The Gauntlet 2025-26 · Qualification night
The Mammoth put out the Predators
Mammoth 3, Predators 2
October 11, 2025. The Utah Mammoth went out in the quarterfinals, doused by the Anaheim Ducks.
Every round of the 2025-26 Gauntlet
Flamekeeper
Dylan Guenther
He set up Utah's opening goal, then won it alone 2:56 into overtime with an unassisted backhand.
Guenther's overtime backhand keeps Utah's candle lit
Two old scars
The Nashville Predators came into Bridgestone Arena with two dark Gauntlets behind them. The Vancouver Canucks ended them on qualification night in 2023-24, and the Minnesota Wild did it again in 2024-25. The Utah Mammoth carried a scar of their own: the Dallas Stars beat them on qualification night a year ago. Utah finished 19th of 32 last season and Nashville 30th. One of them would burn on, and the other would go cold on the first night again.
Nashville climbs ahead
Logan Cooley struck 2:21 in with a wrist shot, set up by Dylan Guenther and JJ Peterka. Filip Forsberg answered 5:02 later with a snap shot off a Brady Martin feed. Then Erik Haula deflected one home at 13:13 of the second, with Luke Evangelista and Jonathan Marchessault assisting, and the Predators led 2-1.
Guenther ends it alone
Utah's answer took 18:24. Jack McBain beat Juuse Saros with a wrist shot at 11:37 of the third, from Nick Schmaltz and Sean Durzi, and the game went to overtime. At the other end Karel Vejmelka stopped 21 of 23.
In overtime Guenther needed nobody's help. He buried an unassisted backhand 2:56 in, and Nashville's flame was snuffed on qualification night for a third straight Gauntlet. The Mammoth burn on, one of 20 flames still lit.
What is the Gauntlet?
A proposal for an NHL in-season tournament. All 32 teams start alive, every Gauntlet game is a game already on the regular-season schedule, and lose one and you are out.