‘I can’t even explain how excited I am’: This is the year to start watching playoff hockey

Utah Mammoth right wing Clayton Keller (9) protects the puck from Vegas Golden Knights left wing Brandon Saad (20) during the first period of an NHL game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Nov. 24, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News

It seems like a lot of sports fans are experiencing a type of fatigue.

They complain about the drama of the NBA; they don’t like the slow pace of MLB; they like the NFL and college sports, but those seasons aren’t long enough to occupy them all year.

If you agree, give the NHL a shot — specifically the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which begin Saturday.

Playoff hockey is one of the best sports experiences out there. Every play carries massive consequences, so the level of intensity is higher than it ever is in the regular season.

That makes the wins more joyful and the losses more painful.

“Oh, it’s an absolute — it’s a thrill," beamed Utah Mammoth defenseman MacKenzie Weegar when asked to describe the playoffs.

“I can’t wait to see this crowd in playoff hockey. ... It’s fast, it’s physical, it’s intense at moments, but they’re going to have so much fun. I’m so — like, I can’t even explain how excited I am to hear that crowd when we play home games."

Sean Durzi, another Mammoth defenseman, voiced equal excitement.

“For the playoff towels to be going, for the stakes of the game to be as high as possible, it’s so exciting. That’s what you play for,” he told the Deseret News.

If you don’t have a horse in the race, just pick a game and watch it. You can’t go wrong. Particularly in the first round, the crowds in every building are so excited and most of the TV networks do a great job at showcasing it on the broadcast.

Who will the Utah Mammoth play in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs?

While the Mammoth have already clinched a playoff spot, their exact seeding is still to be determined. They could end up playing the Vegas Golden Knights, the Edmonton Oilers, the Anaheim Ducks or the Colorado Avalanche.

There are a few different scenarios in which the Mammoth could clinch the highly coveted first wild card spot:

• Utah gets three points in its remaining games;
• Los Angeles misses out on three points;
• Edmonton OR Los Angeles OR Anaheim loses a game AND Utah wins a game;
• Vegas loses two games AND Utah wins a game;
• Any combination of overtime/shootout losses that add up to the same amount of points gained/lost mentioned above.

If none of those scenarios happen, the Mammoth would drop to the second wild card spot and face the mighty Colorado Avalanche, who have already clinched the Presidents’ Trophy as the best team in the regular season.

Where to watch the Utah Mammoth and the Stanley Cup Playoffs

Utah Mammoth first-round playoff games will be broadcast on SEG+ in addition to ESPN or TNT, depending on the game.

Subsequent rounds, if they make it, will be broadcast exclusively on the national channels.

Specific game information will be released once the playoff matchups are set.