guys who pulled this one off for the Bears. John Camden led the scoring with 20 points, and Dai Dai Ames was right behind him with 19.

While Justin Pippen was tied with Ames for the second-most points with 19, Pippen was easily the player of the game on the offensive side, and quite possibly, the player of the game entirely. Pippen was 5-for-8 in field goals; 3-for-4 from beyond the arc; and a perfect 6-for-6 from the line. He also had four rebounds and five assists.

On the defensive side, it was Lee Dort, who had 12 rebounds, 10 of them on defense. Dort also scored seven points, and threw in a pair of assists for good measure.

This is the Bears’ second win this season against a Top 25 team. The Bears are now 2-4 in ACC play, and 14-5 overall.

The Bears will have the next week off, and then they will head across the bay to Palo Alto to take on their hated rivals in all facets of life, the Stanford Cardinal, next Saturday. Afterwards, they will head to Florida for a pair of games: Wednesday, Jan. 28 in Tallahassee, against Seminoles; and Saturday, Jan. 31, just west of Miami, in Coral Gables, against the Miami Hurricanes.

Tipoff at Maples Pavilion next Saturday will be at 5 p.m.

Sacramento Kings podcast Tony Harvey: Kings on four game win streak host Trail Blazers Sunday

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Sacramento Kings center Dylan Cardwell (32) goes up for the dunk against the Washington Wizards at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Fri Jan 17, 2026 (AP News photo)

Sacramento Kings podcast Tony Harvey:

#1 How will Domantas Sabonis’ availability and impact affect the Kings’ frontcourt against the Trail Blazers? Sabonis has been returning from a knee issue and remains a key inside presence for Sacramento.

#2 Can Russell Westbrook orchestrate the Kings’ offense efficiently against Portland’s defense, especially in pick-and-roll situations? Westbrook is the primary playmaker for Sacramento.

#3 Will DeMar DeRozan’s scoring experience give the Kings an edge against a young Blazers roster? DeRozan has been one of Sacramento’s leading scorers.

#4 What role will Malik Monk play in this matchup — can he stretch the floor and provide secondary scoring behind the starters? Monk has shown scoring bursts for Sacramento.

#5 The Kings look to continue their five game win streak against the Trail Blazers Sunday night at Golden 1 what if you can point a few things out changed about the Kings to get on this winning streak?

Join Tony Harvey for the Sacramento Kings podcasts each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in. 

San Jose Sharks podcast Mary Lisa: Red Wings third period rally cooks Sharks in 4-2 loss Friday

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Detroit Red Wings right wing Alex DeBrincat (left), celebrates with center Dylan Larkin, left wing James Van Reimsdyk after scoring against the San Jose Sharks in the third period at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Fri Jan 16, 2026 (AP News photo)

San Jose Sharks podcast Mary Lisa:

#1 How did Macklin Celebrini impact the Sharks’ offense against the Red Wings, and how did the Red Wings defend Celebrini to get the win Friday night?

#2 What role did Will Smith play in his return from injury, and how did his performance influence San Jose’s scoring against Detroit?

#3 Did Collin Graf’s goal and overall play help shift momentum for the Sharks at any point, and how effective was he in generating offensive pressure?

#4 How did goaltending by Yaroslav Askarov affect the Sharks’ ability to stay competitive in the game against Detroit’s attack?

#5 Which Sharks defenseman John Klingberg, Dmitry Orlov, Mario Ferraro, and how did their defensive effort play out despite the loss to Detroit.

Mary Lisa does the San Jose Sharks podcasts each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Kings Push Winning Streak to Four With 128-115 Win Over Wizards

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Maxime Raynaud #42 of the Sacramento Kings, Dylan Cardwell #32, and Nique Clifford #5 stand on the court after the game against the Washington Wizards at Golden 1 Center on January 16, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Mandatory Photo Credit: Eakin Howard/Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO — Amid what was seemingly becoming a season where the Kings appeared to be embracing a tank for a top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, the Kings won three straight games coming into Friday’s matchup against the Washington Wizards. On Friday, the Kings continued their winning ways, defeating the Wizards 128-115.

