Dallas Stars (27-11-9, in the Central Division) vs. Utah Mammoth (23-20-4, in the Central Division)

Salt Lake City; Thursday, 9 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: The Utah Mammoth host the Dallas Stars after Dylan Guenther scored two goals in the Mammoth’s 6-1 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Utah is 23-20-4 overall with a 7-6-0 record against the Central Division. The Mammoth have a 22-7-0 record in games they score at least three goals.

Dallas is 27-11-9 overall with a 7-3-1 record against the Central Division. The Stars have a 12-1-0 record in games they score one or more power-play goals.

The teams square off Thursday for the second time this season. The Stars won the last meeting 4-3.

TOP PERFORMERS: John-Jason Peterka has scored 16 goals with 16 assists for the Mammoth. Guenther has seven goals and five assists over the past 10 games.

Mikko Rantanen has 18 goals and 44 assists for the Stars. Wyatt Johnston has scored six goals and added five assists over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Mammoth: 6-3-1, averaging 3.3 goals, 6.1 assists, 3.7 penalties and 8.2 penalty minutes while giving up 2.3 goals per game.

Stars: 2-4-4, averaging 2.8 goals, 4.6 assists, 3.6 penalties and 7.5 penalty minutes while giving up 3.4 goals per game.

INJURIES: Mammoth: None listed.

Stars: None listed.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Devon Dampier will be back in red in 2026.

The Utah quarterback announced Tuesday that he has signed with the Utes for next season.

In his first season with Utah after transferring from New Mexico, Dampier threw for 2,490 yards and 24 touchdowns with five interceptions on 63.75% accuracy in 2025.

He also rushed for 835 yards and 10 touchdowns.

The junior quarterback improved both his turnover and accuracy numbers from a season ago and helped turn Utah’s offense around while fighting through injury throughout much of the season.

With a month off from games in the lead-up to the Las Vegas Bowl, Dampier had time to heal, and it showed in a 44-22 win over Nebraska.

Dampier threw for 310 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 148 yards and three scores in his best performance of the season.

Dampier helped guide the Utes’ offense from the basement in 2024 to the No. 4 scoring offense in all of college football (41.2 points per game) and contributed to one of the best rushing attacks in the country, which averaged 266.3 rushing yards per game.

He was named the Big 12’s Offensive Newcomer of the Year and landed on the All-Big 12 third team after his efforts in 2025.

The New Mexico transfer already had a season starting in Jason Beck’s offense, and that expertise was evident throughout the 2025 season.

While Dampier was not able to perform to his full ability physically for most of the season, the knowledge of the offense and trust from Beck kept the Utes performing positively on that side of the ball.

“My favorite part personally is just the trust level. He gives me every play out there,” Dampier said of Beck. “There’s multiple options of what I can do with the ball and he makes the plays where I get to make that best decision every play.”

Now, Dampier will play under new offensive coordinator Kevin McGiven after Beck left to join Kyle Whittingham’s staff at Michigan.

Dampier’s signature moment as a Ute came in the 51-47 comeback win over Kansas State.

Dampier connected with receiver Larry Simmons for a 20-yard touchdown to pull the Utes within three. Then on the ensuing drive, Dampier ran for 59 yards on fourth and 1, setting himself up for a game-winning touchdown run.

Aside from his performance on the field, Dampier’s leadership ability stood out throughout the season.

Byrd Ficklin, who had an impactful season himself, credited Dampier for helping him during his freshman year.

“Dev has been the most help out of anybody that’s been here,” Ficklin said in an interview on ESPN 700. “… He’s been really pushing me on and off the field to not just be a better player, but also be a better person, and that’s what I mainly love about Dev.”

Two of the most important pieces of Utah’s offense — Dampier and Ficklin — are officially back, giving the Utes a boost heading into a pivotal 2026 season, the first under new head coach Morgan Scalley.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Emotion filled the arena Monday night.

Love. Appreciation. Nostalgia. Joy. Excitement.

But by the end of the game, there was an overriding feeling: Disappointment. Perhaps even anger.

