Rangers 4, Mammoth 2: Shesterkin's 28 and a Third-Period Burst

October 4, 2026 - New York - Gabe Perreault found a rebound Karel Vejmelka did not cover, and Madison Square Garden had the 2-1 lead it wanted 3:15 into the third. The Associated Press recap said Vejmelka made the pad save on Alexis Lafrenière and never controlled it. Perreault's shot from just inside the left circle went into an open net.

The New York Rangers beat the Utah Mammoth 4-2. New York is 3-1-0, a third straight win after opening with a loss. Utah is 2-1-0 and did not open 3-0-0. The AP recap said Utah was trying to start 3-0-0 for the second time in three seasons in Utah.

Igor Shesterkin stopped 28 of 30. The AP recap noted that three nights after becoming the first Rangers goalie to score, he picked up his fourth career assist on a long pass to Will Cuylle before Eeli Tolvanen hit the empty net. Vejmelka stopped 18 of 21, including two Lafrenière breakaways, the recap said. Attendance was 17,377.

Gavrikov from the point, Schmaltz on a backhand

Vladislav Gavrikov opened it at 17:18 of the first, a wrist shot from the point, Adam Fox the lone assist. 1-0. Vincent Trocheck got a video tribute and an ovation in the first period, the AP recap said. New York traded him to Utah in July after 89 goals and 253 points in 313 Rangers games.

Nick Schmaltz tied it at 14:29 of the second. Power play. Backhand. Rebound off Clayton Keller's shot. 1-1. Cuylle had taken a boarding minor and a roughing minor at 14:01. Mikhail Sergachev sat for cross-checking on the same whistle. Utah scored on the man advantage it kept.

Joseph Veleno left with a lower-body injury at 9:21 of the first after his leg tangled with Keller near the New York bench, the AP recap said. The Rangers played with 11 forwards most of the night. Veleno is seeded as Joseph Veleno on AthX. Perreault is not seeded, so the tying breaker stays unlinked.

Three in the third, then the empty net

Perreault at 3:15, Lafrenière and Mika Zibanejad on the play. 2-1. J.T. Miller deflected Gavrikov at 12:47, Tye Kartye the other helper. 3-1.

Andrew Peeke snapped one at 14:57 from Anders Lee. 3-2. Tolvanen closed it at 18:45 into the empty net, Cuylle and Shesterkin. 4-2. The NHL landing lists the empty-net modifier.

Cuylle and Jack McBain fought at 1:03 of the third. Cuylle finished with 11 PIM, an assist, two shots, and a block.

Shots were 30-22 Utah. New York scored four times on 22. Fox finished plus-3 with an assist in 21:35. Gavrikov had a goal, an assist, three shots, and four blocks in 19:09.

Utah visits New Jersey on Tuesday. The Rangers host the Islanders that night.

AthX Engine on a 4-2 Garden night

AthX Engine (our projection and scoring system) scored Shesterkin at 11.80 (win, 28 saves, two goals against). Goalie assists do not add on the AthX NHL card. Gavrikov is 10.30. Tolvanen is 6.20. Lafrenière is 5.40. Miller is 5.10. Schmaltz is 5.80. Peeke is 5.80. Vejmelka is 3.60.

New York's team line is 18.80. Utah's regulation loss is 0.40.

Fantasy points measure the box. Price is what traders will pay for Shesterkin after 28 saves and a helper, and for a Mammoth club that left New York 2-1-0. They are not the same number.

Track Shesterkin, Gavrikov, Schmaltz, and both clubs on the marketplace.

*Sources: AP recap (ESPN), ESPN box score, NHL.com scoreboard, NHL gamecenter boxscore 2026020036. AthX Engine fantasy points scored from that verified box. Information only; not financial advice.*