In the first quarter, the Kings jumped out to an early lead as the offense started the game firing on all cylinders. The Kings outscored the Wizards 41-22 in the first quarter, as the offense came from every corner of the Kings bench.

Domantas Sabonis, who had been injured the past 27 games, made his return to the Kings, checking in at the 5:11 mark of the first quarter. It was Sabonis’ first time coming off the bench since 2021, and he recorded six points and four rebounds in his first minutes back in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Kings and Wizards flipped from the first-quarter performance, as the Wizards outscored the Kings 39-26 in the quarter. The Kings’ 19-point lead coming into the quarter evaporated as they took a six-point lead into halftime, 67-61. The Kings let the intensity on the defensive end falter, and it led to the Wizards having their way on the offensive end. The Kings had three double-digit scorers in the first half, as DeMar DeRozan had 10 points, Precious Achiuwa had 14, and Russell Westbrook added 11 in the first half.

In the third quarter, the Kings flipped the script back on the Wizards and took back control of the game after struggling before halftime. The Kings outscored the Wizards 34-23 in the third quarter, as Russell Westbrook paced the Kings with nine points in the quarter. The Kings took a 17-point advantage, 101-84, into the fourth quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the Kings kept the Wizards at arm’s length to finish them off with the final of 128-115. The Wizards outscored the Kings 31-27 in the fourth quarter, but the Kings still defeated the Wizards by double digits. The Kings’ fourth win in a row has certainly surprised Sacramento fans as they look to continue their hot play. Russell Westbrook led the Kings in the victory with 26 points, while Domantas Sabonis had 13 points and six rebounds in his return.

The young guys in Sacramento have caught an infectious energy that has captured the fans’ attention and love at the Golden 1 Center.

After the game, Doug Christie spoke to the energy and the way the young guys have played, and how the city has attached to that.

“They’re every pillar that we talk about when I talk about playing to a standard — multiple efforts on the defensive end, they communicate at a high level, and they have fun,” Doug Christie said after the game. “I’ve told you guys many times this game is about joy, and it swells my heart to watch them compete that way because it is not always going to go great, but it’ll never be from a lack of them getting at it, that’s for sure.”

Up next: The Sacramento Kings will stay home to take on the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday at 6 p.m. PST.

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in. 

San Jose Sharks podcast Lincoln Juarez: Did Red Wings catch Sharks defense flatfooted on Friday?

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Detroit Red Wings right wing Alex DeBrincat (93) shoots against the San Jose Sharks Dimitry Orlov (9) in the first period at Little Caesars Pizza Arena in Detroit on Fri Jan 16, 2026 (AP News photo)

San Jose Sharks podcast Lincoln Juarez:

#1 How did Macklin Celebrini impact the Sharks’ offense against the Red Wings, and how did the Red Wings defend Celebrini to get the win Friday night?

#2 What role did Will Smith play in his return from injury, and how did his performance influence San Jose’s scoring against Detroit?

#3 Did Collin Graf’s goal and overall play help shift momentum for the Sharks at any point, and how effective was he in generating offensive pressure?

#4 How did goaltending by Yaroslav Askarov affect the Sharks’ ability to stay competitive in the game against Detroit’s attack?

#5 Which Sharks defenseman John Klingberg, Dmitry Orlov, Mario Ferraro, and how did their defensive effort play out despite the loss to Detroit.

Lincoln Juarez does the San Jose Sharks podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Barracuda fall to Roadrunners 4-2 to start roadtrip

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San Jose Barracuda vs Tucson Roadrunners on Friday January 16th at Tucson Convention Center Arena (via tucson roadrunners/flickr)

By Madison Montez

The San Jose Barracuda lost by a two goal margin to the Tucson Roadrunners at the Tucson Convention Center 4-2 on Friday night.

