DENVER — The first game action of the preseason didn’t go exactly according to plan for the Utah Mammoth.

The club lost both of its split-squad exhibitions against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday and lost one of its first-line forwards in a hard hit against the glass.

Center Logan Cooley is considered day-to-day after taking a hit from Colorado winger Zakhar Bardakov in the final period of a game Utah went on to lose 3-2 at Ball Arena.

It was the second game of the day, following a 5-1 loss for a mostly younger Mammoth squad against the Avalanche at the University of Denver’s Magness Arena.

Veteran Michael Carcone scored the lone goal in the early game, while prospect Daniil But and the Tucson Roadrunners’ Sammy Walker helped tie the second game at 2-2 in the final period, before Brock Nelson slammed the door shut for Colorado just 30 seconds later.

“I liked our effort and I liked how we behaved out there,” head coach Andre Tourigny said. “I think there was a lot of compete. Obviously, (Colorado) had a really good lineup, so not surprised about the result. But I liked the fact that our guys fought.”

From a morale standpoint, Utah gets the chance to turn right around and get redemption for the opening losses with another preseason tilt in Anaheim, California, on Monday night against the Ducks, but they’ll do so down several key players.

Cooley is the main absence, but the team will also be without fellow forwards Barrett Hayton and Jack McBain, Tourigny announced Monday. Alex Kerfoot and Liam O’Brien were ruled out earlier in the week during training camp, with the former considered “week-to-week” and the latter “coming along, but still a little far out.”

The good news for Utah is that a handful of starters didn’t even make the trip to Colorado, were spared from the early hits, and are set to make their preseason debuts Monday against the Ducks to fill in for their fallen comrades.

Captain Clayton Keller, alternate captain Mikhail Sergachev, veteran free agent signing Brandon Tanev and rising star Dylan Guenther are all in the group heading to Anaheim, representing over 200 combined points from last year’s Mammoth squad.

Lawson Crouse, who served as alternate captain last season, took on the role of leader and enforcer for the younger squad in Colorado on Sunday, picking fights with both Bardakov for the hit on Cooley and Matt Stienburg later in the game.

“Ultimately, just trying to be the best version of myself,” Crouse said Monday. “Hopefully that’s contagious, you know, do the right things and lead by example.”

Crouse had an underwhelming first season in Utah with just 18 points, following back-to-back 40-point seasons in Arizona, but is looking to contribute in other ways to maintain his “Sheriff” nickname among teammates and fans.

“It’s fabulous to see him react that way and to show character,” Tourigny said of Crouse. “Even before the game, I mentioned wanting to manage the puck and grow in that sense as a team, and he led the way. So, really proud of him.”

The puck drops at 8 p.m. MDT on NHL Network on Monday between the Mammoth and the Ducks at the Honda Center.

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