The Utah Mammoth (15-15-3) invade Pennsylvania to battle the Pittsburgh Penguins (14-8-8) in a cross-conference clash where desperation meets dysfunction on the Penguins’ homestand. Utah, fresh off snapping a three-game skid with a home win over Seattle, eyes a road upset against a Penguins squad reeling from an epic third-period collapse against San Jose—blowing a 5-1 lead in overtime for their fourth straight loss. With key centers sidelined on both sides, this matinee could turn into a goaltending duel between Karel Vejmelka and the Penguins’ tandem (likely Arturs Silovs post-trade chaos), emphasizing forecheck battles and special teams efficiency. Faceoff is set for 3:00 p.m. ET from PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The 18,387-seat arena, opened in 2010, has been middling for Pittsburgh this season (6-5-4 home), where they’ve posted a 2.87 GAA but struggled in OT (0-4).
Broadcast options include Sportsnet Pittsburgh (for Penguins fans) and Utah 16, with national streaming on ESPN+ and NHL Network.
Team Records and Standings
| Team | Overall Record | Home/Away Split | Conference/Division Rank | PK% / PP% |
| Utah Mammoth | 15-15-3 | 8-5-1 Home / 7-10-2 Away | 5th Central (33 pts) | 78.5% / 19.2% |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 14-8-8 | 6-5-4 Home / 8-3-4 Away | 6th Metropolitan (36 pts) | 81.3% / 21.8% |
Utah treads water in the Central playoff mix, outscored by 0.1 goals per game overall. Pittsburgh clings to a wild-card spot but has faltered lately, ranking 22nd in 5v5 expected goals for (48.2%).
Recent Team Forms
Utah’s offense clicked Friday (5 goals on 32 SOG), but defensive lapses persist (3.2 GA last 5). Pittsburgh’s collapse exposed third-period fragility (4 GA in final frame vs. SJS), with OT woes mounting (0-4).
Utah Mammoth Last 5 Games:
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats (Mammoth) |
| Dec. 12 | vs. SEA | W 5-3 | 32 SOG, 2/4 PP, 2.45 xGA |
| Dec. 10 | vs. FLA | L 3-4 | 28 SOG, 1/3 PP, 3.12 xGF |
| Dec. 8 | vs. LAK | L 2-4 | 21 SOG, 0/2 PP, 8 PIM |
| Dec. 6 | @ CGY | L 0-2 | 28 SOG, 0/3 PP, 1.92 xGA |
| Dec. 5 | @ VAN | W 4-1 | 34 SOG, 1/4 PP, 3.45 xGF |
Form Summary: 2-3-0. Averaging 2.8 GPG while allowing 2.8 GPG. Road splits even (1-1-1), but PP conversion dips to 25% last 5; Vejmelka’s .912 SV% anchors.
Pittsburgh Penguins Last 5 Games:
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats (Penguins) |
| Dec. 13 | vs. SJS | L 5-6 OT | 37 SOG, 1/4 PP, 4.56 xGA |
| Dec. 11 | vs. MTL | L 2-4 | 30 SOG, 0/3 PP, 2.18 xGA |
| Dec. 9 | vs. ANA | L 3-4 SO | 32 SOG, 1/2 PP, 3.45 xGF |
| Dec. 7 | @ DAL | L 2-3 SO | 29 SOG, 0/3 PP, 1.92 xGA |
| Dec. 4 | @ TBL | W 4-3 | 31 SOG, 2/3 PP, 3.12 xGF |
Form Summary: 1-4-0. Averaging 3.2 GPG but yielding 4.0 GPG. Home OT curse (0-3), turnovers (13.2/game) fuel foes; Crosby’s line (1.45 pts/60) carries load sans Malkin.
Injury Report
Center voids loom large: Utah misses its top playmaker in Cooley, while Pittsburgh’s engine stalls without Malkin. Recent trades (Jarry for Skinner) add uncertainty in net.
Utah Mammoth Injuries:
| Player | Status | Injury Details |
| Logan Cooley | Out (IR) | Lower Body (8+ weeks) |
| Alex Kerfoot | Out | Abdomen/Lower Body |
Pittsburgh Penguins Injuries:
| Player | Status | Injury Details |
| Evgeni Malkin | Out (IR) | Upper Body (Week-to-Week) |
| Blake Lizotte | Out | Undisclosed |
| Caleb Jones | Out | Lower Body |
| Filip Hallander | Out (IR) | Blood Clot/Leg |
| Tanner Howe | Out | ACL |
| Stuart Skinner | IR-NR | Immigration (Recent Trade) |
| Brett Kulak | IR-NR | Immigration (Recent Trade) |
Cooley’s absence (0.79 pts/game) burdens Schmaltz; Malkin’s out (0.92 pts/game) elevates Crosby’s usage to 22+ minutes.
Key Player Matchups
Without Cooley/Malkin, top lines clash: Utah’s speed tests Pittsburgh’s aging core. Penguins’ PK (No. 4 league-wide) targets Mammoth’s middling PP.
Sidney Crosby (PIT, 0.88 pts/game) vs. Nick Schmaltz (UTA, 0.72 pts/game): Crosby’s faceoffs (54.1%) and rush creation overwhelm Schmaltz’s distribution; Schmaltz (14 A) excels in OZ but gaps defensively. Edge: Crosby—multi-point likely, over 0.5 pts prop.
Clayton Keller (UTA, 0.81 pts/game) vs. Erik Karlsson (PIT, 0.62 pts/game): Keller’s shot volume (3.2 SOG/game) exploits Karlsson’s high-danger exposure; Karlsson’s QB (22 A) feeds rushes but tires vs. forecheck. Edge: Keller—prop over 0.5 pts on road.
Bryan Rust (PIT, 0.68 pts/game) vs. JJ Peterka (UTA, 0.59 pts/game): Rust’s net-front grit (12 G) battles Peterka’s speed; Peterka disrupts (1.1 HIT/game) but lacks finish. Edge: Rust—GWG threat in close games.
Karel Vejmelka (UTA, .912 SV%) vs. Arturs Silovs (PIT, .893 SV%): Vejmelka’s rebound control (0.88/60) vs. Silovs’ post-trade jitters (.878 last 3); high-danger edge to Utah. Edge: Vejmelka—over 28 saves.
Bonus Watch: Dylan Guenther (UTA winger) hunts PP time vs. Pittsburgh’s length.
Series History
Limited history since Utah’s relocation: Evenly split at 1-1, with high-event games (avg. 6.0 goals). Pittsburgh’s lone win came at home; Utah stole the road tilt.
Last 2 Head-to-Head Meetings:
| Date | Result | Key Notes |
| Jan. 29, 2025 | PIT 3-2 UTA | Crosby GWG; U 5.5 |
| Nov. 24, 2024 | UTA 4-3 PIT | Keller 2G; O 6.5 |
Trend: 1-1 SU. Overs in 1/2; Pittsburgh 1-0 at home, but Utah covers as dog.
Betting Trends
Puck Line: Utah 5-3 ATS as road favorites; Pittsburgh 4-5-1 ATS as home dogs.
Totals: Mammoth games hit Over in 52% (14/27); Penguins Under in 55% (15/27), but series leans Over.
Game Odds
Utah Mammoth – 135
Pittsburgh Penguins 6.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, December 13, 2025