In the first period after a goal was overturned, the Roadrunners were the first to get on the board. Miko Matikka, who scored his third of the season, gave his team the first lead of the night. With three seconds left on their first powerplay opportunity, Kaper Halttunen scored his fourth powerplay goal to tie the game at one to one.

In second period action, Egor Afanasyev winning a puck battle in the offensive zone, set up Ethan Cardwell to help the Barracuda take their first lead of the game, two to one. Cardwell with his seventh of the season. Ricocheting off the shot by Cameron Hebig, Tucson tied the game at two to two in the second period.

In the third period the Roadrunners offense beating Carriere on the far side, Austin Poganski scored his ninth of the season to give Tucson the lead for the second time this game. Ben McCartney put the cherry on top, scoring an empty net goal with 1 minute and 30 seconds left.

After the first period of play, Tucson outshot San Jose 7-6. After the second period of play, San Jose took the lead and outshot Tucson 12-9. And to end the game, both teams shot an even nine shots.

Special Teams:

Both teams had early chances to show their special teams, San Jose taking advantage of their first powerplay opportunity. Coming into Friday night’s game, San Jose came in second on the powerplay and second to last on the penalty kill. For Tucson, they came into Friday night’s game, seventh on the powerplay and sixth on the penalty kill. San Jose went 1 for 4 while Tucson went 0 for 1.

Goalies:

For San Jose, Gabriel Carriere got the start and for Tucson, Matthew Villalta got the start. Making 21 saves on 24 shots, Carriere recorded the loss, his record now moves to 9-7-3-1. Making 25 saves on 27 shots Villalta recorded the, his record now moves to 12-5-0-1.

THREE STARS OF THE GAME:

  1. Austin Poganski
  2. Cameron Hebig
  3. Miko Matikka

The Barracuda will be back in action Saturday, wrapping up a two game series against this Tucson team with a 7:00pm PT faceoff. The next time these two teams will face off is in March.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Warriors owner could buy the Padres and move them out of San Diego?

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Could the San Diego Padres move out of San Diego and out of Petco Park as the team goes up for sale. The Padres most likely will try and sell to someone who will keep the Padres in San Diego. (photo by Tripadvisor)

Warriors owners could buy the Padres and move them out of San Diego?

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

In November, the Padres’ ownership had hired an investment bank to explore the sale of the team. The majority owner of the Golden State Warriors, Joe Lacob, had been interested in buying a Major League team, particularly the Oakland A’s, but could not because the current owner, John  Fisher, would not sell. Looks like Lacob is interested in buying the San Diego Padres. Some are saying he will buy the Padres and then move the team from San Diego to another city. Some A’s fans (not the ones in Sacramento who are temporary fans, just like the team) are speculating that the city could be Oakland.

The five most important questions:

 1-Could Joe Lacob buy the Padres? A: Yes. Of course, he would make an attractive offer in the billions, so there is a very good possibility he could buy the Padres.

2. Would the purchase of the San Diego Padres be accepted?  A: Maybe. Major League Baseball (MLB) teams will need approval from the other owners. Usually, it requires a super majority, for example, 23 out of 30. As part of background checks, the owner-to-be will also be vetted to ensure they meet financial requirements and other criteria. Lacob, the majority owner of the Golden State Warriors, an NBA team, was recently valued by FORBES at $11 Billion, which is more than the 49ers’ $8 billion and the Giants’ $4 billion.

3. Could Mr.Lacob then move the Padres out of San Diego?   A-Not Likely  Lacob needs the other league’s teams’ approval (the Padres are in the National League; if he moves them to an American League city, what then).  You need a new stadium, or move to a city with an MLB-quality stadium ready for play with MLB  capacity, with a good media market and a good fan base.

4-Commissioner’s Office. A-Don’t know. It will play a big part in all of this. There will be significant relocation fees paid by Lacob to existing teams in the new territory, all while navigating territorial rules and the Commissioner’s office’s usual politics.

