TAMPA, Fla. (Interstat) — The surging Utah Mammoth face a stiff road test against the Eastern Conference powerhouse Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday night at Amalie Arena. Utah (27-24-0) arrives riding a wave of momentum, having won seven of its last eight games, including a decisive 5-2 victory at Nashville on Saturday. Kailer Yamamoto, a player to watch, contributed a goal and an assist in that win and has been a key part of the Mammoth’s recent success, which has propelled them into the Western Conference playoff picture. They will need that momentum against a Lightning squad (32-18-0) that sits near the top of its division. Tampa Bay is 8-1-1 in its last 10 games despite a surprising 8-5 loss at Columbus on Saturday. The Lightning are led by star winger Nikita Kucherov, who enters on a torrid point streak. In his last 10 games, Kucherov has recorded an impressive 7 goals and 17 assists, making him the focal point of one of the league’s most potent offenses. The lone previous meeting this season went to Tampa Bay, a 4-2 victory in Utah on Nov. 2, 2025. The matchup pits Utah’s recent defensive strength — they have allowed two or fewer goals in five of their last eight wins — against Tampa Bay’s high-powered attack. Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka, who made 27 saves against Nashville, is expected to start. Andrei Vasilevskiy is the probable starter for the Lightning. According to National Statistical’s game simulator, the Lightning are projected to win with a final score of 5-3. Following the game, Utah continues a challenging road trip at Florida on Tuesday. Tampa Bay remains home to host Winnipeg on Thursday.