The Utah Mammoth look to build momentum Saturday afternoon when they visit the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center in Newark. Utah comes in hot after a dominant 7-2 victory over the New York Islanders on Thursday, powered by Dylan Guenther‘s first career hat trick. Can the Mammoth extend their winning streak, or will the Devils bounce back after their impressive rally against Columbus?
🔥 Quick Facts
- Guenther’s milestone: Dylan Guenther scored his first career hat trick on Thursday against the Islanders, adding 4 points in the game
- Utah’s recent form: The Mammoth are 5-5-0 in their last 10 games and sit fourth in the Central Division with 41 points
- Head-to-head history: New Jersey owns 3 straight victories against Utah, including a 2-1 win on December 19
- Game details: Saturday matinee at 3:00 PM ET at Prudential Center in Newark, the final meeting of the season series
Guenther Breaks Through with Historic Performance
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Dylan Guenther finally achieved a milestone that had eluded him throughout his four-year career when he registered his first NHL hat trick in Utah’s 7-2 demolition of the New York Islanders on Thursday. The breakthrough moment came at the perfect time as the Mammoth look to build early 2026 momentum.
Guenther, who had recorded eight two-goal performances over his first 188 games, credited his linemates for the historic outing. “It’s cool,” he said of the hat trick. Lawson Crouse and Barrett Hayton each assisted on two of Guenther’s three tallies, while Nick Schmaltz scored twice and Clayton Keller and Mikhail Sergachev added goals. The 22-year-old now leads the Mammoth with 20 goals this season.
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Utah’s third seven-goal outing of the season came after a sluggish start. The game was tied 1-1 through 30 minutes before the Mammoth turned it on with two second-period goals and opened a 5-1 lead early in the third. Karel Vejmelka made 20 saves in his return from a two-game upper-body injury absence.
Devils Rally With Dramatic Third-Period Comeback
While Utah was pummeling the Islanders, New Jersey was staging its own dramatic comeback against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Devils scored three unanswered goals in the third period in a span of less than two minutes, stunning the Blue Jackets 3-2 on Wednesday night.
Luke Hughes recorded a goal and an assist in the rally, Nico Hischier and Arseny Gritsyuk added goals, and Jake Allen made 33 spectacular saves. Head coach Sheldon Keefe praised his team’s resilience after dropping their previous four games. “The guys could go out and just kind of get through the third period rather than trying to make a statement. We had talked and felt strongly that if we got one, we were going to get two.”
New Jersey sits sixth in the Metropolitan Division with a 21-17-2 record and 44 points. The Devils face a busy schedule ahead, hosting Carolina Sunday before a four-game road stint begins.
Head-to-Head Matchup and Key Statistics
| Category | Utah Mammoth | New Jersey Devils |
| Record | 19-19-3 (41 points) | 21-17-2 (44 points) |
| Last 10 Games | 5-5-0 | 4-5-1 |
| Division Rank | 4th in Central | 6th in Metropolitan |
| Goals Against Avg | 2.88 (12th best) | 3.00 (13th best) |
| Power Play | 16.39% (26th) | 21.4% (10th) |
| Penalty Kill | 82.2% (7th best) | TBA |
This marks the second and final meeting between the teams this season. New Jersey won the first matchup 2-1 on December 19 at Salt Lake City, with the Devils improving to 3-0 against the Mammoth this season. Utah’s special teams will be tested against New Jersey’s solid power-play unit, which ranks 10th in the league.
Utah coach André Tourigny emphasized the importance of disciplined play and quick starts. “More assertive with the puck early on,” he said, noting that Utah needs to improve their first-period intensity on Saturday after struggling early Thursday against the Islanders.
Injury Updates and Olympic Implications
Both teams dealt with injury concerns heading into Saturday’s matinee. Utah remains without Logan Cooley (lower body), Anson Thornton (undisclosed), and Terrell Goldsmith (undisclosed). New Jersey will be missing Evgenii Dadonov, Zack MacEwen, Johnathan Kovacevic, Marc McLaughlin, and Simon Nemec.
However, both rosters received recent Olympic recognition. Utah’s Clayton Keller was named to Team USA for the Winter Olympics, while teammate Olli Määttä earned selection to Finland’s roster. New Jersey’s Jesper Bratt and Jacob Markstrom were selected for Sweden, and Jack Hughes will represent the United States in February.
Can Utah Grab Crucial Road Win and Chase Double Victory?
Saturday’s matchup presents a critical opportunity for the Mammoth to prove they can sustain their newfound offensive prowess on the road. Utah is part of a three-game stretch in the New York Metro area, ending Monday night against the Rangers. A convincing victory over the Devils would provide significant momentum before the final road contest.
The Devils, meanwhile, seek their fourth consecutive victory over Utah while dealing with their own inconsistency this season. With a back-to-back looming against Carolina on Sunday, New Jersey must prioritize Saturday’s afternoon contest to maintain divisional positioning. The Mammoth’s hot offensive attack will be tested against New Jersey’s solid defensive structure and goaltending depth in what promises to be a Metropolitan Division clash worth watching.
Michael Brown is a seasoned sports journalist bringing years of experience covering professional athletics and sporting culture. With a keen eye for breaking stories and player dynamics, this veteran journalist delivers in-depth analysis and exclusive insights from the world’s biggest sporting events. His passion for the game shines through in every story, keeping fans connected to the action both on and off the field.