(10-27-26) Minnesota Wild Vs. Utah Mammoth: NHL Goaltending Matchup

The Minnesota Wild (8-3-2) will put Jesper Wallstedt between the pipes as they travel to Salt Lake City to face the Utah Mammoth (8-4-0) at the Delta Center.

The Mammoth will turn to Karel Vejmelka, their workhorse netminder.

Wallstedt has started an NHL-leading 11 games this season, posting a 7-2-2 record with a .918 save percentage and a 2.08 goals-against average. Wallstedt has been stellar for the Wild so far. In his 11 appearances, he's allowed four goals just twice. 

As for Vejmelka, he's off to a bit of a slow start. Throughout his career, he's become known as a starting goaltender who can handle a big workload, but not always post superstar numbers. He's played more than 50 games in four of his five NHL seasons, most recently 64 in 2025-26. He is once again on pace to play over 50 games.

To start the 2026-27 campaign, he's dressed in 10 of the Mammoth's 12 games, posting a 6-3-0 record, an .878 SP, and a 3.13 GAA. He's

The Wild have struggled in this matchup. Since they became the Mammoth (formerly the Arizona Coyotes), the Wild have lost six of the seven matchups, with the Mammoth owning a 5-1-1 record. 

In their most recent matchup, the Wild dismantled the Mammoth 5-0 on March 10, 2026. 

Wallstedt has made only one appearance against the Mammoth so far. The Mammoth shelled him, and he posted a .865 SP and 5.00 GAA. Vejmelka, by contrast, has thrived against the Wild. In 14 games, Vejmelka is 8-4-1 with a .911 SP and 2.68 GAA. He's also posted one shutout against the Wild. 

The winner of tonight's matchup will lead the Central Division. The Wild currently own that spot with 18 points, two more than the Mammoth. The Mammoth have a game in hand on the Wild, so if they win tonight's game in regulation, they'll lead the standings by points percentage. A Wild win or overtime loss will keep them in first place. 

Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. CST at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.

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