SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Mammoth returns to its home along the Wasatch Front for a battle with the New Jersey Devils.
The Mammoth (17-16-3, 37 points) is hosting New Jersey (19-14-1, 39 points) at the Delta Center on Friday, December 19. Utah is 8-5-1 at home, while New Jersey is 9-8-0 on the road.
Tonight’s game is a battle of ninth-place teams in their respective conferences. The Devils are tied with the Tampa Bay Lightning for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot. Utah’s 37 points are even with the San Jose Sharks for the last playoff spot in the West.
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Back at Delta Center.
🏒: @utahmammoth vs. @NJDevils
⏰: 7:00 PM
📻: @KSLSportsZone and the KSL Sports app pic.twitter.com/wqmZzIYNhO
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 19, 2025
Nick Schmaltz leads Utah with 31 points (12 goals, 19 assists), followed by 30 points (11 goals, 19 assists) from Captain Clayton Keller.
Left-winger Jesper Bratt leads the Devils with 29 points (6 goals, 23 assists). Timo Meier’s 11 goals lead four players with double-figure goals.
Mammoth defenseman John Marino reaches the 400 career games milestone
Recognizing the need to beef up the backend of its defense, Utah Mammoth GM Bill Armstrong made veteran NHL defensman John Marino one of his first trade acquisitions after the club arrived in Salt Lake City last summer.
The former New Jersey Devil was limited to 35 games in his first season with Utah, but his influence on the team was evident from the start.
“A lot of poise, a lot of brains, he’s super smart,” head coach André Tourigny said when asked about Marino’s milestone. “Smart hockey player. He’s a good puck mover; he moves the puck well. Even in crunch situations, I think he’s capable of making those high-level plays with the puck.”
RELATED: Getting To Know 2025 Utah Mammoth Defenseman John Marino
MORNING SKATE
“A lot of poise, a lot of brains, he’s super smart. Smart hockey player, he’s a good puck mover. He moves the puck really well, even in crunch situations.”@utahmammoth André Tourigny on John Marino playing his 400th NHL game tonight pic.twitter.com/CY1S536lPz
— Utah Mammoth PR (@UtahMammoth_PR) December 19, 2025
The Massachusetts native scored one goal and added 13 assists late last year as the club made a late playoff push that ultimately came up short.
A fully healthy Marino already has two goals and 15 assists this year and is +14 in more than 20 minutes on the ice per game.
Tonight is Marino’s second game against his former team.
Mammoth vs. New Jersey Devils Pregame
Lines from today:
Keller – Schmaltz – Peterka
Crouse – Hayton – Guenther
Carcone – McBain – But
O’Brien – Stenlund – Yamamoto
Sergachev – Durzi
Schmidt – Marino
Cole – DeSimome
Valimaki – Maatta
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) December 19, 2025
Karel Vejmelka is the first goaltender off the ice.
That indicates he should start against New Jersey tonight.#TusksUp #NJDevils
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) December 19, 2025
Per Tourigny, there will be some game time decisions tonight against the Devils.#TusksUp #NJDevils
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) December 19, 2025
Follow the Utah Mammoth with KSL Sports
Utah completes a two-game homestand against the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday, December 21. The puck drops at 5 p.m. MT.
Follow the entire 2025-26 Utah Mammoth schedule here.
The Smith Entertainment Group’s (SEG) streaming platform will also continue to carry all Mammoth games on SEG+ in 2025-26.
Cole Bagley is the Utah Mammoth insider for KSL Sports. Follow him on X. You can hear Cole break down the team on KSL Sports Zone and KSL 5 TV.
All Mammoth games will be broadcast live on the KSL Sports Zone (97.5 FM/1280 AM). Occasionally, KSL NewsRadio (102.7 FM / 1160 AM) also airs Jazz games.
Take us with you, wherever you go.
Brian Preece is a KSLSports.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.