Mammoth Stumble Against Flames, Playoff Positioning in Jeopardy

Utah Mammoth's two-game losing streak puts their first wild card spot at risk with the LA Kings closing in.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 2:41pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fractured hockey game, with players and the arena reduced to sharp, overlapping planes of color and abstract shapes.The Mammoth's loss to the Flames exposes cracks in their playoff positioning, as the team struggles to regain their earlier season form.Los Angeles Today

The Utah Mammoth's 4-1 loss to the Calgary Flames on Sunday has put their playoff positioning in jeopardy. Despite a strong second and third period, the Mammoth were unable to overcome a poor start that saw them down 2-0 after the first period. The loss, coupled with the LA Kings' recent success, has the Mammoth clinging to the first wild card spot in the Western Conference with just two games remaining in the regular season.

Why it matters

The Mammoth's playoff positioning is now in question, as they risk falling to the second wild card spot and facing the daunting Colorado Avalanche in the first round instead of a more favorable Pacific Division opponent. With the Kings surging, the Mammoth need to regain their form from their recent five-game winning streak to secure their preferred playoff path.

The details

The Mammoth were outshot 14-4 in the first period, allowing the Flames to jump out to a 2-0 lead. Despite a strong second and third period where they outshot the Flames 25-9, the Mammoth were only able to muster one goal from Lawson Crouse. Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf finished with a .966 save percentage, stifling the Mammoth's offense. Head coach André Tourigny was critical of the team's approach, saying they needed to be 'ready to grind' and 'work extremely hard for every inch'.

  • The Mammoth were outshot 14-4 in the first period.
  • Vítek Vaněček's turnover behind the net led to the Flames' first goal by Matt Coronato.
  • Connor Zary scored just over a minute later to put the Flames up 2-0.
  • Mikael Backlund and Brayden Pachal extended the Flames' lead to 4-0 in the third period.
  • Lawson Crouse scored the Mammoth's lone goal with less than 9 minutes remaining.

The players

MacKenzie Weegar

The Mammoth defenseman returned to Calgary for the first time since being traded from the Flames, where he played for four seasons and was a beloved member of the community.

Vítek Vaněček

The Mammoth goaltender turned the puck over behind his own net, leading to the Flames' first goal.

Matt Coronato

The Flames forward scored the opening goal after Vaněček's turnover.

Connor Zary

The Flames forward scored just over a minute after Coronato to put Calgary up 2-0.

Lawson Crouse

The Mammoth forward scored his 23rd goal of the season to break the Flames' shutout bid.

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What they’re saying

“Both teams had a tough schedule coming into this one. Whoever was the more prepared team in the first period had a really good chance to win this game, and we didn't come out connected and prepared and ready to compete. They play a stingy game over there. They were going to play with a lot of pride tonight.”

— MacKenzie Weegar

“I didn't like the way we approached that game, in the sense that we had to be ready to grind, to get inside, and to work extremely hard for every inch. I didn't like our approach. We were perimeter in east-west play. At this time of the year, it's a good opportunity for us to learn that doesn't work if you play against a team that's committed.”

— André Tourigny, Head Coach

What’s next

The Mammoth will play their final two regular season games against the Winnipeg Jets, who they have already defeated twice this season. The Mammoth need to win at least one of these final two games to secure their first wild card spot and avoid falling to the second wild card and a first-round matchup with the Colorado Avalanche.

The takeaway

The Mammoth's recent two-game losing streak has put their playoff positioning in jeopardy, as the LA Kings continue to close the gap in the standings. The team must regain the form they showed during their five-game winning streak to ensure they secure the first wild card spot and a more favorable first-round matchup in the playoffs.