Utah Mammoth Focused on Clinching Playoff Berth

Lead Kraken by 5 points for 1st wild card in West ahead of visit to Golden Knights

Mar. 19, 2026 at 1:34pm

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The Utah Mammoth, in their second season in Salt Lake City, are in a strong position to clinch a playoff berth in the NHL's Western Conference. Led by young stars like Dylan Guenther, Jack McBain, and Logan Cooley, as well as the recent acquisition of veteran defenseman MacKenzie Weegar, the Mammoth are determined to secure a postseason spot and bring playoff hockey to the Delta Center.

Why it matters

Making the playoffs would be a significant milestone for the Mammoth, who are still a relatively new franchise in the NHL. Securing a postseason berth would not only energize the team's growing fanbase, but also validate the organization's efforts to build a competitive roster and establish themselves as a contender in the Western Conference.

The details

The Mammoth currently lead the Seattle Kraken by 5 points for the first wild card spot in the West. They will face a crucial test when they visit the Vegas Golden Knights in their next game. Key contributors for the Mammoth this season include forward Dylan Guenther, who is two points shy of his career-high 60 points, and forward Jack McBain, who is close to tying his career-high of 27 points. The team also recently acquired veteran defenseman MacKenzie Weegar in a trade with the Calgary Flames, adding valuable experience to their blue line.

  • The Mammoth are in their second season in Salt Lake City.
  • Guenther, 22, has 58 points (33 goals, 25 assists), two shy of his NHL career-high 60 points.
  • McBain, 26, has 23 points and is four points from tying his career-high of 27 points.
  • Cooley, 21, missed nearly eight weeks with a lower-body injury but has 30 points (17 goals, 13 assists) in 40 games.
  • The Mammoth acquired Weegar in a trade with the Calgary Flames on March 4, 2026.

The players

Dylan Guenther

A 22-year-old forward who has 58 points (33 goals, 25 assists), two shy of his NHL career-high 60 points.

Jack McBain

A 26-year-old forward who has steadily provided depth scoring and is four points from tying his career-high of 27 points from last season.

Logan Cooley

A 21-year-old forward who missed nearly eight weeks with a lower-body injury but has 30 points (17 goals, 13 assists) in 40 games.

MacKenzie Weegar

A 32-year-old veteran defenseman who was acquired by the Mammoth in a trade with the Calgary Flames on March 4, 2026.

Andre Tourigny

The head coach of the Utah Mammoth, who previously coached Weegar for Canada at the 2023 IIHF World Championship.

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What they’re saying

“Anytime you can add a first-line center with high skill who can get a chance or two chances and buries most of them, it's hugely important for us and our team.”

— Andre Tourigny, Head Coach, Utah Mammoth

“There's a lot to digest, but what helps is 'Weegs' played in that kind of a structure for us at the World Championship, so there's a part of the language he understands.”

— Andre Tourigny, Head Coach, Utah Mammoth

“It would mean a lot to the group. We're focused on one game at a time but it's truly up to them. They put themselves in a position to fight to get in, so it's really in that dressing room. It's up to them. They have to make that decision every night to play the right way.”

— Ryan Armstrong, General Manager, Utah Mammoth

What’s next

The Mammoth will face a crucial test when they visit the Vegas Golden Knights in their next game, as they look to maintain their lead over the Seattle Kraken for the first wild card spot in the Western Conference.

The takeaway

The Utah Mammoth have positioned themselves well to clinch a playoff berth in just their second season in Salt Lake City. Led by a talented young core and bolstered by the addition of veteran defenseman MacKenzie Weegar, the Mammoth are determined to bring postseason hockey to the Delta Center and solidify their status as a rising contender in the NHL's Western Conference.