The Utah Mammoth are closing in on a playoff spot, and Saturday night’s 6–2 win over the Los Angeles Kings felt like more than just two points for a young team trying to secure its place in the Western Conference race.
“They’re right behind us,” defenseman Mikhail Sergachev said. “It was kind of a four-point game for us. It’s huge.”
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With the victory, Utah strengthened its position in the crowded wild card picture, holding a five-point cushion as of Monday.
Western Conference wild card standings show the Mammoth in control of their fate, though the race remains tight behind them, with Utah holding 82 points in 74 games, followed by the Nashville Predators at 77 points in 74 games, the Los Angeles Kings at 76 points in 73 games, the Seattle Kraken at 75 points in 72 games, and the Winnipeg Jets at 74 points in 73 games.
According to MoneyPuck.com, Utah now sits with a 94% probability of reaching the postseason for the first time since relocating to the state, a milestone that reflects both consistency and timely production as the schedule winds down.
Forward Alexander Kerfoot, who delivered a two-goal effort against Los Angeles, emphasized the mindset inside the locker room as the stakes continue to rise.
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“We’ve almost got a youthful excitement to our team, where we haven’t had any scars for the most part, and we’re not scared of much,” Kerfoot said via The Salt Lake Tribune. “We’ve just got to enjoy the moment, enjoy this stretch. Realize these are hard games to win and the job’s far from done, but we’re in a good spot.”
Kerfoot, who has battled injuries that limited him to fewer than half the season’s games, appears to be rounding into form at a crucial time. Through his return, he has produced five goals and five assists, with eight regular season games remaining to further impact Utah’s push.
“This is what I want to play for. I want to play in these important games down the stretch and be in the playoffs,” he said. “It’s tough coming back into it. I think I can still get better. I’ve still got more to give … and it’s just about going out there and doing it. This is the time everyone wants to be playing. No better time than now.”
Head coach André Tourigny praised Kerfoot’s versatility and recent uptick in play, pointing to both his offensive instincts and defensive reliability.
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“In the last week, he’s really improved,” Tourigny said. “His drive to the net, he has better net presence, he wins big face-offs for us.
“He’s a little bit of a Swiss Army knife. He can do everything. He’s a good offensive player, where he has poise with the puck and creates possession. But, as well, he’s super reliable defensively. … We’re fortunate to have him and that kind of depth.”
Utah will have a brief pause before returning to action Thursday night, a four-day break Tourigny views as an important opportunity to reset physically and mentally.
“That’s important at this time of the year,” he said. “It’s a different break than others in the sense that we need to take it really seriously and manage it right.”
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When play resumes, the Mammoth will host the Seattle Kraken in another matchup with direct playoff implications, a game that could further shape the wild card race.
“We have a really important game coming back,” Tourigny said. “That’s a team that’s chasing us.”
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