Avalanche Vs Mammoth: Avs Make Mammoth Return as Five Games in Seven Days Begin
Avalanche Vs Mammoth is the headline as Colorado resumes play tonight in Salt Lake City after a three-week Olympic pause. The Avs open a demanding stretch — five games in seven days, including multiple back-to-back pairs — making the first meeting against Utah a key barometer for health, roster balance, and short-term momentum.
Avalanche Vs Mammoth — Game logistics and series context
The matchup is scheduled for 7 p. m. MT at Delta Center. This marks the fourth and final regular-season meeting between the clubs; in three earlier encounters this season Colorado won 2-1 in Denver, Utah prevailed 4-3 in overtime at home, and Colorado won 1-0 in Denver. Across six prior regular-season games against the Mammoth, the Avalanche hold a 4-1-1 record.
The calendar pressure is immediate: tonight is the first in a sequence that includes back-to-back games and five contests over seven days. Colorado will return home to host the Minnesota Wild on Thursday evening as the compressed stretch continues.
Roster movements, Olympic returns, and what shifts for Colorado
Colorado returns a core contingent of players who represented their countries at the Olympic Games in Italy. The club was one of the teams that sent eight players to the tournament: Martin Nečas with Czechia; Gabriel Landeskog as captain of Sweden; Joel Kiviranta and Artturi Lehkonen with Finland, who captured bronze; Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Devon Toews with Canada, who earned silver; and Brock Nelson with the United States, who won gold. The return of those players restores depth and experience to the lineup after the break.
There is, however, a notable roster change: Colorado traded defenseman Sam Girard and a second-round pick in 2028 to Pittsburgh in exchange for defenseman Brett Kulak. Kulak, 32, arrived in Pittsburgh from Edmonton as part of a prior deal this season; in 25 games with Pittsburgh he recorded one goal and six assists, and he had two assists in 31 games earlier this season with Edmonton. Last season represented Kulak's career highs with seven goals, 18 assists and 25 points.
Coach Jared Bednar characterized the incoming defenseman as a big, experienced skater who defends well, moves the puck and provides matchup flexibility. That versatility could alter defensive pairings and how Colorado matches up against opponents' top lines during this compressed run.
Key players, recent form, and matchup angles
Nathan MacKinnon remains a central force: he leads the league in goals and ranks among the top scorers in points and assists, and he has produced six points (2g/4a) across six career games versus Utah. Cale Makar stands out among defensemen in points and assists, while Brock Nelson has been a consistent scoring option, ranking among the NHL leaders in goals over the recent span. Martin Nečas and Makar have also shown a knack for producing against Utah in past meetings.
On the Mammoth side, Clayton Keller leads the club in points and assists; Dylan Guenther paces the team in goals; and Nick Schmaltz sits among the top contributors in goals and assists. The Mammoth enter the matchup off a 4-1 home victory over Detroit earlier in February.
Odds, predictions and what to watch tonight
Pre-game projections expect a close contest. One prediction set the puck line in favor of Utah at +1. 5, the over/under at 5. 5 goals, and a score projection of Avalanche 4, Mammoth 3. With Colorado’s road save percentage and recent individual scoring trends noted in team reports, the matchup promises to test both club depth and how quickly Olympic participants and the new acquisition settle back into the lineup.
Expect the first game of this tight slate to clarify short-term rotation decisions, defensive matchups involving the new roster piece, and which line combinations can sustain heavy minutes across multiple quick turnarounds. Recent updates indicate roster availability and line deployments may continue to evolve as the week progresses.
