The Los Angeles Kings (13-8-7) head to Salt Lake City to face the Utah Mammoth (14-13-3) in a pivotal Pacific Division battle at Delta Center, where the Kings look to build on a commanding 6-0 shutout over Chicago on Saturday—Brandt Clarke’s two goals fueling a defensive masterclass from Darcy Kuemper (26 saves). Los Angeles, second in the Pacific with a stingy 2.50 GA/G (3rd in NHL), has won three of four but enters fatigued on the second night of a back-to-back road swing. The Mammoth, fourth in the Central after a 2-0 loss to Calgary on Saturday, have dropped three of five amid goaltending inconsistencies (3.00 GAA combined for Vejmelka/Vanecek) but boast a solid home mark (7-3-1). This rematch of a one-sided series—Kings 3-0 this season—features LA’s structured forecheck against Utah’s opportunistic rush (3.03 GF/G, 12th), with the Mammoth’s power play (14.6%) testing the Kings’ league-worst 13.8% PK. Expect a tight, low-event affair as both vie for positioning in the crowded West playoff race.
Game Details
Puckdrop: 9:00 p.m. ET
Venue: Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah (capacity: 18,300)
Broadcast: ESPN+, Bally Sports West (Kings), Utah 16 (Mammoth)
This late-night tilt caps Monday’s slate, with Utah opening a four-game homestand and the Kings wrapping a two-game road trip. The Delta Center crowd has seen the Mammoth go 7-3-1 at home, outscoring foes 3.2-2.5 per game.
Injury Report
The Kings enter healthy across the board, a boon for their depth, while Utah’s absences hit their center depth and blue line, forcing heavy minutes on prospects like Michael Kesselring. The Mammoth have lost 45 man-games, impacting transitions.
| Team | Player | Position | Status | Injury | Estimated Return | Notes |
| Los Angeles Kings | None | – | – | – | – | Full roster available; Kuemper rested after shutout. |
| Utah Mammoth | Logan Cooley | C | Day-to-Day (Doubtful) | Lower Body | December 8 | 14G-9A in 29GP; knee-on-knee vs. STL, scratched Saturday—MRI pending. |
| Utah Mammoth | Olli Maatta | D | Injured Reserve | Upper Body | December 8 | 0G-1A in 16GP; placed on IR Nov. 27—veteran stabilizer out. |
| Utah Mammoth | Alexander Kerfoot | C | Out | Abdomen (Surgery) | December 15 | Core muscle procedure Oct. 24; 8-10 weeks—faceoff specialist (52%). |
Impact: Cooley’s absence drops Utah to 2.8 GF/G without him; Maatta’s void exposes the right side, with Kesselring logging 24+ minutes. Kings’ clean sheet allows lineup continuity.
Key Player Matchups
With Utah depleted up the middle, LA’s veterans should control tempo—watch Kempe’s rush vs. Utah’s thin D and Kopitar’s faceoffs (54%) vs. Keller’s creativity. Kings’ 80.7% PK faces Mammoth’s 14.6% PP.
Adrian Kempe (LAK, RW) vs. Clayton Keller (UTA, C): Kempe (9G-15A-24P) erupted with multi-goal games lately (2G Saturday); Keller (9G-17A-26P) drives Utah’s attack (team-high 38.5% on-ice goals). Kempe’s speed exploits gaps. Edge: Kempe—hotter form.
Anze Kopitar (LAK, C) vs. Nick Schmaltz (UTA, C): Kopitar (team-high assists) wins draws (54%); Schmaltz (11G-14A-25P) thrives in high-danger (42.1% on-ice). Kopitar’s two-way anchors. Edge: Kopitar—experience.
Drew Doughty (LAK, D) vs. Logan Cooley (UTA, C, if active): Doughty (+7, 25:15 TOI) shutdowns rushes; Cooley (14G) dazzles but day-to-day. Doughty’s positioning prevails. Edge: Doughty.
