The Nashville Predators face the Utah Mammoth tonight at Delta Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 8 p.m. CT. This is Nashville’s final road game of the 2025-26 season. The contest carries numerous playoff implications.
Playoff Hopes Rest on Utah Game
A regulation win for the Preds would bring them within two points of the Mammoth in the Wild Card race. The Predators are back in the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, while the Mammoth occupy the first spot. Nashville has collected seven of a possible eight points on their road trip thus far. With just four games remaining in the regular season, they’ll need all the points they can get.
“We’re just day to day – don’t really look at what’s behind us,” said Preds Head Coach Andrew Brunette following Tuesday’s win. “We’ve got another road game, and then we’re going to approach it the same way we approach all of them. Get a little bit of rest here. We know Utah’s a really good team, and a team we’re chasing, and we want to put our best foot forward next game.”
Saros to Start in Goal
Nashville’s lineup remained unchanged from Monday night. Nic Hague remains day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Ozzy Wiesblatt and Jordan Oesterle served as healthy scratches. The Predators did not practice on Wednesday following the back-to-back set, but they are scheduled to hold a morning skate today in Salt Lake City.
#Preds Head Coach Andrew Brunette says Juuse Saros gets the start tonight against Utah. Nic Hague remains day-to-day.
Tuesday’s Shutout Victory
Erik Haula, Filip Forsberg, Brady Skjei, Zach L’Heureux and Fedor Svechkov all tallied for Nashville on Tuesday night. Justus Annunen stole the show with a 43-save shutout. Per NHL PR, he became the third goalie in Predators history with as many saves in a shutout victory, joining Juuse Saros (46 on Dec. 14, 2017 and 43 on Jan. 16, 2018) and Dan Ellis (43 on March 28, 2008).
- Forsberg now has 38 goals and leads the Preds with 73 points.
- Ryan O’Reilly has 72 points (25g-47a).
- Steven Stamkos is one goal away from 40 and has 61 points.
- Luke Evangelista has 41 assists and 51 points.
Annunen is now 9-11-2 in net; Saros is 28-20-8 on the season.
Mammoth’s Winning Streak
The Mammoth have won four straight. They have scored at least six goals in each of those wins, including a 6-5 overtime victory against Edmonton on Tuesday. Clayton Keller has 54 assists and 80 points to lead Utah, followed by Nick Schmaltz with 30 goals and 70 points, and then Dylan Guenther with 38 goals and 69 points. Former Preds goaltending prospect Karel Vejmelka is 36-19-3 in net; Vitek Vanecek is 5-11-3.
The Preds are 3-2-1 all-time against Utah and 2-0-0 in Salt Lake City since the franchise’s inception last season. Per NHL PR, Tuesday’s shutout win in Anah