Mammoth vs. Ducks: Projected Lineups, Key Debuts, and Roster Moves Ahead of Tonight’s Matchup
The Utah Mammoth head into Anaheim tonight looking to snap out of a .500 funk, while the Ducks continue to ride the momentum of a strong start to their season. Puck drops at 10 p.m. ET on HBO Max, truTV, and TNT, and both teams are rolling out lineups that feature a mix of youth, experience, and a few intriguing roster shakeups.
Utah Mammoth (12-12-3): Youth Movement on Display
The Mammoth are making some notable changes ahead of tonight’s game, most notably giving a couple of their prospects a shot under the big lights.
Projected forward lines:
- Clayton Keller - Nick Schmaltz - JJ Peterka
- Daniil But - Logan Cooley - Dylan Guenther
- Michael Carcone - Jack McBain - Lawson Crouse
- Liam O’Brien - Kevin Stenlund - Kailer Yamamoto
Projected defense pairs:
- Mikhail Sergachev - John Marino
- Nate Schmidt - Sean Durzi
- Ian Cole - Maveric Lamoureux
Goalies:
- Karel Vejmelka (starter expected)
- Vitek Vanecek
Scratches: Barrett Hayton, Brandon Tanev, Nick DeSimone
Injuries: Alex Kerfoot (lower body), Olli Maatta (upper body)
What to watch:
The spotlight tonight is on Daniil But, who’s set to make his NHL debut after being called up from Tucson.
The 6-foot-5 winger brings size and skill, and he’ll be skating alongside Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther - a trio that could offer a glimpse into Utah’s future core. But isn’t the only fresh face: Maveric Lamoureux is also set to make his season debut on the blue line, bringing a physical edge to the third pairing.
Meanwhile, Dmitri Simashev has been sent back to Tucson, and Kevin Rooney cleared waivers before also heading to the AHL. Forwards Barrett Hayton and Brandon Tanev will be healthy scratches - the first time either has sat out this season, which raises some eyebrows given their usual roles in the lineup.
Anaheim Ducks (16-9-1): Staying Steady Despite Injuries
Anaheim’s been dealing with a string of injuries, but they’re sticking with a formula that’s worked lately - dressing 11 forwards and 7 defensemen for the second straight game.
Projected forward lines:
- Chris Kreider - Leo Carlsson - Troy Terry
- Cutter Gauthier - Mason McTavish - Beckett Sennecke
- Frank Vatrano - Ryan Poehling - Alex Killorn
- Ross Johnston - Jansen Harkins
Projected defense pairs:
- Jackson LaCombe - Drew Helleson
- Olen Zellweger - Jacob Trouba
- Pavel Mintyukov - Radko Gudas
Extra defenseman: Ian Moore
Goalies:
- Ville Husso (starter expected)
- Vyacheslav Buteyets
Scratches: Nikita Nesterenko, Ryan Strome
Injuries: Mikael Granlund (lower body), Lukas Dostal (upper body), Petr Mrazek (lower body)
What to watch:
Anaheim’s top six continues to be a handful.
The Kreider-Carlsson-Terry line has the speed and finish to tilt the ice, while the second line - anchored by McTavish and rookie Cutter Gauthier - is becoming a force in its own right. The Ducks are also leaning heavily on their blue line depth, with seven defensemen dressing again.
That includes Ian Moore, who slots in as the extra D-man.
In net, Ville Husso is expected to get the start, as Anaheim continues to navigate goalie injuries. Lukas Dostal returned to the ice for the morning skate, but he hasn’t played since November 22 and is still expected to miss at least another week. Petr Mrazek is also sidelined after leaving Sunday’s game in Chicago with a lower-body injury and is projected to be out 2-3 weeks.
Final Takeaway
This one has the feel of a measuring-stick game for Utah, especially with young players like But and Lamoureux getting their shot. For Anaheim, it’s about maintaining consistency and weathering the injury storm - something they’ve done well so far this season. With two teams trending in different directions, tonight’s matchup could tell us a lot about where each franchise is headed as we approach the midpoint of the season.