‘The Mammoth could absolutely win this round’: ESPN’s Steve Levy breaks down Utah’s first-round matchup with the Golden Knights

“But he’s looked really good in the first two games. Again, these two days off between games three and four will help him. And I think he’s an upper-tier goalie in the NHL, so let’s start with that. Once you have that and you eliminate that question mark, that immediately puts you in,” Levy said.

Then, it comes down to how Logan Cooley, Clayton Keller, Dylan Guenther, who scored in Friday’s game, and Mikhail Sergachev play.

“I know sitting with (Mark Messier and P.K. Subban) in the studio, they love Guenther. They love the way he fires the puck — he’s not afraid. Cooley and Keller obviously are already NHL stars. For Keller to make the Olympic team, that’s all you have to know, right? He’s an Olympian; he’s among the NHL’s elite. And Sergachev — we know what the Mammoth organization thinks of him. We’re massive fans of Sergachev on the blue line. I think Tampa Bay still misses him," Levy said.

Playoff hockey at the Delta Center

Utah Mammoth left wing Michael Carcone (53) celebrates with center Alexander Kerfoot (15) after scoring during the first period of an NHL game against the St. Louis Blues at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Thursday, April 16, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News

According to the longtime broadcaster, fans at the Delta Center should expect an intensity “ratcheted up to such a high level that it would be impossible to play at this level for 82 regular-season games.“

“Regular-season hockey and Stanley Cup playoff hockey are so different. It’s almost like it’s a different sport,” Levy said. “It’s actually played differently. The players play differently, the coaches coach differently. Some would say the officials referee the games differently, too — the league won’t like that — but some would say that.”

Before relocating to Utah and becoming the Mammoth, the Arizona Coyotes last made the Stanley Cup playoffs in 2020 for the expanded “bubble” playoffs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I never got to Mullett Arena, which everyone talked about the 5,000-seat capacity. I know the NHL was petrified that the Coyotes would have success in the playoffs and make it to the Stanley Cup, and you’ve got only 5,000 people in the building. That would have been a total disaster for everyone involved,” he said.

Levy, who was at the Utah Hockey Club home opener, asked ESPN to be assigned to a Mammoth playoff game. The network granted his wish, putting him on the broadcast team for Monday’s game.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what it’s going to be like for an NHL playoff game. My expectations are it’ll be rocking in there,” he said. “Some of that will matter on what happens tonight. I’m not in the business of rooting for teams, but I really was rooting for the Mammoth to win at least one game in Vegas so Salt Lake City would be all fired up.”

‘Off-the-charts’ owners

Ryan Smith speaks as he’s joined by his wife, Ashley, both co-founders of Smith Entertainment Group and Utah Mammoth co-owners, during a press conference held by the Utah Mammoth and National Hockey League at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Everything Levy has heard from players about Mammoth owners Ryan and Ashley Smith “has been off the charts,” he said.

“Quite frankly, every team doesn’t love their owner the way it seems like the Mammoth enjoy the Smiths. So that’s a big part of it, doing things the right way. That means spending money, but that’s also being — that’s also having feelings. That’s caring. That’s about the families," he said.

According to Levy, two areas where he’s heard the Mammoth and the Smiths stand out are the treatment of players’ families and the state of the team’s facilities.

“You want to have a great practice facility, and obviously, the Mammoth have that going. And I know they keep making renovations to the Delta Center. Quality of life goes a long way. It’s not just top dollar anymore. Guys want to make money, but they want to go someplace they’re going to be treated great and that means their families, too. It sounds like Utah’s off to a great start with that,” he said.

Game 4 will be broadcast on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. MDT.

Fans cheer during the first period of game 3 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series between the Utah Mammoth and the Vegas Golden Knights at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 24, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News