Utah Mammoth end their first Stanley Cup Playoff series with a Game 6 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. Photo: TownLift // Michele Roepke

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — The Vegas Golden Knights eliminated the Utah Mammoth from the Stanley Cup playoffs with a 5-1 win in Game 6 on Friday at Delta Center, closing out the first-round series four games to two and advancing to Round 2.

Commentators called the series “the talk of the playoffs.”

With Vegas leading the series 3-2 heading into the game, Utah faced a must-win situation. As the commentator said, “There is no tomorrow.” Then, as a sign held up by mascot Tusky read: “Not to-Knight!”

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The sold-out crowd cheered the home team through its first-ever playoff game, and the scoreboard stayed 0-0 until Golden Knights forward Brett Howden scored at 15:02 of the first period, where the score remained through intermission.

More than 16,000 fans packed the arena, pushing the decibel level past 106. Some wore veggie hats and waved produce from home in support of fan-favorite goaltender Karel Vejmelka. Not to be outdone, two women in the stands donned custom cardigans they had knitted in Mammoth colors.

Vegas extended its lead to 2-0 when Mitch Marner scored in the 19th minute of the second period.

With 12:19 remaining in the third, Kailer Yamamoto found the back of the net to cut the deficit to 2-1. Below, watch teammate Lawson Crouse describe the Mammoth’s lone goal after discussing the game’s “woulda, shoulda, couldas.”

As time wound down, Vegas added three more goals — by Colton Sissons, Marner’s second of the game and an empty-netter from Cole Smith — to seal the victory.

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All photos: TownLift // Michele Roepke

The roughly two-thirds of the crowd that stayed through the final buzzer gave the Mammoth a standing ovation, and the players raised their sticks in response.

Utah head coach André Tourigny spoke to reporters, including TownLift, after the game.

With the Mammoth’s season over, fewer fans will have the chance to visit the Delta Center team store and walk away with a one-of-one, full-roster-signed Utah Mammoth snowboard — listed at $5,000.