Utah Mammoth Face Early Test

The season is finally here, and Austin’s main point is pretty simple: yes, the home opener is going to be a blast, but the real story is how much pressure is baked into Utah’s start. The Mammoth open Thursday against Chicago, and even without Connor Bedard in the lineup, this is not some free square after Utah struggled badly against the Blackhawks last year. Austin also zeroes in on the bigger problem: Utah plays 13 of its first 18 games on the road. That’s a real gut check for a team trying to prove last year’s playoff berth wasn’t the warm-up act. There’s real optimism here, but also a warning not to panic if the standings look weird by November. Subscribe and listen for more SLC Puck all week long. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.slcpuck.com