5-The San Francisco Giants. (Who knows?)In the case of Mr.Lacob, if he wants to relocate the Padres to Oakland. The Giants have territorial rights in San José, but not Oakland. It sounds easy, but it is not; these things tend to take on a “life of their own”. If you live in the Bay Area, I do not have to tell you about our third-largest city, most famous for losing three pro-franchises in the last decade.

Seems impossible for this to happen. But maybe, just maybe, Joe Lacob’s pipe dream is to do the impossible.

Quote: It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” – Walt Disney

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874

From the second you step in the front door, the sounds of Latin America will gently seduce your ears and continue as you relax outdoors with your favorite cocktail enjoying the view. The wonderful flavors and aromas of our cuisine will not disappoint.

We use only the finest, freshest, local ingredients in every dish and every dish is prepared to order. Enjoy live mariachi music weekly and on special occasions, catch balet folklorico dance performances among other live entertainment. Come visit us and have a great time! Enjoy fast, friendly service, fantastic food & cocktails, music and allow us to share our beautiful Mexican heritage with you.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant at 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874.

San Jose Sharks podcast Len Shapiro: Sharks open road trip against Capitals in amazing fashion; First of 4 game trip for SJ

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San Jose Sharks goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic (33) puts a stop on the Washington Capitals shot in the first period at the Capital Center in Washington DC on Thu Jan 15, 2026 (AP News photo)

San Jose podcast with Len Shapiro:

#1 Collin Graf had a goal and an assist in that big second-period push — what clicked for Graf and the line in that 2:46 stretch to energize the team?

#2 Pavol Regenda’s goal proved to be the eventual game-winner — can you talk about how Regenda and Macklin Celebrini connected on that play and what that means for Regenda’s confidence going forward?

#3 Alex Nedeljkovic (goaltender): Nedeljkovic made 21 saves in a tight road game — how did Nedeljkovic stay mentally sharp during Washington’s late third-period push?

#4 Zack Ostapchuk tied the game and ignited the Sharks’ comeback — what was going through Ostapchuk’s mind as he headed to the net on that play?

#5 Macklin Celebrini played a key role in setting up the go-ahead goal — how did Celebrini see his role evolving when his teammates are finding the back of the net in big moments?

Len Shapiro does the San Jose Sharks podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Utah Mammoth game wrap: Mammoth Outshoot Stars 2-1 In Defensive Domination

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Dallas Stars left winger Jason Robertson (21) fights for the puck against the Utah Mammoth defenseman John Marino (6) in the second period at the Delta Center on Thu Jan 15, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Tom Walker

SALT LAKE CITY–Utah Mammoth and Dallas Stars were scoreless for nearly two full periods, but Marino’s third period goal put the Mammoth over the top 2-1 as Utah goes 4-0-1 at home in the new year defeating Dallas Stars.

Utah defenseman Mikhail Sergachev took to the ice for his 600th career game on Thursday night as the Mammoth (23-20-4) squared off for the fifth game of seven on the current homestand against the visiting Dallas Stars (27-11-9). Courtesy of the Mammoth stat crew, Sergachev joins teammates Lawson Crouse, Nick Schmaltz, Alexander Kerfoot, and Clayton Keller in reaching the 600 game milestone in a Utah jersey.

The opening frame was a scoreless affair, as Dallas netminder Jake Oettinger stopped all ten Utah shots, and NHL wins leader Karel Vejmelka turned away the five shot attempts by the Stars.

The second period was well on its way to also being another scoreless frame, but with 7 ticks left on the clock Nick Schmaltz tipped in a perfect feed from John Marino for his 17th goal of the season, with the additional assist to Clayton Keller, for a 1-0 Mammoth lead as time expired.

With the assist by Keller, he and Schmaltz have combined on 200 goals in their careers, the first U.S.-born teammates to accomplish the feat. Oettinger stopped nine of ten shots in the period while Vejmelka remained perfect in shutting down 12 shots by the Stars.

