In just their second NHL season, the Utah Mammoth have secured a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in franchise history. They punched their post-season ticket with a win over the Nashville Predators, combined with the Anaheim Ducks defeating the San Jose Sharks. With no chance of overtaking the Dallas Stars or Minnesota Wild, Utah will finish in the Wild Card. If they claim the first Wild Card, the Mammoth will face the winner of the Pacific Division. 

Credit Image: © St. Paul Pioneer Press/mct/ZUMAPRESS.com)

Right now, the Vegas Golden Knights occupy first place. However, if Utah drops to the second Wild Card, they’ll go up against the Presidents’ Trophy winning Colorado Avalanche. The Mammoth are currently in the first Wild Card position (fifth in the entire Western Conference) with 90 points, just three ahead of the Los Angeles Kings. Utah most recently had their five-game win streak snapped on Saturday, but have won six of the last 10. 

Here’s why the Mammoth are a sleeper to keep an eye on in the playoffs.

We are IN ‼️ #TusksUp | @Delta pic.twitter.com/uZYkgKPO6h

— x – Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) April 10, 2026

Mammoth Emerge as Quiet Contender After Clinching Playoff Spot

Utah’s quick success has taken everyone by surprise because they were supposed to be rebuilding for at least one more year. However, that may no longer be the case. Even in their first year as the Utah Hockey Club (now Mammoth), they finished with eight more wins than the previous season. That was the final year of the Coyotes. 

Mammoth captain Clayton Keller said this after defeating the Predators: 

“It’s a step in the right direction,” Keller said after clinching. “A lot of us haven’t played in the playoffs in a while and we want to taste that. You want to play against the best teams and see what it’s all about.” Keller recorded three assists in the win and now has 84 points. 

After all the drama of relocating away from Arizona, there’s no doubt that the Mammoth are ready for playoff hockey. Some players who were originally on the Coyotes haven’t been in the postseason since 2020. That list ncludes Keller, Nick Schmaltz, Lawson Crouse, and Barrett Hayton. It was also Arizona’s last playoff appearance. 

Power Play Dominance

Prior to clinching, Utah’s spot in the playoffs was far from guaranteed. There were many other teams fighting for the position, but the Mammoth pulled ahead. A big part of Utah’s recent success has been their red-hot power play. Since the Olympic break ended, the Mammoth power play is second in the NHL at 31.4%. Utah has scored a power play goal in each of the last eight games and have 12 in that span. They also scored at least two in three of the games. 

The Mammoth power play is undoubtedly having its best run of the season despite being 20th in the league. That just shows how much momentum it can give a team. If Utah carries this play with the man advantage into the playoffs, they’ll be tough to beat. 

Fresh Veggies

There’s no question that the Mammoth wouldn’t be in this position if not for the strong play of their goaltender. Karel Vejmelka has been Utah’s backbone all year and he continues to prove himself. The 29-year-old is second for the league lead in wins with 37, Andrei Vasilevskiy has 38. This is a new career-high for the Czech. Vejmelka‘s gone 7-3 in his last 10 starts. 

KAREL VEJMELKA BRINGS THE DELTA CENTER TO THEIR FEET 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/4ZEVttQxfK

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 10, 2026

Despite having a save percentage of just .898, Vejmelka’s been a steady presence in goal, rarely shying away from heavy workloads and always gives his team a chance to win. His 61 starts this year are also a new career-high. 

If “Veggie” can keep this play up, his contract that has just a $4.75 million salary cap hit could be considered one of general manager Bill Armstrong’s best moves. Vejmelka will need to keep it up if Utah hopes to go on a deep playoff run. 

Playoff Atmosphere in Utah

Not only are the Mammoth players ready, the fans are as well. They’ll get their first taste of playoff hockey in Utah in Game 3 of Round 1. When the Mammoth were established, the hockey lovers in Utah really showed support for their new team. This season, all home games have fully sold out despite a limited capacity of just 12,478 seats. The Mammoth have a 21-15-3 record at home.

Tickets went on sale Friday morning after the Mammoth clinched. Meanwhile, fans lined up at the team store to purchase playoff gear. The Stanley Cup Playoffs begin on April 18, so expect the Delta Center to be loud for Game 3.

Main photo by: Chris Nicoll-Imagn Images