Utah Mammoth head to the playoffs. It's only their second season
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Utah Mammoth celebrate their win against the Nashville Predators at the Delta Center on Thursday. Photo: Chris Gardner/Getty Images
In just their second season, the Utah Mammoth are already playoff-bound.
The intrigue: They're the third team in 45 years to make the playoffs within the first two years as a franchise, per the NHL.
Driving the news: The Mammoth clinched their Stanley Cup playoff berth after defeating the Nashville Predators in a 4-1 match on Thursday.
Context: The team, formerly known as the Arizona Coyotes, was purchased by Ryan and Ashley Smith, who own the Utah Jazz, for a reported $1.2 billion in April 2024.
Since arriving in Utah, the team has been swiftly embraced by local fans.
Stunning stat: In their inaugural game, fans set a Delta Center record for single-event beer sales, pouring $120,000 worth and surpassing even Utah Jazz game totals, per Vice.
What's next: The playoffs kick off April 18. First-round schedules will be released at a later date.
Meanwhile, some hockey fans in Phoenix are left mourning what might have been.
