The Utah Mammoth have been one of the more intriguing stories in the NHL this season-a team that’s clawed its way into the playoff picture, defied expectations, and shown real resilience along the way. But after back-to-back losses, the mood around the team has understandably shifted. The question now isn’t whether Utah is a good team-they’ve proven that-but whether they can stay sharp and steady in the stretch run of a brutally competitive Western Conference.
Let’s start with the gut punch: Utah’s 5-4 loss to Carolina. Up 4-2 with under two minutes to play, the Mammoth looked poised to skate away with a statement win.
Instead, they watched the Hurricanes score three unanswered goals in a stunning final flurry that left the Mammoth stunned and empty-handed. That’s the kind of loss that lingers.
Not just because it stings in the moment, but because in a playoff race this tight, every point matters-and that’s a point (or two) they may desperately want back come April.
Then came the follow-up: a 3-2 loss at home to the Dallas Stars. No late collapse this time-just a game where Utah couldn’t get much of anything going offensively.
Fourteen shots on goal. That’s it.
The lowest total they’ve posted all season. For a team that’s prided itself on grit and opportunism, that kind of offensive drought is jarring.
JJ Peterka didn’t sugarcoat it after the game. “They (Dallas) made really good plays; they put a lot of pressure on us, especially D-zone draws,” he said.
“We had trouble executing and getting out of that zone. You have to give them credit for that.”
And he’s right. Dallas brought the heat, and Utah struggled to match it.
But here’s the thing: these two losses, tough as they are, don’t erase what Utah has accomplished. January was their best month of the season.
They went 10-2-1 before this recent stumble, surging into the top Wild Card spot in the West. That’s not a fluke.
That’s a team finding its identity and executing at a high level.
What’s been most impressive is how the Mammoth have managed to keep pushing forward despite injuries to key players-most notably Logan Cooley. Instead of folding, they’ve seen others step up.
Kailer Yamamoto, for example, has been on a heater, scoring four goals in the last two games. That kind of production from a player who’s bounced between lines all season is exactly what playoff teams need: depth, versatility, and guys who rise to the moment.
Still, the margin for error is razor-thin. Utah is clinging to that top Wild Card spot with 60 points, but the Ducks, Kings, and Sharks are all right behind them at 59.
Even the Kraken, who currently sit third in the Pacific, are just one point ahead at 61. This is what parity looks like in the NHL-a nightly grind where one slip can drop you down the standings in a hurry.
André Tourigny knows it. After the Dallas loss, he didn’t mince words: “At some point in this league, if you feel sorry for yourself, everybody will step in your throat, and nobody will let you get back up.
So there’s no feeling sorry for yourself.” That’s not just coach-speak.
That’s the reality of the NHL this season. No time for sulking.
No room for excuses.
The good news? Utah still controls its fate.
Two games remain before the Olympic break, starting with a matchup against the league-worst Vancouver Canucks. That’s a golden opportunity to stop the bleeding.
Win that one, and you go into the next game-against a powerhouse Red Wings squad-with a chance to build momentum heading into the break.
And if they can pull off back-to-back wins to close out this stretch? Utah would enter the Olympic pause not just in playoff position, but with a renewed sense of belief that they can hang with anyone.
This team has already shown it can weather adversity. Injuries, tough road trips, and now a mini losing streak-they’ve faced it all.
What matters now is how they respond. Because if the Mammoth want to make the playoffs-and they absolutely have the pieces to do it-these next two games are pivotal.
A playoff spot is within reach. The question is: can Utah finish what it started?