Goalie Duel: Darcy Kuemper (LAK) vs. Karel Vejmelka (UTA): Kuemper (10-6-3, 2.45 GAA, .915 SV%) rides shutout streak; Vejmelka (8-7-2, 2.90 GAA) solid at home but faces LA’s 28.6 SOG/G. Edge: Kuemper—momentum.
Projected Lines (Subject to change):
Kings: Kopitar-Kempe-Kopitar | Moore-Danault-Lemieux | Grundstrom-Lizotte-Ehlers | Byfield-Aubi-Kaliyev | Doughty-Hellebuyck | Roy-Moverare
Mammoth: Keller-Schmaltz-Peterka | Hayton-Gregor-Keller | Maccelli-Hayton-Dvorak | Kerfoot (if active)-Schmaltz-Gregor | Kesselring-Seider
Team Records and Standings
| Team | Record | Points | Goal Diff. | Home/Away | Division Rank |
| Los Angeles Kings | 13-8-7 | 33 | +18 | 4-6-3 Home / 9-2-4 Away | 2nd Pacific |
| Utah Mammoth | 14-13-3 | 31 | +16 | 7-3-1 Home / 7-10-2 Away | 4th Central |
Kings rank 3rd GA/G (2.50), 27th GF/G (2.68), 80.7% PK (19th); Mammoth 12th GF/G (3.03), 15th GA/G (2.87), 82.1% PK (9th).
Recent Team Forms
Kings’ shutout masks a 3-1-1 stretch with strong underlying play (58% Corsi); Utah’s loss ends 2-3 skid marked by special teams lapses.
Kings Last 5 Games (3-1-1):
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Notes |
| Dec. 6 | vs. CHI | W 6-0 | Clarke 2G; Kuemper shutout, 0/2 PK allowed. |
| Dec. 4 | @ CHI | L 1-2 | Low-event; 28 SOG, PP drought (0/3). |
| Dec. 2 | vs. VAN | W 4-3 (OT) | Kempe GWG; resilient comeback. |
| Nov. 30 | @ SJS | W 3-2 | Defensive stand; 1/3 PP. |
| Nov. 29 | vs. CGY | T 3-3 (OT) | Tied after rally; PK 4/4. |
Mammoth Last 5 Games (2-3-0):
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Notes |
| Dec. 6 | vs. CGY | L 0-2 | Vejmelka 28 saves; shutout ends streak. |
| Dec. 4 | @ STL | W 4-3 | Keller 2A; PP clicks (2/4). |
| Dec. 2 | vs. MIN | L 3-5 | Defensive collapse; 26 SOG. |
| Nov. 29 | @ COL | W 3-2 | Road upset; timely goals. |
| Nov. 28 | vs. DAL | L 2-4 | PP woes (0/3); outshot 30-24. |
Kings 6-2-2 L10 (2.8 GF/G); Mammoth 5-4-1 L10 (3.0 GF/G).
Series History
These Pacific/Central foes have met three times this season, with the Kings dominating 3-0 (outscoring Utah 12-7), including 3-2 (Oct. 26), 5-3 (Feb. 22), and 4-2 (Apr. 3) wins—all LA victories. All-time (since Utah’s relocation), it’s 3-0 for the Kings (100% win rate), with LA holding the edge on the road (2-0 at Delta Center). No playoff history yet. Average: 6.3 goals/game; Kings 3-0 SU, 2-1 ATS.
Betting Trends
Puck Line: Utah covers 40% as home faves.
Total (O/U): 5.5 (Over -110; Under -110) – Under 6-3 in Kings’ L9 road; Mammoth 4-1 Under L5 home.
Trends: Kings 3-0 SU last 3 H2H; Mammoth 1-4 ATS L5 home. Utah 4-6 SU L10 vs. Pacific.
Game Odds
Los Angeles Kings 5.5
Utah Mammoth – 118
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Sunday, December 7, 2025
