Utah Mammoth vs Pittsburgh Penguins Picks and Predictions for Thursday October 29 2026
The Utah Mammoth will head to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Thursday night for a matchup against the Pittsburgh Penguins inside PPG Paints Arena. The game is scheduled to begin at 7 PM ET, with coverage available on ESPN+. Utah comes into Thursday night having a solid season at 8-5 overall, despite losing three of its last five games following a two-goal home loss to Minnesota. The Pittsburgh Penguins are 5-6-1 this year, riding a two-game winning streak following a one-goal overtime victory against Nashville in their last outing. Keep up with our NHL Picks.
Utah tries to keep it going
Offensively, Utah is scoring the puck well this season, averaging 3.83 goals on 30.4 shots per game, but the Mammoth have scored just six total goals across their last three losses. Defensively, Utah is allowing 3.33 goals on 23.5 shots per game and has given up 14 goals across its last three losses. Clayton Keller is leading the Utah offense this season with 15 points and 11 assists. Mikhail Sergachev is tied for the top spot with 15 points as well. Nick Schmaltz is next on the roster with 14 points and leads the way with seven goals scored this season.
Karel Vejmelka struggled in the net for Utah last time out, giving up three goals on 30 shots to post a .900 save percentage in just under 57.5 minutes on the ice. Logan Cooley provided the only offense for Utah against Minnesota with one goal on three shots in just under 21 minutes.
Key Injury Report for Utah:
- John Marino (Out) - Nov 1
- Michael Carcone (IR) - Nov 1
- Maveric Lamoureux (IR) - Feb 12
Pittsburgh Looks for 3 in a row
The Pittsburgh offense has been consistent enough this season, averaging 3.25 goals on 27.8 shots per game. Defensively, Pittsburgh has matched its scoring average, allowing 3.25 goals on 27.5 shots per game this season. Erik Karlsson is leading the Pittsburgh offense this season with 12 points and has posted a team-high 11 assists. Evgeni Malkin is second on the team with nine points, along with a team-leading six goals. Tommy Novak is third on the roster with eight points this season.
Arturs Silovs led the defensive charge for Pittsburgh in its last outing, giving up two goals on 26 shots to post a .923 save percentage in just over 61 minutes. Connor Dewar, Ville Koivunen, and Rickard Rakell all contributed offensively with one goal each.
Key Injury Report for Pittsburgh:
- Justin Brazeau (Out) - Nov 3
- Elmer Soderblom (IR) - Nov 7
- Ben Kindel (IR) - Oct 29
- Evgeni Malkin (Day-To-Day) - Oct 29
- Egor Chinakov Day-To-Day) - Oct 29
Utah Mammoth vs Pittsburgh Penguins Picks and Prediction
Pick: Utah Mammoth
Utah has the speed and offensive weapons necessary to cause problems for Pittsburgh, especially if the Mammoth can turn defensive stops into quick scoring opportunities. Clayton Keller should play an important role in this matchup because of his ability to create offense off the rush and find open teammates. Logan Cooley gives Utah another dangerous option with his speed through the neutral zone and ability to attack opposing defenders. Pittsburgh still has Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin capable of producing offensively, but the Penguins could have trouble matching Utah's pace if the game becomes wide open. The Mammoth should look to pressure Pittsburgh's defensemen, force rushed decisions, and create scoring chances before the Penguins can establish their defensive structure. Utah's younger legs and ability to attack with speed could ultimately make the difference in a competitive road victory.
Pick: Over 6.5
This matchup has the potential to produce plenty of offense because both teams feature skilled players capable of creating scoring chances in transition. Utah should be aggressive when moving through the neutral zone, while Pittsburgh will look to establish its offense through Crosby and Malkin. Neither team can afford to give the opposition repeated odd-man rushes, but the offensive talent on both rosters could make those situations difficult to avoid. Special teams could also become important, particularly with both sides possessing dangerous scoring options on the power play. Utah should generate opportunities with its speed, while Pittsburgh has enough experience and offensive creativity to respond. Look for both teams to contribute multiple goals and push this matchup over the total.
Final Picks: Utah Mammoth ML / Over 6.5