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Injuries piling up as Mammoth clinch top wild card spot
TL;DR
The Utah Mammoth have secured the first wild card spot in the Western Conference after defeating the Winnipeg Jets. They will face either the Edmonton Oilers or the Vegas Golden Knights in the playoffs.
Utah Mammoth center Nick Schmaltz (8) celebrates after scoring as the Utah Mammoth and the Winnipeg Jets play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
The Utah Mammoth have officially clinched the highly coveted first wild card spot in the Western Conference. Theyâll face the winner of the Pacific Division â either the Edmonton Oilers or the Vegas Golden Knights.
Utah had a number of potential clinching scenarios going into Tuesday. The one that actualized was the Mammoth beating the Winnipeg Jets and the Minnesota Wild topping the Anaheim Ducks.
But the players werenât worried about playoff positioning as much as they were about finishing the season on a high note.
âI think we were just trying to play as best we could these last two games,â said Nick Schmaltz, who scored two goals in the game. âWe had two losses in a row, so we wanted to bounce back at home and put ourselves in the best position we can.
â... We just donât want to be limping into the playoffs. We want to be rolling. We want everyone feeling confident and hit the ground running right from Game 1.â
If the Golden Knights get at least a point against the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday, theyâll lock themselves in as the Mammothâs first-round opponent. That result could also come from the Oilers losing in any fashion to the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday.
Although the Mammoth controlled the majority of the game, nothing was ever guaranteed. Their 4-1 lead soon turned into a 4-3 lead. They held on and added an empty-netter for a 5-3 final score.
âWe made it tougher than we should have or could have, but when push came to shove and it was tight, we played solid,â said head coach AndrĂ© Tourigny. âWe didnât give much. We were stingy. ... The guys were rock-solid.â
Playoff-style hockey
Itâs often said that there are players who get you to the playoffs and others who get you through them.
The likes of Schmaltz, Clayton Keller (whoâs now on a franchise-high nine-game point streak), Dylan Guenther and Logan Cooley have been instrumental in the Mammothâs success up to this point. But when the playoffs begin, thereâs a good chance the depth playersâ skill sets will show through.
Whether itâs a meaningless game or a clinching scenario, Brandon Tanev and Liam OâBrien always give it everything they have â and thatâs exactly how you have to play in the playoffs.
That was especially true on Tuesday. Every time you looked up, it seemed like one of those guys was hitting someone or hounding down the puck in the corner.
Tanev might count this as a down season because he has yet to score a goal after having 10 last year, but he hasnât strayed from the dog-on-a-bone playing style that got him to the NHL in the first place.
âThey play the right way,â Tourigny said of the line which includes Tanev, OâBrien and Alexander Kerfoot. âI often say to them, âYou get it out (of the defensive zone), you get it in (the offensive zone), you get it to the net and you get on the bodyâ â and thatâs exactly what they did."
Itâs also worth pointing out the other grinders who typify playoff competitors. Michael Carcone and Kailer Yamamoto arenât big bodies, but the way they hound loose pucks, you wouldnât know it; Kerfoot, Kevin Stenlund and Lawson Crouse wonât appear on the highlight reels very often, but they play smart, defensively sound hockey and can be trusted in important situations.
