The NHL season gets back going with the Colorado Avalanche heading across the Rocky Mountains to play against the Utah Mammoth. Wednesday night’s game will wrap up the four-game series this regular season.
One goal has decided each game this season between Utah and Colorado thus far. The Mammoth will look to even up the series with a win on home ice after dropping their last game back on December 23.
Colorado Avalanche (37–9–9, 83 pts)
It’s been a hot minute since Colorado played a game in the NHL, but their last result was no surprise. They took a 4–2 victory over the San Jose Sharks on February 4.
The team will come back together after a two-week break, with some additional hardware from the Olympics. Artturi Lehkonen and Joel Kiviranta come home with bronze medals representing Team Finland. Nathan MacKinnon, Devon Toews, and Cale Makar bring back silver medals from Team Canada. Finally, Brock Nelson delivered a gold medal for the home fans and Team USA.
Maybe the most underrated play of the day.
34-year-old, fully caged Brock Nelson diving to clear the puck to kill the penalty. He has 29 goals in the NHL btw.
Listen to the crowd roar.
Such a selfless play, and so happy he got his gold.
This is what sports is about man. pic.twitter.com/6JloRrVVzY
— River Cracraft Fan Club (@CracraftFan) February 24, 2026
Martin Necas and Gabriel Landeskog were also great for Team Czechia and Team Sweden, respectively, even with no medals to show for it. They’ll all get together to get back in the win column with the ‘A’ on their chest. They’ll do it with new man Brett Kulak on the blue line, acquired in a deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins for fan-favorite Samuel Girard.
Projected Lines
Artturi Lehkonen – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Necas
Gabriel Landeskog – Brock Nelson – Valeri Nichushkin
Ross Colton – Jack Drury – Victor Olofsson
Joel Kiviranta – Parker Kelly – Gavin Brindley
Devon Toews – Cale Makar
Josh Manson – Brent Burns
Brett Kulak – Sam Malinski
Scott Wedgewood
Mackenzie Blackwood
Utah Mammoth (30–23–4, 64 pts)
Utah’s last game also came back on February 4, a 4–1 win at the Delta Center against the Detroit Red Wings. It marked the second straight win heading into the break.
Every point for the Mammoth is important in a tight battle around the wild-card spots, likely unable to catch the top three in the Central Division. Currently, Utah holds the first wild card spot, four points to the good over the Los Angeles Kings.
As previously mentioned, Utah has kept it close and competitive with Colorado all season. With the Avs’ top guys perhaps resting from the Olympic Games and on the first leg of a back-to-back, another win will help the Mammoth’s case toward a playoff spot.
Projected Lines
Clayton Keller – Nick Schmaltz – Lawson Crouse
Jack McBain – Logan Cooley – Dylan Guenther
JJ Peterka – Barrett Hayton – Kailer Yamamoto
Alex Kerfoot – Kevin Stenlund – Michael Carcone
Mikhail Sergachev – Sean Durzi
Nate Schmidt – John Marino
Ian Cole – Nick Desimone
Karel Vejmelka
Vitek Vanecek
Game Details
Time: 7:00 p.m. MT
Watch: Altitude, Altitude+, Utah16, ESPN+ (Out of Market Only)
Listen: Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM/AM 950
