OilersNation and Google News have reported:

The Edmonton Oilers lost in regulation for the first time this season on Thursday, falling 4-2 to the Utah Mammoth. The result left Edmonton with a 5-1-1 record after seven games and set up a quick chance for a rematch in the second half of the teams’ home-and-home series.

Utah opened the scoring midway through the first period during a power play. John Marino sent former Oiler Kailer Yamamoto on a breakaway, but goaltender Devon Levi stopped the forward’s attempt. Barrett Hayton reached the rebound first and put it in to give the Mammoth a 1-0 lead.

The Mammoth extended their advantage with another power-play goal in the second period, with about eight minutes remaining. Logan Cooley delivered a between-the-legs pass to Clayton Keller, who beat an outstretched Levi to make it 2-0.

Edmonton responded less than two minutes later. Connor McDavid carried the puck into the zone, got past his defender and found Leon Draisaitl. Draisaitl, the German forward, struck the puck past the Mammoth goaltender for his fifth goal of the season, cutting the deficit to 2-1.

Utah restored its two-goal lead 23 seconds later. Vincent Trocheck got past Ty Emberson on the rush and found Cooley for a cross-ice tap-in, making it 3-1. Shakir Mukhamadullin was also criticized for his play on the sequence.

Mukhamadullin made up some ground early in the third period. After Edmonton sustained pressure in the offensive zone, the left-shot defenceman took a shot from the point that deflected off a Mammoth player and past Karel Vejmelka. The goal brought the Oilers within one at 3-2.

Edmonton could not force an equalizer. With 27 seconds remaining, the Oilers failed to hold the puck in the zone, and Keller scored into the empty net to secure Utah’s 4-2 win.

The game was Edmonton’s first significant challenge of the season, and its top line was its strongest unit. The line dominated play and contributed an even-strength goal, while the other three lines struggled, according to the game analysis.

The Oilers’ next-best line, the third line, had 37.2 per cent of the expected-goal share despite being on the ice for Edmonton’s second goal. The second line, made up of Filip Hållander, Trent Frederic and Kasperi Kapanen, had 4.5 per cent of the expected-goal share. The fourth line had zero per cent.

Edmonton was missing five forwards. The analysis said the top line has been dominant through seven games but should be split up against strong teams. Josh Samanski was identified as likely to leave the lineup when the team returns to full health; he took a double-minor penalty that led to Utah’s first goal and has taken four penalties in six games. Isaac Howard could also be left out of the lineup.

Penalties were cited as a key factor in the loss. Utah had three power-play chances and scored twice in the first period. Edmonton’s penalty killing was poor last season, and the game analysis said the weakness appeared to have carried into the 2026-27 season.

Levi allowed three goals on 23 shots, posting an .870 save percentage. HockeyStats put his goals saved above expected at -0.24; the analysis concluded that he did not steal the game but also did not cost Edmonton the win.

The Oilers will meet the Mammoth again on Saturday in Salt Lake City, two days after Thursday’s game. The rematch is scheduled to start at 8:00 p.m. Mountain Time and will complete the home-and-home series.