The Utah Mammoth arrive at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis looking to extend their impressive early-season form against a Blues team that has undergone significant lineup changes ahead of Thursday night’s clash. With Utah boasting a 5-2-0 record and the Blues 3-2-1, this Western Conference matchup features two teams heading in different directions. The game, scheduled for 8 p.m. ET, will showcase some of the NHL’s emerging young stars alongside veteran leadership as both teams make strategic roster adjustments for the October 23 encounter.
Utah enters this contest riding momentum from their 4-3 overtime victory against Colorado, while St. Louis aims to rebound from a 2-1 overtime defeat to Los Angeles. The Blues have made wholesale changes to their lineup, adjusting all four forward lines and all three defensive pairings as coach Jim Montgomery searches for the right combinations to spark offense.
Utah Mammoth vs St. Louis Blues projected lineup October 23 2025: Utah’s offensive firepower
The Mammoth’s forward group features one of the most dynamic top lines in hockey right now. Clayton Keller anchors the first line alongside Barrett Hayton and Nick Schmaltz, and this trio has been torching opposing defenses early in the season. Keller, against his hometown Blues, has 35 points in 32 career games against St. Louis and is on a three-game point streak with eight points.
Nick Schmaltz adds his own eight points to a four-game point streak. Montgomery wants his top line of Pavel Buchnevich, Robert Thomas, and Jordan Kyrou matched up against Utah’s first line. The chemistry between Keller and Schmaltz has evolved, developing telepathic chemistry on the ice.
Utah’s second line features JJ Peterka, Logan Cooley, and Dylan Guenther. Cooley, a 22-year-old center, has emerged as a bright talent, combining elite skating with high hockey IQ. Paired with Peterka and Guenther, this gives Utah a strong second scoring line.
The third line of Lawson Crouse, Jack McBain, and Michael Carcone provides size and grit, with McBain cleared to play after an upper-body injury. The fourth line features Liam O’Brien, Kevin Stenlund, and Brandon Tanev, bringing energy and defensive responsibility.
Healthy scratches include Nick DeSimone, Kailer Yamamoto, and Kevin Rooney, with Andrew Agozzino assigned to Tucson (AHL). Rooney was recalled but may not see action.
Blues projected lineup October 23 2025: Forward lines and goaltending
St. Louis reshuffled its forwards after the overtime loss to Los Angeles. The top line of Pavel Buchnevich, Robert Thomas, and Jordan Kyrou is the most skilled unit. Thomas sits close to 400 career points in 472 games. The second line features Dylan Holloway centering Jake Neighbours and Brayden Schenn. Jimmy Snuggerud returns on the third line with Pius Suter and Mathieu Joseph. Oskar Sundqvist returns on the fourth line with Nathan Walker and Nick Bjugstad. Alexandre Texier is a healthy scratch; Alexey Toropchenko remains sidelined.
On defense, the Blues paired Philip Broberg with Colton Parayko; Tyler Tucker with Justin Faulk on the second pairing; and Logan Mailloux with Cam Fowler on the third pairing. Matthew Kessel was scratched to accommodate Mailloux’s return.
Goaltending features Karel Vejmelka for Utah and Joel Hofer for St. Louis.
Key storylines to watch
The college connection between Logan Cooley and Jimmy Snuggerud adds an entertaining element as former Minnesota Golden Gophers teammates face off in the NHL. Keller’s homecoming adds extra significance. Sundqvist’s return provides depth for St. Louis, while Mailloux’s return represents a learning opportunity for the young defender. Montgomery’s lineup decisions will be pivotal in line matching.
Special teams, goaltending, and how the defensive pairings handle matchups will likely determine the result. The game is set for 8 p.m. ET at Enterprise Center, and fans can expect a competitive Western Conference clash.
Par Mike Jonderson
Mike Jonderson is a passionate hockey analyst and expert in advanced NHL statistics. A former college player and mathematics graduate, he combines his understanding of the game with technical expertise to develop innovative predictive models and contribute to the evolution of modern hockey analytics.