The Avalanche aim to build on their early-season momentum as they face the Utah Mammoth in a rematch that could hinge on goaltending and discipline.
The Colorado Avalanche and Utah Mammoth meet for the second time in this young season, and all signs point to another tightly contested matchup reminiscent of their first encounter.
In their initial meeting, Nathan MacKinnon netted the go-ahead goal early in the third period on the power play, while Scott Wedgewood stopped 32 shots to lead the Avalanche to a hard-fought 2–1 victory over the Utah Mammoth on October 9.
Overall, it was far from a polished performance by the Avalanche, who spent much of the night grappling with penalties and inconsistent puck control. Costly turnovers repeatedly led to odd-man rushes and breakaways, putting Wedgewood under relentless pressure — yet, true to form, he remained poised and outstanding in goal. Still, as the saying goes, the more you flirt with danger, the greater your vulnerability becomes. It’s akin to a fighter who habitually drops their left hand in the pocket — you might get away with it once or twice, but unless you tighten up, the next shot could land with far more consequence.
But credit where it’s due — this Avalanche team finds itself in a far stronger position than it did a year ago. Colorado sits at 5-0-1, having allowed just nine goals through six games. At this point last season, the Avs were 2-4 and had surrendered 29 goals. Several factors contribute to that turnaround, chief among them the stability in net — having a goaltender consistently stopping the puck tends to help. And while the injury list is still a factor, it pales in comparison to last season, when the roster could’ve practically filled a university wellness center. The difference in depth, health, and composure has been unmistakable.
A Statistically Close Encounter
When you examine the Mammoth, they enter at 4-2 on the season, averaging four goals per game while allowing just two. Across the ice, the Avalanche are producing at a nearly identical offensive pace, scoring close to four goals per contest and surrendering fewer than two on average. In essence, these are two potent offensive teams performing at a similar clip. However, the defining difference lies on the defensive side — an area where Colorado has shown remarkable growth. Once plagued by inconsistency and questionable depth in goal, the Avalanche have transformed those former weaknesses into one of their greatest strengths.
Players To Spy On
You might call this the Captain Obvious report, but any analysis of the Avalanche demands attention to their top offensive line. Artturi Lehkonen, Nathan MacKinnon, and Martin Nečas have been operating on an entirely different planet this season. Watching them orchestrate plays is nothing short of poetry in motion. In just six games, the trio has combined for 12 goals and 15 assists, totaling 27 points. By comparison, the Mammoth’s top line — Clayton Keller, Barrett Hayton, and Nick Schmaltz — has amassed only 18 points, although Hayton has missed a few games. Nonetheless, thehe disparity underscores just how dominant Colorado’s top unit has been.
Beyond Utah’s top line, one player who has consistently impressed — from his days in the WHL with the Edmonton Oil Kings to the present — is Dylan Guenther. He possesses the rare ability to seize control of a game, with an almost uncanny awareness and a relentless drive to the puck. Once he’s in motion, few can impede him — unless, of course, your name is Scott Wedgewood, who denied him on a breakaway in their first matchup. Even the Mammoth’s lone goal in that contest came off a blistering one-timer from Guenther. Observing his development has been a study in progression: during the 2023-24 season, when the Arizona Coyotes were still breathing, he recorded 35 points (18 goals, 17 assists) in 45 games. Last season with Utah, he nearly doubled that rate of production, amassing 60 points (27 goals, 33 assists) over 70 games.
Much like their initial meeting, this contest could very well hinge on the goaltending. When speaking with Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar on Saturday night, he neither confirmed nor denied whether Trent Miner would see a start before Mackenzie Blackwood returns from injury, suggesting that Scott Wedgewood is poised for a seventh consecutive start. While that workload might raise eyebrows, Wedgewood is arguably in the prime form of his career. Over six games, the 33-year-old has posted a career-low 1.48 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage.
On the other side of the ice, Karel Vajmelka, Utah’s starting netminder, is similarly performing at an elevated level. The 29-year-old boasts a 3–1 record with a career-low 2.00 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage. While not quite matching Wedgewood’s elite numbers, Vajmelka’s performance represents a significant boost from previous seasons.
But it’s also important to recognize the depth of this Avalanche roster. Gabriel Landeskog appears overdue for a goal, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Jack Drury notch his first of the season, with Ross Colton serving as an ideal setup man to make it happen.
It’s Game Day!
The only way to find out how it all goes down is to watch the game for yourself. The Avalanche are ready to square off against the Mammoth at Delta Center. Puck drop is at 8 p.m. local time.