After a four-day layoff, the Carolina Hurricanes are back on the ice - and back in Whalers green. Saturday’s win over the Ottawa Senators might’ve looked good on the scoreboard, but make no mistake: Carolina didn’t exactly put together a complete 60-minute performance. Still, thanks to a sharp showing from Brandon Bussi, who turned away 35 shots and added another quirky postgame moment to his growing highlight reel, the Canes skated out of Canada’s capital with a 4-1 win.
Now, they return home and back into the throwback Hartford Whalers look for the third time this season - but this time, it’s not the Colorado Avalanche on the other bench. It’s the Utah Mammoth, one of the NHL’s newest identities and one of the more intriguing teams in the Western Conference playoff picture.
Let’s be clear: if Carolina wants to keep stacking wins, they’ll need to tighten things up. Against Ottawa, they capitalized on mistakes and leaned heavily on Bussi’s brilliance. That’s not a sustainable formula, especially against a Utah team that’s been grinding its way into playoff contention.
Utah Mammoth: A New Name, Same Fight
This is Utah’s first season officially skating as the Mammoth after spending last year under the placeholder “Utah Hockey Club.” The rebrand has coincided with a continued upward trend.
Last year, they pushed for a playoff spot until the final weeks, ultimately falling just seven points short. This season?
They’re right back in the mix, currently holding onto the first Wild Card spot in the West as the Olympic break approaches.
Offensively, they’re middle of the pack - not blowing teams away, but getting timely production from key players. Clayton Keller has been the engine, leading the team with 50 points, while Nick Schmaltz has chipped in 19 goals and 47 points.
But the real story in Utah has been their defensive structure. They’ve cracked the league’s top 10 in goals against, a testament to how well they’re playing without the puck.
That said, the Mammoth are dealing with some key injuries. Dylan Guenther, their leading goal-scorer, missed Tuesday’s game in Sunrise and is questionable for tonight. Logan Cooley, one of their most dynamic young players, hasn’t played since early December and isn’t expected back until February.
Last Season’s Meetings: Home Ice Ruled
Each team held serve at home last season in this head-to-head. Utah took the first meeting in Salt Lake City behind a third-period scoring surge and a 49-save effort from Karel Vejmelka, winning 4-1.
Carolina answered back in Raleigh with a dominant 7-3 win that felt like a statement. Seth Jarvis led the charge with two goals and two assists, while Sebastian Aho added a pair of goals and a helper of his own.
Mammoth Players to Watch
JJ Peterka: This will be Carolina’s first look at Peterka in a Mammoth sweater. Acquired in a high-profile offseason deal with Buffalo, Peterka’s transition out west has been smooth.
He’s got 18 goals and 34 points on the year, though his production has dipped a bit in January. Still, he’s a threat every time he’s on the ice and brings speed and skill that can break open a game.
Mikhail Sergachev: Sergachev has become Utah’s do-it-all defenseman. Whether it’s killing penalties, quarterbacking the power play, or logging heavy minutes at even strength, he’s been the guy.
He’s averaging nearly four more minutes per game than any of his teammates, and he’s made an impact on this road trip - four points in the first three games. He’s the kind of player who can control the tempo from the back end.
Hurricanes Players to Watch
Logan Stankoven: After a hot start to the month that included a five-game point streak, Stankoven has cooled off - just three points in his last seven games. The Hurricanes may choose to stand pat at center ahead of the deadline, which puts more pressure on Stankoven to find his rhythm again.
The good news? His faceoff numbers are trending in the right direction, and he’s still generating chances.
Shayne Gostisbehere: It looks like Gostisbehere is ready to return to the lineup after practicing Wednesday. This will be his first game back in two weeks, the latest in a string of injury interruptions that have disrupted what’s otherwise been a strong season.
Before this most recent absence, he had points in three of his last five games. If he can stay healthy, he gives Carolina another puck-moving weapon on the blue line.
Bottom Line
The Hurricanes got the result they wanted in Ottawa, but they know the performance wasn’t up to their standard. With the Mammoth coming to town riding strong defensive play and playoff urgency, Carolina will need to be sharper - especially in transition and on special teams. The Whalers jerseys may bring the nostalgia, but the Canes will need a present-day performance to keep pace in the East.