Mammoth vs. Stars: A Game of Contrasting Fortunes
The Utah Mammoth are set to face off against the Dallas Stars on November 28, 2025, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. This matchup presents a clash between two teams with contrasting recent performances and differing positions in the league standings.
Mammoth's Road to Recovery
The Utah Mammoth enter this game with a record of 12-9-3, placing them in a competitive position within their division. However, their recent form has been inconsistent, marked by a 4-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, snapping a two-game winning streak. The Mammoth have struggled on the road, losing their last five away games. In their last 10 games, they have a 3-4-3 record, scoring 27 goals with a power-play success rate of 8.7%.
Offensively, the Mammoth are led by Nick Schmaltz and Logan Cooley, each with 22 points. Schmaltz has a strong history against the Stars, with points in three of four games last season. Other key contributors include Clayton Keller (21 points), Dylan Guenther (18 points), and JJ Peterka (16 points). Goaltending duties are shared by Karel Vejmelka (10-6-2 record, 2.84 GAA) and Vitek Vanecek (2-3-1 record, 2.85 GAA).
The projected lineup for the Mammoth is as follows:
- Clayton Keller — Barrett Hayton — Nick Schmaltz
- Kailer Yamamoto — Logan Cooley — Dylan Guenther
- JJ Peterka — Jack McBain — Lawson Crouse
- Michael Carcone — Kevin Stenlund — Brandon Tanev
- Mikhail Sergachev — Nick DeSimone
- Nate Schmidt — John Marino
- Ian Cole — Sean Durzi
- Karel Vejmelka
- Vitek Vanecek
Olli Maatta is scratched, while Alex Kerfoot is out with a lower-body injury.
Stars Aim to Shine
The Dallas Stars boast a strong 15-5-4 record, reflecting their solid performance this season. They are coming off a 3-2 win over the Seattle Kraken and have won their last two games. In their last five games, the Stars are 3-1-1, averaging 3.8 goals per game while allowing 2.6. At home, the Stars have been dominant against Central Division opponents, winning their last seven such games.
Jason Robertson leads the Stars with 31 points, followed by Mikko Rantanen with 28. Jake Oettinger is the primary goaltender, holding a 10-4-2 record with a 2.74 GAA. Casey DeSmith has also been solid in his starts, with a 5-1-2 record and a 2.20 GAA.
The projected lineup for the Stars is:
- Jamie Benn — Wyatt Johnston — Mikko Rantanen
- Jason Robertson — Roope Hintz — Tyler Seguin
- Oskar Back — Justin Hryckowian — Mavrik Bourque
- Sam Steel — Radek Faksa — Nathan Bastian
- Esa Lindell — Miro Heiskanen
- Lian Bichsel — Alexander Petrovic
- Vladislav Kolyachonok — Kyle Capobianco
- Jake Oettinger
- Casey DeSmith
Matt Duchene, Nils Lundkvist, Ilya Lyubushkin, and Thomas Harley are currently injured.
Keys to the Game
The Stars' potent offense, averaging 3.38 goals per game, will test the Mammoth's defense. Utah needs to improve its power play, which ranks low in the league. The Mammoth must also find a way to overcome their road woes and capitalize on their scoring opportunities. For the Stars, maintaining their discipline and continuing their strong home play will be crucial.
Prediction
Given the Stars' strong home record and recent form, they are favored to win this contest. However, the Mammoth have shown resilience as underdogs and could pose a challenge if they can tighten up defensively and improve their special teams.
