Utah Mammoth schedule: Five takeaways from 84-game NHL slate

Aug 17, 2026 , 12:53 PM

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COLE BAGLEY


Utah Mammoth Insider

SALT LAKE CITY – Roughly a month after the NHL released its full schedule for the 2026-27 regular season, hockey is set to return to the Delta Center in just 45 days.

Looking ahead to the Mammoth’s third season in Utah, let’s break down the full slate of 84 games.

Utah Mammoth Schedule: NHL Unveils 2026-27 Calendar

Opening & Closing Acts

For the second time over their first three seasons of existence, the Utah Mammoth will welcome the Chicago Blackhawks to the Delta Center for their 2026-27 home opener.

After defeating Chicago 5-2 in their inaugural home opener in 2024, the Hawks will return to Salt Lake City on Oct. 1, 2026, to face the Mammoth at 7 p.m. MT.

Following the home opener, Utah will then hit the road for five straight games with six of their first 10 matchups away from Delta Center.

Upon entering the final 10 games of the season, it will be an even split as Utah hosts their third-longest home stand of the season (four games) before concluding the year at Dallas and St. Louis.

Longest Road Trips, Homestands

The Mammoth have four homestands that stretch four or more games. Two of which are exactly four, one reaches five, and the longest stands at six games.

  • Five games (St. Louis, San Jose, Vancouver, Colorado, Anaheim) from November 12 to November 21.
  • Four games (New Jersey, Colorado, Vancouver, Ottawa) from December 29 to January 5.
  • Six games (Boston, Minnesota, Buffalo, Washington, Nashville, Nashville) from January 23 to February 2.
  • Four games (Anaheim, Vegas, Winnipeg, Dallas) from April 1 to April 7.

On the other side, there are four road trips that span four or more games. Two four-game trips, one reaches five, and the longest which also stands at six games.

  • Five games (Columbus, New York Rangers, New Jersey, Boston, Buffalo) from October 3 to October 10.
  • Six games (Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Vegas) from October 29 to November 11.
  • Four games (Winnipeg, Minnesota, Nashville, Dallas) from November 23 to November 28.
  • Four games (Tampa Bay, Florida, Nashville, Carolina) from February 28 to March 7.

Noteworthy Stretches

The Mammoth will yet again be tested early on in the season as they play 13 of their first 20 games of the year away from Delta Center.

Their longest road trip of the season will take place in early November as they visit the Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators and Vegas Golden Knights.

The final four games of the season will then be played against Central Division opponents.

Depending on where the Mammoth stand in the division, those four games against Winnipeg Jets, Dallas Stars (twice) and St. Louis Blues could prove to hold massive postseason implications.

2027 Winter Classic at Rice-Eccles Stadium

Scheduled for Dec. 31, 2026, the Utah Mammoth will host the 18th NHL Winter Classic at Rice Eccles Stadium, which regularly houses University of Utah Football games amongst other events.

The Mammoth will welcome the Colorado Avalanche to Salt Lake City for a Central Division matchup.

The game will feature some of the NHL’s premier talent as Clayton Keller, Logan Cooley, and Dylan Guenther face off against Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Gabriel Landeskog.

Puck drop is scheduled for 4 p.m. MT.

Key Matchups

Stepping into year six of the rebuild, the Utah Mammoth have their sights set on returning to the postseason after making their playoff debut last spring.

However, as one of eight teams in the toughest division in the National Hockey League, each divisional matchup will prove to be critical as the Mammoth fight for another playoff berth in 2027.

Chicago Blackhawks

  • Oct. 1, 2026 — vs. Chicago (home, season opener)
  • Dec. 12, 2026 — at Chicago
  • Jan. 12, 2027 — at Chicago
  • Mar. 19, 2027 — vs. Chicago (home)

Colorado Avalanche

  • Nov. 18, 2026 — vs. Colorado (home)
  • Dec. 14, 2026 — at Colorado
  • Dec. 31, 2026 — vs. Colorado (home; Winter Classic at Rice-Eccles Stadium)
  • Mar. 23, 2027 — at Colorado

Dallas Stars

  • Nov. 28, 2026 — at Dallas
  • Mar. 15, 2027 — vs. Dallas (home)
  • Apr. 7, 2027 — vs. Dallas (home)
  • Apr. 9, 2027 — at Dallas

Minnesota Wild

  • Oct. 27, 2026 — vs. Minnesota (home)
  • Nov. 25, 2026 — at Minnesota
  • Jan. 25, 2027 — vs. Minnesota (home)
  • Mar. 21, 2027 — at Minnesota

Nashville Predators

  • Nov. 27, 2026 — at Nashville
  • Jan. 31, 2027 — vs. Nashville (home)
  • Feb. 2, 2027 — vs. Nashville (home)
  • Mar. 4, 2027 — at Nashville

St. Louis Blues

  • Nov. 12, 2026 — vs. St. Louis (home)
  • Dec. 10, 2026 — vs. St. Louis (home)
  • Feb. 21, 2027 — at St. Louis
  • Apr. 10, 2027 — at St. Louis (season finale)

Winnipeg Jets

  • Nov. 23, 2026 — at Winnipeg
  • Dec. 2, 2026 — vs. Winnipeg (home)
  • Jan. 9, 2027 — at Winnipeg
  • Apr. 5, 2027 — vs. Winnipeg (home)
Cole Bagley is the Utah Mammoth insider for KSL Sports. Keep up with him on X here. You can hear Cole break down the team on KSL Sports Zone and KSL 5 TV.

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