The Utah Mammoth are skating into uncharted territory - and doing it with confidence. Chasing their first-ever Stanley Cup Playoff berth, every point matters right now, and on Wednesday night, they grabbed two big ones in dramatic fashion against a fellow postseason hopeful, the Philadelphia Flyers.
It was a game that had all the hallmarks of playoff hockey: tight checking, momentum swings, and a finish that reminded everyone why overtime hockey is one of the best shows in sports. After a near-disastrous turnover in the extra frame, Utah’s Dylan Guenther turned what could’ve been a Flyers breakaway into a golden opportunity.
Guenther carried the puck into the offensive zone and found captain Clayton Keller in the slot - and Keller didn’t miss. His shot was pure, beating Flyers netminder Samuel Ersson clean and sealing a crucial win for the Mammoth.
ELITE OVERTIME DUO: DYLAN GUENTHER AND CLAYTON KELLER! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/lHd49WRYDn
— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) January 22, 2026
That goal wasn’t just a game-winner - it was a statement. Keller, the heartbeat of this Utah team, delivered when it mattered most, and the Mammoth’s surge continues.
For Philadelphia, the loss only deepens an increasingly painful stretch. The Flyers have now dropped seven of their last eight, falling to 23-17-9 on the season.
That skid has cost them dearly in the standings, knocking them out of playoff position for the time being. They now sit fourth in the Metropolitan Division and trail the Boston Bruins by three points for the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Meanwhile, Utah is trending in the opposite direction - and fast. With their fourth straight win, the Mammoth have now taken nine of their last 11.
That kind of run doesn’t happen by accident. They’re playing with structure, speed, and confidence, and it’s showing on the scoreboard.
Right now, they hold the top Wild Card spot in the West, three points clear of both the San Jose Sharks and Seattle Kraken, who are locked in a tight race for the second Wild Card position.
This is a team that’s not just winning - they’re learning how to win when it matters most. The Mammoth are building something real, and if they can keep this pace, they won’t just sneak into the playoffs - they’ll be a team no one wants to face once they get there.
Next up, Utah looks to keep the momentum rolling Saturday against the Nashville Predators. A win there would mark 10 victories in their last 12 - a stretch that’s starting to feel less like a hot streak and more like a team finding its identity at just the right time.