At 1:39 of the third period, Utah forward Barrett Hayton went to the sin bin for hooking against Roope Hintz, giving Dallas an opportunity on the power play to even things up 25 seconds later on Mikko Rantanen’s 19th goal of the season, assisted by Wyatt Johnston and Jason Robertson.

Two minutes later, putting the puck on the net from along the dasher boards between the top of the faceoff circle and the blue line, Mammoth defenseman John Marino combined again with Nick Schmaltz to score his 4th goal of the season as his shot deflected off the body of Oettinger, high up and over his head, landing just behind the Stars netminder in the crease and trickling over the line to give Utah a 2-1 lead.

With 3:22 remaining in the game, Dallas pulled Oettinger for an extra attacker as the Stars continuously peppered Vejmelka for the rest of the game, but Veggie’s wall stood up to the onslaught to earn his league-leading 22nd win of the season. Vejmelka has allowed two or fewer goals in six of his first seven games in 2026. Improving to 4-0-1 at home in the new year, Utah’s 5-game home point streak is now the longest in franchise history.

In the locker room after the game, Schmaltz talked about this being a statement win for his squad. “That was awesome. We talked about stringing together wins, especially on home ice, and I thought those last two games on home ice were some of our best of the year. I think the way we competed no matter what the score is, if they get one, whatever, we come back and respond and (we) played hard right ‘til the end, so huge win.” The Mammoth have struggled at times to hold leads late in the 3rd period, and Schmaltz was asked about holding the lead int he final five minutes. “I think just try to limit their time and space. They’ve got a lot of good players over there, so just pressure them, try to make them make plays under pressure. Obviously Veggie made some big saves for us down the stretch, and Stenny and those guys were stuck out there for a while, but they did a great job. We won some big draws, and it was a heck of a team effort.” Indeed, Utah won 67% of their faceoffs on the night against one of the top faceoff teams in the league.

“They’re stingy, they don’t give up much,” Marino told the assembled media. “Got to play a patient game out there. Obviously, they’re a great hockey team, and they have been the last couple of years. So to be able to get that win, kind of have that confidence as a team going forward.” Commenting on the Stars push in the final minutes, Marino said, “I think everyone didn’t panic too much, whether the guys were out there, tired, everyone on the bench, no one was screaming, shouting, everyone was pretty comfortable with the situation. So we learn from that and go forward. … Veggie has been unbelievable for us here down the stretch, so you got to give him credit when credit is due. Besides that, it’s a whole team effort out there, guys blocking shots, sacrificing themselves, backchecking, just playing the right way. You get rewarded for it.”

Head Coach André Tourigny couldn’t have been more pleased with the performance of his players. “I think, first, prep second, intensity and focus from our players, help from the trench guys and Mads (John Madden) did a really good job to prep the guys on faceoffs. We knew Dallas was a top team in the league, top five on faceoffs, and they run a lot of plays through it, and they generate a lot of possessions. I think the guys were tuned in and did a really good job.” Speaking of the importance of beating a division rival ahead of Utah in the standings, Tourigny said, “We needed two points, we need to keep winning. Obviously, against our division, it’s always bigger, but I don’t think we’re at the point yet where Dallas is. So for us, we need to keep focusing on what we have to do, keep performing. We played a good game on both sides of the puck, offensively and defensively. That team was tough to play against. The process was good. The performance is good. Let’s bottle that up and keep going.” Offering his own take on shutting Dallas down in the closing minutes, Bear said, “I think we were poised, but had intensity. It’s always that you want to be calm, but you want to be intense. You want to be patient, but you want to be aggressive. It’s the same as wanting to be poised, but you want to be urgent. So I think we achieved that. The boys were in control, but really intense. They were urgent, but in control with some good poise.”

Utah (24-20-4) returns to home ice Saturday afternoon for a matinee tilt against the visiting Seattle Kraken (21-16-9) who lost Thursday night on the road in Boston.