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Utah Mammoth vs Colorado Avalanche Betting Preview
The NHL’s newest team name makes its official debut Thursday night as the Utah Mammoth visit the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena in Denver. Puck drop is set for 9:00 PM ET on ESPN+. The Avalanche opened their season Tuesday with an impressive 4-1 win over the Kings in Los Angeles, while Utah will be playing its first contest of 2025-26 — and its first game under its new “Mammoth” identity.
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The Avalanche are heavy home favorites, listed around -240 on the moneyline, while the Mammoth sit near +195. The total is expected at 6.5 goals (Over -110 / Under -110).
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Line Movement and Odds
Colorado opened as a -225 favorite and was quickly bet up to -240 after its dominant performance against Los Angeles. The Avalanche are pulling roughly 70% of tickets and 78% of money, a sign both public and sharp bettors like their chances at home. The total has held steady at 6.5, with a slight lean to the under as the Avalanche’s defensive core looked sharp in their opener.
Utah, meanwhile, begins its second season since relocating from Arizona. After missing the playoffs by just seven points last spring, head coach André Tourigny’s young roster faces an immediate test against one of the NHL’s elite teams.
“He’s doing a really good job in terms of his focus and one-on-one battles,” Tourigny said of rookie defenseman Dmitry Simashev. “He’s shown he has pro hockey inside him already.”
Matchup Breakdown
Utah Mammoth Outlook
The Mammoth enter the new campaign with a promising young core but plenty of growing pains to overcome. Clayton Keller remains the team’s most polished scorer after leading Utah with 74 points last season, while Dylan Guenther and Logan Cooley bring high-end offensive upside. Cooley — who reportedly declined an eight-year, $77 million extension — headlines the team’s youth movement. The 21-year-old center will carry much of the scoring load until veteran Alex Kerfoot (lower body) returns from injured reserve. On defense, rookie Dmitry Simashev, the No. 6 pick in the 2023 draft, is expected to make his NHL debut. Goaltending will likely be handled by Karel Vejmelka, who posted a .902 save percentage last year.
Colorado Avalanche Outlook
The Avalanche wasted no time making a statement in their season opener, routing the Kings 4-1 behind Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, who each recorded multi-point nights. Colorado’s lineup is stacked top to bottom, with newly added veterans Brock Nelson, Martin Necas, and Brent Burns joining a returning core that includes captain Gabriel Landeskog, who played his first regular-season game in more than three years Tuesday. In goal, Scott Wedgewood is expected to start again as Mackenzie Blackwood (lower body) remains day-to-day. The Avs are focused on regaining championship form after early playoff exits the past two seasons.
Injuries and Conditions
| Colorado Avalanche | Utah Mammoth |
|---|---|
| G Mackenzie Blackwood – Day-to-day (lower body) | F Alex Kerfoot – IR (lower body) |
| D Josh Manson – Probable (rest) | F Logan Cooley – Healthy |
| F Gabriel Landeskog – Probable (knee management) | D Dmitry Simashev – Expected NHL debut |
| G Scott Wedgewood – Expected starter | G Karel Vejmelka – Expected starter |
| Colorado Avalanche Injury Report | Utah Mammoth Injury Report |
Weather: Indoors at Ball Arena — no weather impact.
Best Bets and Prediction
The Avalanche are deep, confident, and dangerous at home, while Utah is young and untested. Expect Colorado’s top line to set the tempo early as the Mammoth adjust to NHL speed under pressure. The Avalanche’s offensive chemistry and superior blue line depth should carry them to a convincing win.
Pick: Avalanche Moneyline (-240)
Projected Final Score: Avalanche 5, Mammoth 2
Lean: Under 6.5 (-110)
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| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Best Bet | Avalanche ML (-240) |
| Confidence Rating | ★★★★★ |
| Projected Score | Avalanche 5, Mammoth 2 |
| Total Lean | Under 6.5 (-110) |
| Market Split | 70% bets Colorado, 78% money Colorado |
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