The Utah Mammoth kicked off their 2025-26 preseason with a split-squad game against the Colorado Avalanche. Due to travel issues, the games were delayed but finally got started at 5:00 and 7:30.
The first game had Tij Iginla, Cole Beaudoin, Maveric Lamoureux, and Artem Duda headlining it. Unfortunately, they lost 5-1 but had some bright spots. One in particular was Michael Carcone, who scored a power-play goal about 10 minutes into the game for Utah's lone goal. Iginla and Beaudoin also had the chance to show what they can do.
Mammoth head coach Andre Tourigny spoke about the positives in Game 1.
“I liked our compete level, I think the theme of that game was our youth and our decision-making,” he shared. “We played good enough but we made costly mistakes and some of our play change up and puck management. That is normal with the age, so I liked our effort and how we behaved out there. I think there was a lot of compete. (Colorado) had a really good lineup so I’m not surprised about the result, but I like the fact how (our) guys fought.”
For a preseason game, there was a lot of rough stuff. Utah's Curtis Douglas and Colorado's Keaton Middleton dropped the gloves and fought just two minutes into the game.
There was also a scrap between Sam Lipkin and Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog after Lipkin delivered a somewhat high hit on Cale Makar and Landeskog took exception. The fight didn’t last long, with Lipkin being caught with a handful of uppercuts before falling to the ice.
The rest of the game wasn’t necessarily dominated by the Avalanche, but their NHL-caliber players showed why they are some of the league’s best. That led to Colorado winning 5-1 over the Mammoth.
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As for the second game, it was a closer affair. The Mammoth played a few more “regulars” in this one with the likes of Logan Cooley, Lawson Crouse, J.J. Peterka, and Sean Durzi.
There was a consistent storyline throughout the two games, and that was the Mammoth power play. Both Sammy Walker and Daniil But scored on the man advantage in Game 2.
Tourigny spoke about But after the game.
“I’m happy about (But),” Tourigny shared. “I think definitely his best day of the camp. Not just his goal, his game in general. He was at the net more, he was inside more, he was reliable, he played with a lot of pace. I liked his game a lot.”
The Avalanche had another mixed bag of veterans in this game, and that helped them win. Both Artturi Lehkonen and Martin Necas scored for them.
In Game 2, the rough stuff continued. Cooley received a hard hit from Colorado's Zakhar Bardakov. He was met by Crouse a bit later in the game, who dropped the gloves and stood up for his teammate.
That too caught the attention of Tourigny, who had this to say.
“Unreal,” Tourigny said about Crouse. “It’s fabulous to see him react that way and to show character. And even before the game, in terms of prep. I mentioned about us, we didn’t want to play an immature game, (we wanted to) manage the puck and grow in that sense as a team, and he led the way. So, really proud of him.”
The previously mentioned Walker power-play goal came within the last six minutes of the game to bring it to a 2-2 tie. Unfortunately, another one of Colorado's regulars, Brock Nelson, scored to give them a 3-2 lead. That held up as the game winner, and the Mammoth lost Game 2 by a score of 3-2.
The Hockey News Sunday Recap: Utah Mammoth - Sunday Sept. 21st
Happy Sunday, Utah Mammoth fans.
All in all, the Mammoth played well. Yes, they lost, but it’s preseason. Wins and losses don’t count, but effort does. Preseason is a time for fringe players to show the coaching staff and front office why they deserve to be here. Several players on the Mammoth did that, including young players like Iginla and Beaudoin.
They also stuck up for each other in both games, which will help everyone adapt to an “all for one” mentality. That’s the same type of mentality that the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning play with, which has led to so much success.
Next for the Mammoth, they head to Anaheim to take on the Ducks tonight at 8:00 pm MT. Outside of that, they will resume training camp, which means there will be cuts coming to their roster. It will likely be players on PTOs and/or those returning to junior teams. The first round of cuts could come at any point this week. But with another game tonight, it feels like they will come after the game against the Ducks and before Thursday’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights.
So, be sure to bookmark the Utah site to stay up to date on all things regarding the team.
Let us know what you think below in the comments.
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