Utah Mammoth Enter Pivotal Week Riding High on Momentum, Facing Four Key Matchups Before Olympic Break
With just six games left before the Olympic break, the Utah Mammoth are heating up at the right time. Winners of five straight and riding a nine-game point streak, Utah has found its stride in January, going 9-1-1 so far this month.
They’re sitting fourth in the Central Division with 58 points and currently hold the first wild card spot in the Western Conference. As they prepare for a crucial four-game stretch this week, the Mammoth are showing signs of being a serious postseason contender.
Let’s break down what’s fueling Utah’s surge - and what lies ahead this week.
🔥 What’s Clicking in Utah?
Captain Clayton Keller is leading the charge with the kind of production you'd expect from a franchise cornerstone. He’s racked up 17 points (4 goals, 13 assists) in 11 games this month, notching multi-point efforts in more than half of those contests. He’s been the offensive engine, consistently driving play and delivering when it matters.
Between the pipes, Karel Vejmelka has been nothing short of elite. He leads the NHL with 25 wins, and his January numbers tell the story: a 9-1-0 record, a 2.19 goals-against average, and a .916 save percentage. He’s giving the Mammoth a chance to win every night - and they’re taking full advantage.
🏥 Injury Report - Utah
- F Logan Cooley - Lower-body, IR
- F Alexander Kerfoot - Lower-body, IR
- G Anson Thorton - Lower-body, injured non-roster
This Week’s Matchups
🆚 Utah vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
📅 Jan. 26 | 🕔 5:00 p.m. MT
📺 Utah16, Mammoth+ | 🎧 KSL Sports Zone, KSL Sports App, NHL App
This is the final meeting of the season between these two teams. Tampa Bay took the first game, 4-2, back in early November.
Tampa Bay’s Outlook:
The Lightning are on a tear of their own. They’ve gone 9-1-1 in January and, despite a recent loss to Columbus that ended a 15-game point streak, they’re still one of the NHL’s top teams - currently second in the Atlantic Division with 68 points.
Nikita Kucherov continues to be the heartbeat of Tampa Bay’s offense. With 26 goals and 78 points on the season, he’s on a five-game point streak and is just one goal away from passing Vincent Lecavalier for second all-time in franchise goals.
Injury Watch - Tampa Bay:
- F Gage Goncalves - Illness, game-time decision
- F Brayden Point - Lower-body, IR
- D Victor Hedman - Elbow, IR
- D Ryan McDonagh - Lower-body, day-to-day
- D Erik Cernak - Upper-body, game-time decision
- D Charle-Edouard D’Astous - Undisclosed, IR
- D Emil Lilleberg - Undisclosed, IR
🆚 Utah vs. Florida Panthers
📅 Jan. 27 | 🕔 5:00 p.m. MT
📺 Utah16, Mammoth+ | 🎧 KSL Sports Zone, KSL Sports App, NHL App
The Mammoth will look for revenge after a tight 4-3 loss to Florida back on December 10. This is the second and final meeting between the two clubs this season.
Florida’s Outlook:
The Panthers are quietly staying in the mix.
Winners of three straight, they’re 7-5-0 in January and just three points out of a wild card spot in the East. Depth has been key for Florida - they’ve got six players with double-digit goals and eight with at least 20 points.
Special teams could be a factor in this one. Florida’s penalty kill ranks ninth in the league, operating at 82.2%. That could be a challenge for a Utah power play that’s been streaky at times.
Injury Watch - Florida:
- F Jonah Gadjovich - Upper body, IR
- F Aleksander Barkov - Knee, IR
- F Tomas Nosek - Knee, IR
- D Seth Jones - Upper-body, IR
- D Dmitry Kulikov - Upper-body, IR
🆚 Utah vs. Carolina Hurricanes
📅 Jan. 29 | 🕔 5:00 p.m. MT
📺 Utah16, Mammoth+ | 🎧 KSL Sports Zone, KSL Sports App, NHL App
This will be the first of two meetings between Utah and Carolina this season, with the second coming in April.
Carolina’s Outlook:
The Hurricanes are rolling. They’re 8-3-2 in January and 7-1-2 in their last 10, holding the top spot in the Metropolitan Division with 69 points.
Carolina is one of the most balanced teams in the league. Defensively, they’ve been dominant - allowing the second-fewest goals per game (2.83) and the fewest shots on goal (24.4).
Offensively, they’re just as dangerous, averaging 3.38 goals per game (third-best in the NHL). With nine players already in double-digit goals and eight with 20+ points, this is a team that can hurt you in a lot of ways.
Injury Watch - Carolina:
- F Noah Philp - Concussion, IR
- F Eric Robinson - Upper-body, week-to-week
- D Shayne Gostisbehere - Lower-body, day-to-day
- D Charles-Alexis Legault - Hand, IR
- G Pyotr Kochetkov - Hip, IR
🆚 Utah vs. Dallas Stars
📅 Jan. 31 | 🕖 7:00 p.m. MT
📺 Utah16, Mammoth+ | 🎧 KSL Sports Zone, KSL Sports App, NHL App
This will be the third of four meetings between Utah and Dallas this season. The series has been razor-thin so far - each team has taken a one-goal win, with Dallas winning 4-3 in November and Utah answering with a 2-1 victory earlier this month.
Dallas’ Outlook:
The Stars have had a lighter schedule in January, playing just four games, and they’ve struggled to find consistency with a 4-6-2 record in 2026. Still, they’re third in the Central with 67 points.
Dallas thrives on special teams and structure. Their power play is clicking at 29.1%, second-best in the league, and they’re winning 52% of their faceoffs - fifth overall. Defensively, they’ve been stingy, allowing just 2.71 goals per game, which ranks third in the NHL.
This one could come down to the details - faceoffs, special teams, and goaltending.
Injury Watch - Dallas:
- F Tyler Seguin - Knee, IR
- D Ilya Lyubushkin - Lower-body, day-to-day
- D Lian Bichsel - Lower-body, IR
Final Word
The Mammoth are entering a critical stretch with momentum on their side and playoff positioning on the line. With tough opponents like Tampa Bay, Florida, Carolina, and Dallas on the docket this week, Utah will be tested in every area of their game. But if Keller keeps producing, Vejmelka stays sharp, and the team continues playing with this level of confidence, there's every reason to believe they’ll keep climbing.
The Olympic break is coming - but the Mammoth aren’t slowing down.