The halfway mark of the preseason has arrived, with two games remaining on the schedule. The Utah Mammoth earned their first preseason win of the 2026-27 season, and unlike their previous outing against the Colorado Avalanche, Tuesday’s contest against the Los Angeles Kings featured a number of impressive individual performances. In fact, it was difficult to find a player on the roster who didn’t deliver a quality showing.
The 6-3 victory on Tuesday provided plenty of encouraging signs. Here are the key takeaways from the win.
Daniil But Delivers a Standout Performance
Daniil But was unquestionably the best player on the ice. The forward, given the opportunity to line up alongside Nick Schmaltz and Clayton Keller on the top line, knew this was his best chance to earn a roster spot. He responded with two points, including a power-play goal and an assist on Anders Lee’s game-winning goal.
Taking care of business early.
But makes it a 1-0 game. pic.twitter.com/9wmBDalvWk
— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) September 23, 2026
But carried an unmistakable air of confidence throughout the game. He was unafraid to make creative passes or drive hard to the net. His presence was felt on the power play, where he served as a persistent net-front threat, directly contributing to the Mammoth’s first four goals. This is the kind of form fans have seen from him in the AHL and at the rookie faceoff, but were missing during his NHL action last season.
Each additional game appears to bolster But’s comfort level — a trend that continued from last season, where he improved with every call-up.
“I feel way more comfortable with every game,” But said.
After a subdued performance against the Avalanche, this was the game But needed to make his case. His net-front presence proved invaluable every time the Mammoth scored — he consistently positioned himself in front of Darcy Kuemper, creating screens and distracting both the goaltender and defenders, enabling shots to get through and pucks to be tipped into the back of the net.
On the power play, But connected seamlessly with Schmaltz and Keller, generating pressure through smart passing and aggressive forechecking in the Kings’ zone to win puck battles and maintain offensive momentum.
“I’m happy about the response of Booter,” head coach André Tourigny said. “I think Booter had a good night. Simpler, more direct. Did a good job with those guys. Went at the net. Those kinds of things.”
The question remains how many more preseason games But will appear in. The odds are not overwhelmingly in his favor, given the Mammoth’s current contract situation. The team has 23 NHL players under contract, excluding But, which includes Liam O’Brien and Brandon Tanev — two players who continue to contribute minimal value to the bottom six compared to other options available.
Nevertheless, But has given the Mammoth serious reason to reconsider their approach heading into the second half of the preseason and training camp. His play may force the organization to explore moving one or two NHL contracts to open a roster spot for him on opening night.
Physical and Unrelenting
This game was notably more physical than the Avalanche matchup. That intensity was aided by the Kings deploying their top four defensemen while the Mammoth had their top pairing and O’Brien in the lineup.
The player who most distinctly made his presence felt was Andrew Peeke, appearing in his first preseason game with the Mammoth. The defenseman played like a pest, consistently agitating opponents with verbal chirps and heavy hits.
Peeke was involved in every scrum that broke out, and the moment peaked when he delivered a significant hit on Adrian Kempe, which prompted Quinton Byfield to fight him. He displayed a presence reminiscent of what Mikhail Sergachev occasionally brings when targeting opponents. If Peeke continues playing this style, he could well become a fan favorite by season’s end.
Speaking of physicality, Peeke wasn’t the only one dispensing punishment. O’Brien engaged in a fight with Samuel Helenius, and Lee was involved in several scrapes as well. Logan Cooley, meanwhile, displayed visible emotion throughout much of the game.
For the most part, the Mammoth kept their emotions in check. They played with intelligence, channeling their physicality as a strategic advantage rather than allowing it to spiral out of control. The Mammoth seized an early lead and never relinquished it, maintaining their intensity from start to finish — something Tourigny was particularly pleased to see.
“If you like what you’re doing, you’re doing it right,” Tourigny said. “I think you have to have fun. You have emotion. You have pride in what you’re doing, and I like the presence of the guys on the bench. I think they were into that game. They were focused. They play with urgency. I really liked our mindset.”
Notable Performances Across the Roster
As mentioned, several players impressed on Tuesday. Here are some of the standout names.
Zac Jones had a very strong game, playing with a confidence that stood out among the group. He wasn’t afraid to join the rush as a defenseman and fire shots on goal. He had a prime scoring opportunity early in the first period that could have easily been a goal. Just because he’s on a two-way contract doesn’t mean he can’t compete for a roster spot — a reminder that he was a point-per-game player in the AHL last season. He will be one to watch this season.
Yegor Borikov turned in another solid performance. Where his previous outing showcased his scoring ability, this game highlighted his playmaking, even if it didn’t always translate to the scoresheet. The standout moment came on his board sequences, where he demonstrated excellent puck control and skill. Borikov also delivered a number of impactful hits. He continues to be a captivating presence throughout the preseason and could ultimately thrive in the AHL while pushing for an NHL opportunity.
“There’s a lot of positives,” Tourigny said. “I think Borikov had another great night. He played solid.”
Tij Iginla appeared in his first preseason game and looked composed. He exited with an assist and the shootout winner. The shootout goal, in particular, showcased the elite skill Iginla possesses. It’s a promising start to the preseason for the forward, and his second game should build on this foundation.
The article’s image gallery is loaded below.
Finally, the new second line of Lee, Cooley, and Dylan Guenther made its debut. Lee scored two goals while the other two forwards each registered an assist. The trio connected with evident chemistry from the outset. A key element Cooley and Guenther had been missing on their previous line was physicality and aggressive forechecking. The former New York Islanders captain provides precisely that while keeping pace with the two younger forwards.
“They use their forecheck, their physicality,” Tourigny said. “I like that part of Andy and what he brings with that line. Cools and Gunner are really good off the rush. They need to get better on the forecheck and that stuff, and I think Anders has helped them a lot on that. He was heavy on the forecheck, and he was heavy down low cycling pucks and holding possession. I think that was a good fit.”
What a set up from Daniil But!
Anders Lee makes it 4-1, Utah. pic.twitter.com/JcpuLyhYXo
— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) September 23, 2026
One area of concern was the injury to Maveric Lamoureux. The defenseman left the game after Kenny Connors caught him with a high stick. Lamoureux’s right arm was dangling as he skated off the ice — an unwelcome sight, particularly given his history with injuries to that area.
Overall, it was an encouraging performance from the Mammoth. With several NHL regulars in the lineup, this was the standard of play fans want to see. The power play looked productive despite limited goal production, and the chemistry was evident in the completed passes. It was simply a strong preseason game for the team.
“I really liked our pace,” Tourigny said. “We were aggressive. We didn’t give them a chance to execute. I really like our thought process. I thought we had a lot of leadership in the lineup tonight. We had a good lineup. We have to be honest, but we played well as well. We could have been a little bit more stingy when we took the lead, but it’s training camp hockey, so it’s a lot to ask. We’ll review that, but I really like the mindset.”
Under the new preseason rules, players who have appeared in 100 NHL games are limited to two NHL preseason games. The following players can only appear in one more preseason game for the Mammoth:
Keller, Schmaltz, Lee, Cooley, Guenther, O’Brien, Sergachev, Peeke, MacKenzie Weegar, Karel Vejmelka
The Mammoth will face the Vegas Golden Knights in their next preseason game on Thursday. The Golden Knights enter at 2-0-0 in the preseason, having defeated the San Jose Sharks 2-1 in a shootout on Tuesday.
