Mammoth vs. Rangers: Utah visits New York on Sunday at Madison Square Garden for the season series opener. Puck drop is set for 6 p.m. ET.
The Mammoth are 1-0-0 after a 6-0 win over Chicago; the Rangers are 2-1-0 and have won three of their last four. The biggest question: can Utah’s stingy defense against New York’s surging attack sets up as the game’s defining battle. The Mammoth have yet to allow a goal through one game, while the Rangers have scored 7 goals in three contests.
Shesterkin and Cossa both arrive with strong early save percentages, Shesterkin at .957 and Cossa backing up a Utah unit that will be tested for the first time.
Faceoffs could decide possession. Utah has won 72.2% of draws, compared to New York’s 51.7%.
Both teams have scored twice on the power play, so whoever wins more offensive-zone faceoffs may get extra chances on special teams.s defense, which has yet to allow a goal, contain a New York offense that scored 11 goals in its last two games?
Mammoth vs Rangers game information
- Date: Sunday, Oct. 4
- Time: 6 p.m. ET
- Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
- TV/Streaming: ESPN+, MSG, Utah 16
- Series: Season series opens Oct. 4
How has Utah looked through one game?
The Mammoth opened their season with a 6-0 rout of the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 1, getting two power-play goals from Dylan Guenther and 15 saves from Karel Vejmelka. Clayton Keller assisted on both of Guenther’s goals, and Anders Lee, one of Utah’s big offseason additions, also found the net.
That performance has Utah sitting atop the league defensively, with a 0.00 goals-against average and a perfect 1.000 save percentage through their lone contest. The Mammoth also won 72.2% of their faceoffs in that game, a staggering number that speaks to how thoroughly they controlled play against Chicago. Sebastian Cossa is the projected starting goalie Sunday, a change from Vejmelka’s Game 1 start.
Utah plays at Columbus on Saturday before this matchup, meaning the Mammoth will be playing their second game in as many nights when they arrive at Madison Square Garden. Defenseman Maveric Lamoureux remains out after shoulder surgery and is expected to return Feb. 12.
What’s driving the Rangers’ hot start?
New York has won three of its last four games, including a 2-0 shutout at Detroit on Oct. 2 and a 5-1 win over Tampa Bay the night before. Eeli Tolvanen leads the Rangers with two goals, while Adam Fox paces the club with three assists and three points, according to the official data. Igor Shesterkin is the projected starting goalie Sunday, and his early-season numbers back up that billing: New York has allowed just 1.33 goals per game and owns a .957 save percentage through three contests.
The Rangers are dealing with a trio of forward and goaltending injuries. Backup goalie Joonas Korpisalo is on injured reserve with a lower-body issue and isn’t expected back until Oct. 9. Center Aidan Thompson (undisclosed) and winger Adam Sykora (lower body) are also on injured reserve, with Sykora not expected back until late January, per the NHL injury report. None of the three is projected to play Sunday.
What is the key matchup to watch?
Utah’s stingy defense against New York’s surging attack sets up as the game’s defining battle. The Mammoth have yet to allow a goal through one game, while the Rangers have scored at least two goals in four of their first five contests this season. Shesterkin and Cossa both arrive with strong early save percentages, Shesterkin at .957 and Cossa backing up a Utah unit that has yet to be tested at Cossa’s own net this season.
Faceoffs could decide possession. Both teams have scored twice on the power play, so whoever wins more offensive-zone faceoffs may get extra chances on special teams.
By the numbers
- Goals: Rangers 7, Mammoth 6
- Points: Rangers 17, Mammoth 17
- Shots on goal: Rangers 70, Mammoth 32
- Shooting percentage: Mammoth 18.8%, Rangers 10.0%
- Goals against average: Mammoth 0.00, Rangers 1.33
- Save percentage: Mammoth 1.000, Rangers .957
- Faceoff percentage: Mammoth 72.2%, Rangers 51.7%
- Power-play goals: Mammoth 2, Rangers 2
- Penalty minutes: Rangers 29, Mammoth 13
What to watch
Utah sits tied for first in the Central Division while New York stands alone atop the Metropolitan Division. A Mammoth win would extend their perfect start, while a Rangers victory would improve their recent form. Utah will be playing on back-to-back nights when they arrive at Madison Square Garden, having faced Columbus on Saturday. The Mammoth return home to face Colorado next, while the Rangers host their next opponent.s back-to-back schedule, Columbus on Saturday, Madison Square Garden on Sunday, means fatigue could factor into the Mammoth’s performance.
The Mammoth return home to face Colorado next, while the Rangers host their next opponent. Without Lamoureux, Utah’s defense will face its next test against New York’s surging offense.
Reporting from CBS Sports, Yahoo Sports, FOX Sports and ESPN contributed to this story. Official statistics: ESPN (official league data).
