Lightning Clash with Mammoth in Utah: Projected Lineups & Injury Updates
The Tampa Bay Lightning are set to challenge the Utah Mammoth this afternoon at The spot in Utah, with the puck dropping at 3:30 p.m. ET. The game will be nationally televised on NHL network, Sportsnet, and TVA Sports. This contest pits a Lightning squad currently holding a 5-4-2 record against a formidable Mammoth team boasting an 8-3-0 standing.
Projected Team Lineups
Tampa Bay Lightning
Coach Jon Cooper is expected to deploy the following forward lines for the Lightning:
- Jake Guentzel – Brayden Point – Nikita Kucherov
- Brandon Hagel – Anthony Cirelli – Curtis Douglas
- Oliver Bjorkstrand – Dominic James – Gage Goncalves
- Zemgus Girgensons – Yanni Gourde – Pontus Holmberg
On defense,the Lightning will likely ice the following pairings:
- victor Hedman – JJ Moser
- Ryan McDonagh – Erik Cernak
- Emil Lilleberg – Charle-edouard D’Astous
Andrei Vasilevskiy is anticipated to start in net,with Jonas Johansson serving as the backup. Both Jack Finley and Darren Raddysh are listed as healthy scratches.
Utah Mammoth
The Mammoth are projected to roll out these forward combinations:
- Clayton Keller – Barrett Hayton – Nick Schmaltz
- JJ Peterka – Logan Cooley – Dylan Guenther
- Lawson Crouse – jack McBain – Michael Carcone
- Kailer Yamamoto – Kevin Stenlund – Brandon Tanev
Defensively, the Mammoth are expected to use these pairings:
- Mikhail Sergachev – Dmitri Simashev
- Nate Schmidt – John Marino
- Ian Cole – Olli Maatta
Karel Vejmelka will likely guard the net for the Mammoth, with Vitek Vanecek backing him up. Nick DeSimone,Liam O’Brien,and Kevin Rooney are declared healthy scratches.
Injury Concerns Shape Rosters
The Lightning will be without forward Nick Paul, who is currently sidelined with an upper-body injury. While Paul did travel with the team to Utah, Coach Cooper indicated his status remains day-to-day and will be reassessed after the completion of the three-game road trip. Max Crozier is also unavailable due to a lower-body injury.
For the Mammoth, Sean Durzi is nursing an upper-body injury, and Alex kerfoot is recovering from a lower-body ailment. Kailer Yamamoto will enter the lineup,replacing Liam O’Brien after sitting out Tuesday’s 6-3 defeat against the Edmonton Oilers.
| Team | Record | Key Injuries |
|---|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Lightning | 5-4-2 | Nick Paul (Upper Body), Max Crozier (Lower Body) |
| Utah Mammoth | 8-3-0 | Sean Durzi (Upper Body), Alex Kerfoot (Lower Body) |
Did You Know?: The Utah Mammoth are in thier inaugural season, quickly becoming a fan favorite due to their aggressive style of play.
Pro Tip: Keep an eye on the special teams battle. Both the Lightning and the Mammoth have capable power-play units, and a key penalty kill could swing the momentum.
Which team’s defensive pairings will prove more resilient against the opposing team’s top offensive lines?
Do you believe the Lightning can overcome key injuries to secure a win against the formidable Mammoth on the road?
NHL Team Performance Trends (2023-2024 Season Review)
Looking back at the 2023-2024 NHL season, teams with strong goaltending and a balanced offensive attack demonstrated the most consistency. According to NHL.com stats, the top five teams in save percentage all reached the playoffs. Similarly, squads with at least three players exceeding 20 goals consistently found success.
The importance of special teams cannot be overstated. The league’s top power-play units converted at a rate of over 25%,considerably impacting game outcomes. Conversely, teams with a penalty kill percentage below 80% struggled to maintain leads.
Frequently Asked Questions About Today’s Game
- What is the primary keyword? The primary keyword is “NHL game”.
- Where is the NHL game being played? The game is being played at The Spot in Utah.
- What time does the NHL game start? The game starts at 3:30 p.m. ET.
- Who is the starting goalie for the Lightning in this NHL game? Andrei Vasilevskiy is expected to start for the Lightning.
- Which players are injured for the Mammoth in this NHL game? Sean Durzi and Alex Kerfoot are injured for the Mammoth.
Don’t miss the action! Share your predictions for the game in the comments below and let us know who you think will emerge victorious.
