Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
Puck drop: 7:00 p.m. ET (5:00 p.m. MT)
TV: MSG SportsNet (Devils), Utah16 / Mammoth+ (Utah), ESPN+ (out-of-market)
Utah continues a five-game Eastern road trip after opening 2-0 before a loss in New York. New Jersey opens a three-game homestand looking to rebound from a lopsided road defeat. This is the first of two meetings this season (the rematch is Dec. 29 in Utah).
Projected Lineups / Current Rosters
Utah Mammoth (projected; Karel Vejmelka expected to start):
Forwards: Clayton Keller – Nick Schmaltz – Vincent Trocheck; Anders Lee – Logan Cooley – Dylan Guenther; Jack McBain – Barrett Hayton – Lawson Crouse; Michael Carcone – Kevin Stenlund – Daniil But
Defense: Mikhail Sergachev – MacKenzie Weegar; Nate Schmidt – John Marino; Dmitri Simashev – Andrew Peeke
Goalies: Karel Vejmelka (starter), Sebastian Cossa
New Jersey Devils (projected; Jake Allen confirmed/expected to start; Jesper Boqvist drawing in):
Forwards: Anthony Mantha – Jack Hughes – Jesper Bratt; Timo Meier – Nico Hischier – Luke Evangelista; Arseny Gritsyuk – Evan Rodrigues – Dawson Mercer; Amadeus Lombardi – Cody Glass – Jesper Boqvist
Defense: Luke Hughes – Brett Pesce; Jonas Siegenthaler – Dougie Hamilton (depth options include Brenden Dillon / Declan Chisholm)
Goalies: Jake Allen (starter), with Remi Poirier / Nico Daws in the mix
Injury Reports
Mammoth: Maveric Lamoureux (D, shoulder, IR; long-term, expected out until at least February). No other major absences noted for this game.
Devils: Connor Brown (RW, lower-body, out this week / at least through Oct. 10); Nick Bjugstad (C, pectoral, IR long-term until January); Johnathan Kovacevic (D, knee, IR); Seamus Casey (D, knee, IR, 6-8+ weeks).
Recent Team Forms
Utah: Opened with a 6-0 home win over Chicago, followed by a 4-1 road win at Columbus, then a 4-2 loss at the Rangers (third-period collapse). Strong special teams early (power play around 66-75% in limited samples; perfect PK in early reports). Nick Schmaltz leads with four goals; Clayton Keller and Dylan Guenther tied with five points. Goaltending solid (Vejmelka ~1.5 GAA / .917 SV%; Cossa strong in limited action).
New Jersey: 3-2 OT win over Philadelphia in the home opener, then a 6-0 road loss at the Islanders. Offense limited early (around 1.5 GPG); special teams cold. Looking for bounce-back at home with Boqvist returning to the lineup.
Series History
New Jersey is perfect all-time against the Utah franchise (4-0, dating to the 2024-25 Utah Hockey Club era). The Devils have won both home and road meetings, including a 4-1 victory at Prudential Center on Jan. 3, 2026, and have never allowed more than one goal in some earlier contests. Low-scoring affairs overall (Devils outscoring Utah significantly). No playoff history.
Key Player vs. Player Matchups
Clayton Keller / Nick Schmaltz / Vincent Trocheck top line vs. Jack Hughes / Nico Hischier lines: Utah’s early offensive leaders against New Jersey’s high-end skill centers and wingers (Bratt, Meier, Mantha).
Dylan Guenther / Logan Cooley vs. Devils’ defensive pairs (Luke Hughes-Pesce, Siegenthaler-Hamilton): Utah’s secondary scoring threat against New Jersey’s mobile blue line.
Mikhail Sergachev / MacKenzie Weegar vs. New Jersey’s attack: Utah’s top pair anchoring a strong early defensive structure.
Goaltending: Karel Vejmelka vs. Jake Allen — both have solid early numbers; Utah’s shot suppression edge could matter.
Special teams: Utah’s red-hot early power play against New Jersey’s PK, and vice versa.
Betting Trends
Utah has been the stronger early team (better goal differential, elite special teams), but New Jersey holds the historical edge and home ice. Public money has leaned toward Utah in some reports despite the price.
Game Odds
Utah Mammoth 6
New Jersey Devils – 127
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, October 5, 2026
