The Colorado Avalanche will take on the Utah Mammoth in their home opener on Thursday night. The Avalanche are coming off a big 4-1 win over the LA Kings in their season opener on Tuesday night at the Crypto.com Arena.
Meanwhile, the Mammoth will be making their season debut, as they unveil their new look for the 2025-26 season. Utah rebranded its club for this season after playing one year under the “Hockey Club” designation.
So, let’s take a closer look at the preview, odds, lines, and matchups for the Avalanche vs Mammoth showdown on Thursday night.
Avalanche vs Mammoth preview
The Colorado Avalanche (1-0) got a big two-goal performance from Martin Necas. Stars Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar had two assists apiece. Scott Wedgwood had a fantastic start in his first appearance of the season.
As such, the Avalanche will be looking to carry that momentum. Despite likely not having MacKenzie Blackwood available for Thursday night’s game, the Avalanche will ice a full, healthy lineup. It remains to be seen if Zakhar Bardakov will suit up for the Avalanche on the fourth line, potentially moving rookie Gavin Brindley out of the lineup.
Otherwise, the Avalanche should roll with essentially the same lineup from Tuesday night.
As for the Mammoth, they’ll be looking to hit the ground running in their season opener. The club had a solid preseason. The biggest question marks will be in their bottom six. Centers Barrett Hayton and Kevin Stenlund are reportedly dealing with injuries.
Meanwhile, the Mammoth’s blue line looks healthy, as is starting netminder Karel Vejmelka. Vitek Vanacek will be backing up Vejmelka in the crease.
Players to watch
For the Colorado Avalanche, fans should keep an eye on captain Gabe Landeskog. He had a strong first game of the season. The questions surrounding his healed knee could linger until he proves that the injury is no longer an issue.
Also, Wedgewood will need to prove he can play well in his second straight start. A strong defense by the Avalanche should make his night easier.
Lastly, Martin Necas will be in the spotlight. His two goals on Tuesday night were an encouraging start. That’s why fans will be eager to see if he can continue his scoring touch.
The Mammoth’s most anticipated player will be JJ Peterka. Peterka came over from the Buffalo Sabres in a massive offseason trade. The game will mark Peterka’s first official matchup for the Mammoth.
Other stars like Dylan Guenther, Logan Cooley, and captain Clayton Keller will be stars to watch. Fans could get plenty of scoring chances from that trio on Thursday night.
Also, newcomer on the blue line, Nate Schmidt, will hit the ice for the Mammoth. Schmidt won his first career Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers last season.
Betting odds, lines, analysis
Here’s a look at the betting odds and lines, according to FanDuel:
- The Avalanche enter the game as the favorites at -178.
- The Mammoth are the underdogs at +146.
- The total goals is set at 6.5.
- The puck line favors the Avalanche at -1.5.
Analysis:
The Avalanche are the favorites to win by more than 1.5 goals. The Avalanche are +136 to cover the spread, with the Mammoth at -168.
FanDuel gives the Colorado a 70.5% of winning this Avalanche vs Mammoth showdown.
The biggest matchup of the night will be both teams’ top lines going head-to-head. So, the game may ultimately come down to the middle-six players making a difference on the ice.
Please note that game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.