The enigmatic Cavs lost to the reeling Utah Jazz, 123-112, at Rocket Arena. Cleveland is now just 2-3 in its last five games.

“They came in and just outplayed us,” Donovan Mitchell said. “But we are at fault as well for not coming out ready to go.”

Fresh off quite possibly their best and most complete win of the season, the Cavs spoke about playing more like themselves, looking like the contender so many expected at the beginning of the season.

So much for that.

The Jazz entered the night losers of six of the last seven. They were days removed from a 55-point rout.

And, yet the Cavs went down 12-2 in the first four-plus minutes. It was 21-4 around the midway point of the first quarter.

That’s when franchise legend Kevin Love, playing just his second game in Cleveland since an unceremonious buyout in 2023, received a warm embrace complete with a sentimental video tribute.

Shortly after that special moment, which led to Love getting a standing ovation and pointing to his ring finger — a nod to the 2016 championship — the 18-year NBA veteran checked into the game for the Jazz.

Another round of applause.

The Cavs welcomed him back by going on a 10-2 run, trimming the Jazz lead back to single digits. But that surge short-circuited. By the end of those mostly lifeless 12 minutes, heavily favored Cleveland was down by a dozen.

The Cavs awoke in the second quarter, seemingly overwhelming the 25-loss Jazz and outscoring them 40-20, securing an eight-point halftime advantage.

But Utah regrouped, pulling even three minutes into the third quarter and then leading by four going into the fourth. It was up by double digits with about nine minutes remaining and the Cavs only got as close as six before the Jazz stifled every comeback attempt, closing out the game with relative ease.

Cleveland, which trailed for nearly 38 minutes Monday night, didn’t lead at any point in the final 17:15.

As the final minutes ticked away, boos started trickling through the crowd. It’s been the soundtrack to this up-and-down season.

Another inexplicable and inexcusable loss.

“I think it’s the psychology of sports,” Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said following the loss. “I think they took one on the chin — a tough, tough defeat, and they came in here desperate. We scored 146 points against Minnesota, get a little on your high horse, which you have no right to do, and sometimes the psychology of this is the most important thing.

“They were desperate, they were physical. They won the aggressive match. I think they won the mental battle and I guess I could do a better job of putting appropriate fear. It’s the NBA. They’ve got a lot of talent out there. I think they were desperate and we just kind of played. You get your tail handed to you and it’s like that in this league.”

Utah guard Keyonte George finished with a game-high 32 points. Former Cavalier Lauri Markkanen, the centerpiece of the blockbuster deal that brought Mitchell to Cleveland nearly four years ago, added 28 points and 12 rebounds. Love chipped in with 11 points off the bench.

The Cavs were led by Darius Garland who had 23 points and eight assists. Mitchell tallied 21 points, going just 7 of 18 from the field. Evan Mobley nearly recorded a triple-double with 15 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.

Sam Merrill (14 points), Nae’Qwan Tomlin (13) and Jaylon Tyson (11) also hit double figures for the Cavs, who were without Dean Wade (knee contusion) and Max Strus (foot surgery).

“I think we’ve got a good team,” Atkinson proclaimed. “Games like this happen. I hate to say it. We won five out of seven. Like, it’s not like we’ve lost five out of seven, so we just gotta keep perspective.”

Before the game, it was all smiles, hugs and handshakes — a chance to reminisce.

Mitchell with the old franchise that helped mold him into an MVP candidate. Injured Georges Niang, traded by the Cavs at last year’s deadline, with former teammates that miss his leadership and veteran voice. Markkanen with familiar faces that helped resuscitate his career. Love with past mates, coaches and trainers. There were even fans who brought jerseys, asked for autographs and posed for photos with Love.

It was a feel-good night in Cleveland — until the game started.

“We gotta fix it,” Mitchell said pointedly. “Focus on the little details. When we’re in this position, we can’t afford to have the little mistakes. We don’t have the margin for error. That’s the frustrating part is it’s like, it’s there. We see it. We just gotta figure it out.”

Up next

The Cavs will head to Philadelphia for two games against the 76ers. The first is Wednesday night. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.