The Utah Mammoth took care of business Tuesday night—and got the help they needed elsewhere—to officially secure the top wild card position in the Western Conference.
Utah’s 5–3 victory over the Winnipeg Jets, paired with the Anaheim Ducks’ regulation loss to the Minnesota Wild, sealed the outcome. With the result, the Mammoth not only punched their ticket to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but also ensured they will avoid a first-round matchup with the Colorado Avalanche. Instead, Utah will face the eventual Pacific Division champion when the postseason begins.
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While the final scoreline suggested a competitive contest, Utah dictated much of the play. The Mammoth outshot Winnipeg 36–24 and controlled the tempo through sustained offensive-zone pressure, quick puck movement, and active involvement from their defensemen.
Their power play once again proved to be a difference-maker, converting twice on five opportunities. Crisp puck movement and decisive execution allowed Utah to break down Winnipeg’s defensive structure, with Nick Schmaltz playing a central role in both goals.
“We’re a better team when we move the puck quickly and use our speed and catch them off guard a little bit,” Schmaltz told NHL.com. “When we try to drag it back, and teams get set, it’s hard to beat all five guys.”
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“So, we need to move the puck up quick in transition and use our speed. We’re pretty difficult to play against.”
Despite allowing the Jets to claw back within one goal late, Utah maintained its composure. Head coach Andre Tourigny acknowledged the game wasn’t flawless but emphasized his team’s ability to respond under pressure.
“There are two parts to it,” Head coach Andre Tourigny explained. “For one, we made it tougher than we should have. But when push came to shove and when it was tight, we played solid.”
“No, we didn’t give much; we were stingy. Even when they had a shift around four minutes, they had the puck in our zone a lot, but nothing other than that. The guys were rock solid.”
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That resilience ultimately defined the night. It wasn’t a perfect performance, but it was a mature one—reflective of a team that understands what’s required this time of year.
With their postseason position secured, attention now turns to Utah’s first-round opponent. The Mammoth will face the Pacific Division champion, a race that remains undecided heading into the final days of the regular season.
The Vegas Golden Knights and Edmonton Oilers are the only teams still in contention. Vegas controls its own destiny and needs just a single point in its remaining game against the Seattle Kraken to clinch the division. Should the Golden Knights fall in regulation and the Oilers defeat the Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton would leapfrog Vegas by virtue of the tiebreaker—holding more regulation wins.
If both teams falter, however, Vegas would still emerge atop the division based on its current points advantage.
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For Utah, the opponent remains uncertain—but the objective is not. After navigating a tightly contested stretch run, the Mammoth enter the playoffs with momentum, structure, and a clear identity at the most critical time of the season.
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