Utah Mammoth defenseman Nate Schmidt (88) defends Winnipeg Jets center Cole Perfetti (91) as they play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Winnipeg Jets left wing Kyle Connor (81) slips the puck around Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) for a score as they play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Fans stand and cheer a goal is scored as the Utah Mammoth and the Winnipeg Jet play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Utah Mammoth center Alexander Kerfoot (15) passes the puck out with Winnipeg Jets center Gabriel Vilardi (13) watching as they play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Utah Mammoth center Alexander Kerfoot (15) flips the puck away from Winnipeg Jets defenseman Colin Miller (6) as they play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele (55) and Utah Mammoth center Alexander Kerfoot (15) faceoff as they play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey (44) and Utah Mammoth left wing Michael Carcone (53) work for control of the puck as they play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Utah Mammoth center Nick Schmaltz (8) celebrates after scoring as the Utah Mammoth and the Winnipeg Jets play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Utah Mammoth right wing Clayton Keller (9) skates into position during a game with the Winnipeg Jets at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Tim Smith and his daughter Ava Smith celebrate a goal as they watch the Utah Mammoth and the Winnipeg Jets play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Fans watch as the Utah Mammoth and the Winnipeg Jets play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Bridger Orr and his dad Brian Orr give each other knuckles after a score as the Utah Mammoth and Winnipeg Jets play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Utah Mammoth right wing Clayton Keller (9) battles Winnipeg Jets center Cole Perfetti (91) for the puck as they play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Fans stand and cheer a goal is scored as the Utah Mammoth and the Winnipeg Jets play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Fans stand and cheer a goal is scored as the Utah Mammoth and the Winnipeg Jets play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Andrew Kerby, draws on the ice as he joins other fans in painting the ice after watching the Utah Mammoth defeat the Winnipeg Jets at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Tusky waves a Mammoth flag after the Utah Mammoth defeated the Winnipeg Jets at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Fans stand and cheer as Tusky waves a Mammoth flag after the Utah Mammoth defeated the Winnipeg Jets at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Sophie Sanchez, Mykah Castillo, and Jacob Berkowitz join other fans in painting the ice after watching the Utah Mammoth defeat the Winnipeg Jets at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Junior Hatch, wearing a Mammoth hat lays on the ice and poses for his mom Lindsey Hatch as she takes a photo of him as fans paint the ice after watching the Utah Mammoth play the Winnipeg Jets at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Jen Chatterton, lays on the ice as she and other fans take part in painting the ice after watching the Utah Mammoth defeat the Winnipeg Jets at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Fans take part in painting the ice after watching the Utah Mammoth defeat the Winnipeg Jets at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Fans take part in painting the ice after watching the Utah Mammoth defeat the Winnipeg Jets at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Fans take part in painting the ice after watching the Utah Mammoth defeat the Winnipeg Jets at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Fans line up to take part in painting the ice after watching the Utah Mammoth defeat the Winnipeg Jets at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Fans take part in painting the ice after watching the Utah Mammoth defeat the Winnipeg Jets at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Fans take part in painting the ice after watching the Utah Mammoth defeat the Winnipeg Jets at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Utah Mammoth left wing Lawson Crouse (67) shoots the puck at Winnipeg Jets goaltender Eric Comrie (1) as they play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Utah Mammoth center Alexander Kerfoot (15) skates away from Winnipeg Jets defenseman Jacob Bryson (78) as they play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Utah Mammoth right wing JJ Peterka (77) shoots high over Winnipeg Jets goaltender Eric Comrie (1) as they play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) deflects the puck as Winnipeg Jets center Gabriel Vilardi (13) fights to get at it as they play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
The injury bug strikes again
With a few exceptions, this was a relatively injury-free season for the Mammoth â until the last few weeks.
The latest wrist with a hospital bracelet on it is Sean Durzi, who left halfway through the game after blocking a shot with his left hand.
Tourigny did not have a post-game update on Durziâs status.
Barrett Hayton and Jack McBain are both out on a week-to-week basis. Hayton skated in a non-contact jersey at morning skate on Tuesday, though Tourigny said afterwards that his status has not changed.
MacKenzie Weegar and John Marino have also missed games in the last 10 days due to injuries, while Mikhail Sergachev left Sundayâs game for the same reason. All three defensemen played on Tuesday.
This is where depth comes into play. The Mammoth have defensemen Nick DeSimone and Dmitri Simashev as well as forward Kevin Rooney on the active roster. All three have proven that theyâre capable of making a difference in the NHL.
In the AHL, they can also call upon players like Daniil But, Maveric Lamoureux, Maksymilian Szuber and Scott Perunovich, among others.
Itâs not ideal for the Mammoth to get to the point where they need to call upon more than a few of those guys, but the physical nature of playoff hockey almost always causes injuries and itâs on the teams to be ready.
Now that their playoff position is set, it will be interesting to see how many players the Mammoth will rest. Other teams â most notably the Carolina Hurricanes â have miraculously seen mass âundisclosedâ injuries to nearly every key player in recent games.
Karel Vejmelka did not make the trip to Calgary on Sunday, and the assumption is that it was for a similar reason.
Q&A
How did the Utah Mammoth clinch the wild card spot?
The Utah Mammoth clinched the wild card spot by defeating the Winnipeg Jets and the Minnesota Wild winning against the Anaheim Ducks.
Who will the Utah Mammoth face in the playoffs?
The Utah Mammoth will face the winner of the Pacific Division, which will be either the Edmonton Oilers or the Vegas Golden Knights.
What was the significance of the Mammoth's victory over the Jets?
The victory over the Jets was crucial as it secured the Mammoth's position in the playoffs and their first wild card spot in the Western Conference.
What are the current playoff scenarios for the Utah Mammoth?
The current playoff scenario for the Utah Mammoth involves facing either the Edmonton Oilers or the Vegas Golden Knights after clinching the wild card spot.
