The Utah Mammoth are officially playoff-bound after a 4-1 win over the Nashville Predators on Thursday night at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, clinching a Stanley Cup Playoff berth and stretching a late-season surge for a franchise that only landed in Utah last year.
Guenther Lights It Up, Vejmelka Locks It Down
Dylan Guenther buried his 39th goal of the season and got help on the scoresheet from Nick Schmaltz, Kailer Yamamoto and captain Lawson Crouse. Clayton Keller dished out three assists, and Karel Vejmelka turned aside 29 shots as Utah tightened its grip on a Western Conference wild-card spot, improving to 42-30-6 and nudging further ahead of Nashville in the race, according to The Associated Press.
Playoff Road Starts In Edmonton
The victory locked up Utah’s place in the postseason, and under the current bracket the Mammoth are lined up to open the first round on the road against the Edmonton Oilers, per playoff projections from USA TODAY. Utah wraps up a three-game homestand on Saturday against the Carolina Hurricanes before closing out the regular season with four more contests, according to ABC4 Utah.
Salt Lake City Finally Gets Its Playoff Moment
This marks the franchise’s first postseason appearance since 2012, back when it was still skating as the Arizona Coyotes. Since relocating, the club has rebuilt its roster and found its footing in Utah, setting up a breakthrough year just as the local fan base is heating up. With playoff hockey now on the calendar, demand at the Delta Center is expected to spike as Mammoth fans gear up for the city’s first taste of the Stanley Cup chase, per NHL.com.
