The Utah Mammoth (19-20-3, 41 points) visit the New York Rangers (20-18-5, 45 points) in an interconference matchup as both teams hover around .500 in the 2025-26 NHL season. The Mammoth sit sixth in the Central Division, while the Rangers are fifth in the Metropolitan. This game pits a Utah squad looking to rebound from a recent loss against a Rangers team coming off a strong victory. With limited head-to-head history due to Utah’s recent entry into the league, expect a competitive affair influenced by goaltending and special teams.
Venue Location
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY. This iconic arena, home to the Rangers since 1968, seats approximately 18,006 for hockey and is known for its electric atmosphere, especially in primetime games.
Puckdrp is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and local networks (Utah16 for Mammoth fans, MSG for Rangers viewers).
Injury Report
Both teams are dealing with key absences that could impact depth and special teams.
Utah Mammoth: The Mammoth are relatively healthy entering this matchup, with only one notable player on the injury list as of January 4. Center Logan Cooley is out with a lower-body injury sustained in mid-December and placed on injured reserve. He has been sidelined for nearly a month, affecting Utah’s secondary scoring. Goaltender Karel Vejmelka was recently mentioned in updates but appears available, making this one of the healthiest lineups Utah has fielded this season.
New York Rangers: Injuries have mounted for the Rangers recently, prompting roster shakeups including a triple recall from the AHL. Rookie forward Noah Laba is week-to-week with an upper-body injury suffered ahead of the Winter Classic, a significant blow to their bottom-six energy. Forward J.T. Miller is on injured reserve (placed December 22), and center Adam Edstrom is out with a lower-body issue (since December 9). These absences have forced call-ups like Brett Berard, Anton Blidh, and Justin Dowling, potentially straining defensive matchups.
Player Matchups
This game features intriguing battles between offensive stars, defensive anchors, and goaltenders. Key matchups to watch:
Clayton Keller (Utah) vs. Artemi Panarin (New York): Keller, Utah’s leading scorer with his speed and playmaking, will test Panarin’s defensive responsibilities. Panarin’s creativity and shot volume could exploit Utah’s transition defense, but Keller’s quickness might create odd-man rushes the other way.
Dylan Guenther (Utah) vs. Mika Zibanejad (New York): Zibanejad is coming off a hat trick in the Rangers’ last game, showcasing his lethal one-timer on the power play. Guenther, a rising young sniper for Utah, will need to match that offensive output while navigating Zibanejad’s two-way play in faceoff circles.
Connor Ingram/Karel Vejmelka (Utah) vs. Igor Shesterkin (New York): Goaltending could decide this one. Shesterkin remains one of the league’s elite, with a strong home record, but Utah’s tandem has been solid in road games. If Vejmelka starts (amid recent health notes), his rebound control will be key against New York’s high-volume shooters.
Defensive Pairing: Mikhail Sergachev (Utah) vs. Chris Kreider (New York): Sergachev’s physicality and puck-moving ability will be tested by Kreider’s net-front presence, especially on the power play where Kreider excels at tips and screens.
These matchups highlight the contrast between Utah’s youth-driven speed and New York’s veteran experience.
Utah is 10-13-2 on the road, while New York is stronger at home (likely around 12-8-2 based on overall record).
Recent Team Forms
Both teams have been inconsistent but show signs of stabilization.
Utah Mammoth: The Mammoth are 5-5-0 in their last 10 games, reflecting a .500 team fighting for playoff positioning. They recently lost 1-4 to the New Jersey Devils on January 3, struggling with secondary scoring amid Cooley’s absence. Prior wins included gritty road victories, but they’ve gone 2-4 in their last 6 overall. Utah’s power play has been middling, but their penalty kill ranks in the top half of the league.
New York Rangers: Also 5-5-0 in their last 10, the Rangers snapped a potential skid with a convincing 5-1 win over the Florida Panthers on January 2, highlighted by Zibanejad’s hat trick. They’ve been 2-4 in their last 6 but excel at home, where the under has hit in 8 of their last 10 games. Injuries have hurt depth, but their top line remains potent.
Series History
The series is young, with only three prior meetings since Utah’s inception. The Rangers hold a 1-1-1 record against the Mammoth, with a goal differential of zero. Utah has won two of the three (including one in overtime), but New York claimed a 3-2 victory in their most recent matchup on November 22, 2025. Historically, games have been low-scoring, with totals under 6 in all contests. Utah is 7-2 in their last 9 against the Rangers (including pre-relocation Arizona history, per some trends).
Betting Trends
Utah Mammoth Trends: 16-24 ATS overall, with a 18-20-2 O/U record. They’ve covered the puck line in 4 of their last 7 road games but are 2-4 SU in their last 6. Utah games trend over when facing Metropolitan teams (52.4% of games exceed the total), but unders have hit in 4 of their last 5 vs. Rangers historically.
New York Rangers Trends: Stronger at home ATS (around 12-8), but 2-4 SU in last 6 overall. Unders dominate at MSG (8 of last 10 home games), and they’ve gone 12-3 SU in last 15 vs. Central Division foes. Rangers games hit the over in only 40% of injury-impacted matchups this season.
Game Odds
Utah Mammoth 5.5
New York Rangers – 112
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Sunday, January 4, 2026
